Mark Sermon Manu Week 30

Intro/Welcome

Four portraits of following Jesus

We are all on a spectrum

Goal Today:

Identify where you are at and what taking your next step with Jesus will look like.

Prayer

Isaiah 61:1–2 (CSB)

The Spirit of the Lord God is on me,

because the Lord has anointed me

to bring good news to the poor.

He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted,

to proclaim liberty to the captives

and freedom to the prisoners;

2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,

and the day of our God’s vengeance;

to comfort all who mourn,

Portrait 1: Enemies of God

Mark 14:1–2 (CSB)

1 It was two days before the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a cunning way to arrest Jesus and kill him. 2 “Not during the festival,” they said, “so that there won’t be a riot among the people.”

Setting:

This is now Wed/Thursday

Jesus has been teaching in the temple all week and retreating to Bethany at night

His enemies have been looking for a way to kill him since Mark 2.

Hiding in the Light Books

But they are stuck.

Jesus is immensely popular with the people.

They clearly see Jesus as a threat to their power and position

But they cannot attack him openly, they need a more sinister plan — they need an insider.

Point: We should not be surprised when people hate Jesus. When there are those who are actively pursuing to kill the name of Jesus.

This is happening all over the world and more and more in our culture.

This is demonic — it is anti-Christ.

1 John?

Portraits 2&3: Mary & Judas

Mark 14:3 — Flash back?

in Contrast with John 12, puts this 6 days before Passover, or Saturday.

I think this is one of the times that Mark is thematically organizing this event.

Two days before the Passover — indicates when this actually happened (picked up in v 10)

I think 3-11 is setting up the context for what finally drove Judas to decide to betray Jesus.

In this story we are given two diametrically opposed portraits of followers of Jesus.

Mary

Mark 14:3 (CSB)

3 While he was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured it on his head.

John’s gospel identifies this woman as Mary, the sister of Martha

John 12:3 “Then Mary took a pound of perfume…So the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.”

Simon, was likely a leper that Jesus had healed and now he is hosting a community group!

The text is explicitly that it was VERY EXPENSIVE perfume — in our day roughly about $15,000-$20,000.

In other words, it was precious, it was rare, it was to be used on only very special occasions and even them probably just a drop at a time

But here, she breaks the bottle, and pours the whole thing on Jesus

Anybody ready to give $20,000? or a whole years earnings to Jesus?

John‘s gospel reports that the whole house was filled with the fragrance.

So let’s go there for a second:

When’s the last time you walked into a house and smelled the fragrance of dinner

of perhaps you know the perfume of your significant other.

Smell can be one of the strongest triggers of memory.

I just imagine in a few short days as Jesus is being beaten and hanging on the cross — catching on whiff of that perfume — and remembering this sweet moment.

This is a significant moment — so much so that Mark records it, as do Matthew and John’s gospel.

In fact it’s so significant that Jesus says in Mark 14:9

Mark 14:9 (CSB)

9 Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”

Judas

Mark 14:4–5 (CSB)

4 But some were expressing indignation to one another: “Why has this perfume been wasted? 5 For this perfume might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they began to scold her.

John 12:4 “Then one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot (who was about to betray him), said,”

She is criticized for this seeming ‘waste’ of money

Led by none other than Judas.

We’ll come back to him

But look at Jesus’ defense of her:

Mary

Mark 14:6–9 (CSB)

6 Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. Why are you bothering her?

She has done a noble thing for me. [good/beautiful work]

He defends and comments her

7 You always have the poor with you, and you can do what is good for them whenever you want, but you do not always have me.

8 She has done what she could; she has anointed my body in advance for burial.

9 Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”

This is Mary’s great act of devotion to Jesus

she did what she could

She anointed his body for burial

Conjecture:

I think Mary may have been one of the few to actually get it.

To have heard Jesus predictions of his own death and she could see the storm gathering.

She truly had anointed him for burial perhaps having a sense of what lie ahead for him.

This is unlike the disciples who seem to still fail to see the significance of what is happening.

Interesting historical note how highly women are held up by Jesus

It would have been unusual for a woman to even be in the same company as a rabbi, let alone honor him in this way.

Jesus says “Mary sees who is before her”

Mary see’s how precious Jesus is

She pours out the precious expensive perfume over him b/c she sees that he will pour out his precious priceless blood for sinners / her.

Point: Mary is a picture of a mature devoted follower of Jesus.

She gave up what was perhaps most precious to her and spent it on Jesus

to honor him

She is someone to look to for what devotion to Christ looks like.

She was the same Mary that sat before Jesus as her sister Martha bustled around the house doing a great many things.

Jesus defends her there as well saying “she has chosen the good portion and it will not be taken from her”

She has prioritized Jesus in her life because like a treasure hidden in a field, she sees the value of Jesus as the son of God.

Therefore she is a picture of what following Jesus in maturity looks like.

What are you holding on to that you need to pour out on Jesus?

Is it your time? Your plans?

Is it your money? Something you possess?

Let’s just ask the Holy Spirit right now to speak to us:

Pray: Jesus what is it for us, what are you asking of me.

If he brought something to mind, it’s now your job to obey and experience the blessings of obedience.

The obedience of faith/trust.

I’d also say, who are the “Mary’s” in your life that you can get close to, to learn from?

Who in your life has a vibrant walk with Jesus that you would like more of?

Go and tell them, ask them to teach you.

Judas

If Mary is the picture of a devoted follower of Jesus, then Judas is just the opposite “a wolf in sheep’s clothing”

Likely, just following Jesus

to get his needs met,

to improve his situation,

to promote his agenda.

He’s not about the Kingdom of Jesus but the Kingdom of Judas

Returning to the now (in my opinion)

Mark 14:10–11 (CSB)

10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. 11 And when they heard this, they were glad and promised to give him money. So he started looking for a good opportunity to betray him.

Judas makes his decision

John and Matthew give us a little more insight

John 12:4–6 (CSB)

4 Then one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot (who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?”

6 He didn’t say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief. He was in charge of the money-bag and would steal part of what was put in it.

Judas is stealing from Jesus.

and Jesus is letting it happen.

And the disciples knew this was happening

Judas agrees to deliver Jesus for 30 pieces of silver, roughly about $7500 in our day

~ 4 months wages for a laborer

In the OT the penalty paid by the Ownder of an ox that gored a slave to death (Ex 21:32 “If the ox gores a male or female slave, he must give thirty shekels of silver to the slave’s master, and the ox must be stoned.”)

WHY?

There are all kinds of questions about Judas

Was he ever a true follower of Jesus?

What drove him to betray him? Etc.

Luke tells us very plainly what happened.

Luke 22:3–4 (CSB)

3 Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, who was numbered among the Twelve. 4 He went away and discussed with the chief priests and temple police how he could hand him over to them.

How does one open their heart to Satan?

Ephesians 4:26–27 (CSB)

26 Be angry and do not sin. Don’t let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and don’t give the devil an opportunity.

Anger, resentment, unresolved hurt.

Conjecture:

I think Judas was initially attracted to Jesus like so many

he was even selected by Jesus to be one of the twelve

He likely did signs and wonders in the name of Jesus (Mark ??)

He witnessed the miracles, saw the power of God in Jesus, heard his teaching.

Yet none of it took root, just like the seeds that fell on the rocky and thorny paths:

Mark 4:15 “Some are like the word sown on the path. When they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word sown in them.”

Mark 4:18-19 “Others are like seed sown among thorns; these are the ones who hear the word, but the worries of this age, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.”

I think Judas saw more and more that Jesus was not meeting his expectations of the Messiah

He saw the waste of money and provisions no in accordance with his standards

He grew disillusioned with Jesus

He let his disappointments fester

He grew to hate Jesus

He opened the door to the enemy

And finally he decided to deliver Jesus over.

So here’s the burning question for you and I:

What seeds of disappointment and despair have you let take root in your life?

Let the Word of God push them out into the light and destroy them

1 John 3:8 (ESV)

8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.

Judas pretended to follow Jesus for years, perhaps was even self-decieved into thinking he was a true follower.

But at some point a line was crossed, a decision was made.

I think it was at Bethany.

Judas no longer cared.

That perfume was worth $20,000

Perhaps Judas was accustomed to taking 40% of the prophets

perhaps that’s why he agreed to $7500 (40% of $20K

perhaps that’s why he agreed to 30 pieces of silver, about 40% of the cost of the perfume.

PASTORAL WORD

I dont’ want to scare you but I do want to sober you.

If you are living a life of growing resentment and bitterness towards God with no end in sight

Today is your opportunity

Hebrews 3:12–14 CSB

12 Watch out, brothers and sisters, so that there won’t be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13 But encourage each other daily, while it is still called today, so that none of you is hardened by sin’s deception. 14 For we have become participants in Christ if we hold firmly until the end the reality that we had at the start.

Today is a chance for you to decide

decide to lay it all down and Jesus feet just as Mary did.

To receive the Gift of God’s grace: Mercy and Forgiveness

and God will answer you…Today!

If you are struggling in this way, I would urge you to come and talk with a leader

to receive prayer during our set after the sermon

God speaks and ministers through the body of Christ.

Portrait 4: The Disciples

We’ve seen those who our openly hostile to Jesus

We’ve seen those truly devoted to Jesus

We’ve seen those who are sheep in wolves clothing

Now, the rest of us

The Disciples are a picture of most of us following Jesus

We are not Judas — though we may struggle in similar ways

We are not quite Mary — though we have some level of devotion

We are just like the disciples

And what I want to do is just point to a few points here in the rest of Mark 14 as we travel through the Passover Meal — what would become to be known as the Lord’s Supper.

Passover Preparation

In Mark 14:12-16 we have Jesus giving the Disciples instructions about the Preparation of Passover which they trust and obey.

It is another instance of Jesus prophetic power to know what is to come.

Then they have the Passover mean in Mark 14:17-31.

And a couple of important things happen here:

Jesus’ Predictions and the Passover Meal

That one of them would deliver him over to the religious leaders

That one of them would disown Him

That all of them would desert him.

Betrayal

Mark 14:17–21 (CSB)

17 When evening came, he arrived with the Twelve. 18 While they were reclining and eating, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me.”

19 They began to be distressed and to say to him one by one, “Surely not I?”

20 He said to them, “It is one of the Twelve—the one who is dipping bread in the bowl with me. 21 For the Son of Man will go just as it is written about him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for him if he had not been born.”

he basically calls out Judas to his face.

He says “Judas, I know what you are about to do”

This probably only further infuriated Judas.

Matthew 26:25 CSB

25 Judas, his betrayer, replied, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” “You have said it,” he told him.

John 13:2 CSB

2 Now when it was time for supper, the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son, to betray him.

Jesus washes their feet (before dinner)

Perhaps this further infuriated Judas

How could a King/Leader do such a menial/degrading task

John 13:16–19 (CSB)

16 “Truly I tell you, a servant is not greater than his master, and a messenger is not greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. 18 “I’m not speaking about all of you; I know those I have chosen. But the Scripture must be fulfilled: The one who eats my bread has raised his heel against me.

John Jesus Predicts His Betrayal (13:18–30)

To “eat bread” is a cultural symbol that refers to personal intimacy, and to expose the bottom of the foot is another symbol of personal contempt. Jesus possesses divine wisdom into these events and yet experiences bewildering dismay as they unfold.

19 I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am he.

Then the Lord’s Supper.

Mark 14:17–18 CSB

17 When evening came, he arrived with the Twelve. 18 While they were reclining and eating, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me.”

John 13:21–23 CSB

21 When Jesus had said this, he was troubled in his spirit and testified, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.” 22 The disciples started looking at one another—uncertain which one he was speaking about. 23 One of his disciples, the one Jesus loved, was reclining close beside Jesus.

Mark 14:19–21 CSB

They began to be distressed and to say to him one by one, “Surely not I?” He said to them, “It is one of the Twelve—the one who is dipping bread in the bowl with me. For the Son of Man will go just as it is written about him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for him if he had not been born.”

John 13:23–26 (CSB)

23 One of his disciples, the one Jesus loved, was reclining close beside Jesus. 24 Simon Peter motioned to him to find out who it was he was talking about. 25 So he leaned back against Jesus and asked him, “Lord, who is it?”

John Jesus Predicts His Betrayal (13:18–30)

The Beloved Disciple enjoys a place of honor, seated on Jesus’ right (cf. Mark 10:37, where James and John want to sit on Jesus’ left and right in glory). This explains why he can easily lean back and place his head near Jesus’ chest and speak to him privately, asking Jesus to divulge the name of the betrayer (13:24). Peter is not as near and so must call to the Beloved Disciple (13:23). Judas likewise has a place of honor near Jesus (on his left?) because Jesus is able to dip some bread into a common dish and serve the morsel to him (13:26).

26 Jesus replied, “He’s the one I give the piece of bread to after I have dipped it.” When he had dipped the bread, he gave it to Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son.

John Jesus Predicts His Betrayal (13:18–30)

Meals were eaten with flat baked bread, and a broken portion of this bread was then dipped into common bowls on the table. Jesus says that the betrayer is the one to whom he provides some dipped bread (13:26), and then he promptly serves Judas (13:27). To serve someone a morsel from the table like this was not unusual (see Ruth 2:14), and the disciples could have taken it as a simple honoring gesture for Judas. If so, it is particularly ironic since this gesture of respect is the last thing Jesus can do for Judas, and it compares with Judas’s last gesture of betrayal in the garden (18:3–11).

Mark 14:22–25 CSB

22 As they were eating, he took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is my body.” 23 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. 25 Truly I tell you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

John 13:26–30 (CSB)

26 Jesus replied, “He’s the one I give the piece of bread to after I have dipped it.” When he had dipped the bread, he gave it to Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son. 27 After Judas ate the piece of bread, Satan entered him. So Jesus told him, “What you’re doing, do quickly.”

28 None of those reclining at the table knew why he said this to him. 29 Since Judas kept the money-bag, some thought that Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the festival,” or that he should give something to the poor. 30 After receiving the piece of bread, he immediately left. And it was night.

John Jesus Predicts His Betrayal (13:18–30)

Even though the disciples seem unaware of what is happening (13:28) and speculate that Judas is leaving to purchase things for the feast, the story implies that John understood everything. He had been given the key to the morsel, and he sees the consequences of the gift.

Perhaps Judas after participating in the Lord’s supper goes to betray Jesus

Luke 22:19–23 (CSB)

19 And he took bread, gave thanks, broke it, gave it to them, and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

20 In the same way he also took the cup after supper and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. 21 But look, the hand of the one betraying me is at the table with me. 22 For the Son of Man will go away as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!”

23 So they began to argue among themselves which of them it could be who was going to do it.

Jesus permits Satan do do his work

Judas is lost.

Point: Jesus is in control. He says to Pilot, all authority comes from above. Nothing happens to Jesus that he does not permit.

This is a great reassurance.

App: If Jesus allowed great evil to happen to Him in the hope of redemption, then we too can have great hope in the evil we have experienced.

Where do you need the assurance of Christ’s suffering for the sake of redemption?

All will Desert me

Mark 14:27–31 (CSB)

27 Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will fall away, because it is written:

I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered. (Zech 13:7)

Zechariah 13:7 CSB

7 Sword, awake against my shepherd, against the man who is my associate— this is the declaration of the Lord of Armies. Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; I will turn my hand against the little ones.

28 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.”

Peter’s Denial

29 Peter told him, “Even if everyone falls away, I will not.”

30 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to him, “today, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.”

31 But he kept insisting, “If I have to die with you, I will never deny you.” And they all said the same thing.

Jesus knows Peter, even in his stubbornness he is still a true follower of Jesus

for though he fails, he will turn back.

Luke 22:31–34 (CSB)

31 “Simon, Simon, look out. Satan has asked to sift you (pl) like wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you (sg) that your faith may not fail. And you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

33 “Lord,” he told him, “I’m ready to go with you both to prison and to death.”

34 “I tell you, Peter,” he said, “the rooster will not crow today until you deny three times that you know me.”

Point: Sometimes we think more highly of ourself than we ought.

We need to heed Jesus’ words rather than our own.

App: Where might you be thinking more highly of yourself than you ought? Where might you need to heed the words of Jesus than your own?

All will abandon

The last thing he predicts is that they will all abandoned him / desert him.

Mark 14:27 CSB

27 Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will fall away, because it is written: I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.

Which is exactly what happens

They go to the garden and Jesus cries out to their father

Judas shows up with the Romans and they arrest Jesus.

Then,

Mark 14:50 CSB

Then they all deserted him and ran away.

John 13:19 CSB

19 I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am he.

Gospel

Mark 14:22–25 (CSB)

22 As they were eating, he took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is my body.” 23 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. 25 Truly I tell you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

We may abandon Him, but He will never abandon us.

He was broken so we could be reconciled to God

His precious blood was poured out, that we might be made new

Application

We’ve seen four different portraits of people in relation to Jesus

He has enemies — they are seeking to kill the name of Jesus

False Followers of Jesus

Judas — only want what Jesus can give them.

We asked:

What seeds of disappointment and despair have we let take root?

Root them out with the Word of God, Spirit of God and the People of God

Followers of Jesus: Doing our best, stumbling forward

Where do you need to take a next step with Jesus?

Look at Mary, find a mary

Mature Devoted Followers like Mary

We want to emulate and learn from

Find someone to follow as you both follow Jesus

What are you holding onto that Jesus is asking you to pour out?

Not Yet Following Jesus:

You are in the crowd

You are listening to what people say about Jesus

The invitation to you is to come to Him

call on the name of the Lord

judas did not call on the name of the lord, but you can today.

Romans 10:13 CSB

13 For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Joel 2:32 CSB

32 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved, for there will be an escape for those on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, as the Lord promised, among the survivors the Lord calls.

John 6:37 CSB

37 Everyone the Father gives me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will never cast out.

Closing Prayer

We are all somewhere in our walk with Jesus, what is the next step for you with Jesus?