Mark 14:27-31 "The Confidence of Christ"

Intro |

THE CONFIDENCE OF CHRIST VS. THE CONFUSION OF THE DISCIPLES.

Tolstoy - How Much Land Does A Man Need?

Arguably the greatest short story ever written.

Pahum was not a person you want to follow after.

In his pursuit of position and power he went looking for land.

He found a clan who were selling their land extremely cheap.

Go out and claim as much land as you can in a day, but you have to return to this exact spot by sunset. The man sets out confident in his ability, fast in his pace, as the day goes on he gets tired, and as the sun sets he finds himself exhausted and about to loose everything. However, the men who were watching gave him hope - the sun had not set from their hilltop position. So, he runs with all of his strength to make it back to where he started.

The crowd cheered, but the man fell down dead. His dangerous self-confidence and lack of self-awareness had cost him everything.

Today we will see the contrast between Peter’s self confidence and Jesus’ God-centered confidence.

BODY |

From the worship and singing praises unto God following the Passover meal, Jesus brings the disciples back to reality.

v.27 - And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’

Jesus shares a relationship shattering prediction with his followers.

Can you imagine hearing these words again, but this time it included them all.

v. 17 - "And as they were reclining at table and eating, Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.”

They respond with sorrow saying “Is it I?” And Jesus said, “It is one of the twelve [one of you]...”

& now Jesus says that they would all fall away, but what was he basing this prediction on? Why was he so certain of their betrayal?

“For it is written” - four little words that carry so much weight!

In a court of law, it is not enough to determine someone innocent or guilty based upon one’s feelings, thoughts, opinions, or emotions. A decision so weighty must be based on something unchanging - on the written law, on facts, on the Constitution.

Here Jesus bases his prediction on something far more certain than the Constitutions or the findings of the high courts. His words are based on the unchanging word of God.

Paul said that “All Scripture is breathed out by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim . 3:16-17).

Jesus’ ministry was based on his trust in the word of God. He had come to carry out the will of the Father as it was written. His words taught, corrected, trained, and equipped perfectly all who would listen.

So, Jesus makes this earth shattering prediction with eternal certainty because he fully trusted in the Scriptures .

JESUS CONFIDENCE CAME FROM:

THE SCRIPTURES (V.27)

THE SOVEREIGN PLAN OF GOD (VV.27-28)

THE PROMISE OF SALVATION (V.28)

Jesus not only trusted in the Scriptures, but he referenced them to help the disciples see more clearly what he meant.

Zechariah 13 - The prophet is speaking on behalf of God to a people who had given into idol worship.

Here, God promises to cleanse those who repent and turn to him. He declared that their would actually be a remnant who would experience his mercy while the false teachers would be exposed.

This time in the history of Israel would be marked with war and destruction. As the nations rage against the people of God the good Shepherd would be struck and his death would result in further scattering, testing, and trials for his flock.

Zech. 13:9 “[But for the remnant] I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people’; and they will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’ ””

Jesus’ words to his disciples were a sad prediction of their betrayal, but also a glorious look toward his restoration.

This showed that...

2. JESUS NOT ONLY TRUSTED IN THE SCRIPTURES, BUT HE TRUSTED IN THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD (VV.27-28)

The Shepherd would be struck, and the sheep would be scattered, but this was the plan of God that was established in the word of God.

Ps. 41:9 “Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.”

Acts 2:22-23 ““Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.”

In the upper room, and now on the way to the Mount of Olives Jesus is resting in the unfolding of God’s sovereign plan. The plan he committed to in the Covenant of Redemption and ghat was confirmed in the Scriptures.

Mk. 14:28 “But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.””

Do you hear it? The certainty in which Jesus trust that the plans of God will result in his resurrection.

Jesus confidence in the face of betrayal and death was found in the unchanging plans of God. He would be raised up, he would, as promised, “drink again of the vine anew in the kingdom of God.”

QUESTION - Where does your confidence come from? (Let’s talk about in the good times.)

When you succeed in life. When you get the business deal, have a great year, when the kids are being praised for the efforts and attitude in school, or when you have great basketball season.

I think it is easier for us to look to God in the hard times, but what about the good times? Do you recognize that it is God who is working good in your life?

Heb. 13:21 “[May He] equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

It only makes sense for our confidence to be found in the will of God!

3. JESUS ULTIMATELY TRUSTED IN THE SALVATION HE WAS PROMISED.

Listen to the prophetic promises of God about Jesus

Is. 53:10-12 “Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.”

Jesus trusted that the schemes of man, the brutality he would face on the cross, and the grave would not be his ultimate end. He trusted that he would see his offspring, have his days prolonged, see and be satisfied out of his anguish, many many to be accounted righteous, pour out his soul, be numbered with the transgressors, bear the sin of many, and make intercession for transgressors!

This would not have been possible if he would not have been saved from the clutches of death by the power of the Spirit of God.

Jesus confidence came from his trust in the scriptures, God’s sovereignty, and the salvation he had been promised!

THE CONFUSION OF THE DISCIPLES (PETER)

Too Much Self Confidence (v. 29) “Even though they all fall away, I will not.”

Peter had an unhealthy self confidence that kept him from truly trusting in the word of Christ. When Jesus told of his death and resurrection (Mark 8) Peter took him aside and rebuked him.

Mk. 8:33 - “But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.””

Peter was tempted to think too highly of himself and not enough of Christ.

He thinks of himself as the exception to the rule, where others would fall, he would now stand.

He thought he knew better, but in fact his self confidence clouded his self awareness.

Too Little Self Awareness (vv.29&31)

Peter declares that he will not deny Jesus, and even after Jesus gives the details of his denial he lacks the self awareness to recognize his weakness and need to trust in Jesus - but he would.

Even though Peter would deny Jesus three times, Jesus loved Peter.

Ferguson - Later, Jesus’ threefold questioning by the morning fire of Galilee must have reminded Peter of his denial, but Peter confessed, ‘Lord you know all things…you know that for all my failures, I really do love you’ (John 21:15-17).

Jesus did not leave Peter in his running, his denial, but came to him and offered repentance.

Conclusion |

This is the beauty of this story. Peter has not yet denied Jesus, but he already knows that he will forgive him, accept him, and strengthen him for his glory!

Jesus’ confidence was not in the disciples acceptance, but it is in the Scriptures, the sovereignty of God, and the salvation of God - that is what compelled him to give his life for deserters and cowards like you and me.

In v. 28 Jesus assures the disciples “[A]fter I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.”

Do you see that Jesus, the one who called this group to follow him at the Sea of Galilee (1:16) will again call and reestablish them at the Sea of Galilee (16:7).

This is what Christ came to do. He came to save and comfort people who, in their confusion, fail him, turn from him, even out right deny him.

Have you become life Peter? Are you so self confident in your devotion to God that you have functionally lost confidence in his word, his sovereignty, and his salvation?

Do you lack the self awareness to see that you are capable of worshiping Christ and walking away from him in the same breath, that your sins and your confidence can equally lead you to lose sight of your Savior

If so, be comforted, if you are truly his he will always gather you back to himself. In fact it is Jesus who has kept you all along.

Luke 22:31–32 (ESV)

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”

Zech 13:9 “They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people’; and they will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’ ””

May we, like Christ, trust in the word of God, the sovereignty of God, and the promise of God to save his people.