Mark Sermon Week 30 - Taking Y

Intro/Welcome

Welcome

Introduce

Welcome in room and online

Last few weeks of Mark

Last few days of Jesus earthly life/ministry

Intro

We are all on a journey with Jesus

And we are all in different places.

But God puts people in our life to help build our faith

Those who are an example for us

Those who are a counter example for us

Many who are just a few steps ahead or behind.

How do we know where we are in our journey?

How can we know the next step to take with Jesus?

Text Intro

Jesus is on his journey to the Cross

Today as we look at Jesus final hours

we will encounter people in very different places with Jesus.

But each one can provide direction to build up our faith

— to help us take that next step with Jesus.

Four Portraits

In particular we’ll look at FOUR different people that we’ll all encounter on our journey with Jesus.

Enemies of God — those who are seeking to kill the name and influence of Jesus.

Those who are mature devoted followers of Jesus who we can learn from

Those who are wolf in sheep’s clothing that we ought to avoid.

Then there is the rest of us.

Bible

Mark 14:1-52.

Go there in Your Bibles

Broad brush stroke today

Let’s Pray

Pray

Isaiah 61:1–4 (NIV)

1 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God,

to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—

to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.

They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.

4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.

Picture 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 3:6

Mark 3:6 (CSB) 6 Immediately the Pharisees went out and started plotting with the Herodians against him, how they might kill him.

This is still happening today — Last Week

Hiding in the Light Books

Religious Leaders are Stuck

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.

Application

THE POINT:

We should not be surprised when people hate Jesus.

those who are actively pursuing to kill the name of Jesus.

To kill the influence of Jesus

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

It is anti-Christ.

1 John 2:18–19 (CSB)

18 Children, it is the last hour. And as you have heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. By this we know that it is the last hour.

19 They went out from us, but they did not belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. However, they went out so that it might be made clear that none of them belongs to us.

Portrait 2: Mary, the devoted follower

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’s Act of Devotion

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.

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

Identified as Mary

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.”

Mary and Martha

The Same Mary and Martha whose brother Lazarus Jesus raised from the dead.

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

Luke 10:38–42 (CSB)

38 While they were traveling, he entered a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home.

39 She had a sister named Mary, who also sat at the Lord’s feet and was listening to what he said.

0 But Martha was distracted by her many tasks, and she came up and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to serve alone? So tell her to give me a hand.”

1 The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Reaction to Mary

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.

She is criticized for this seeming ‘waste’ of money

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

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

It is an act of devotion and adoration by Mary

Jesus not only defends her but commends her!

Jesus defends 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 commends 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 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.

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

It is so significant that the Gospel writers and Jesus hold up this woman Mary as an example

in a day where women were not highly esteemed.

Significant in a time where it would have been unusual for a woman to even be in the same company of men, esp. a rabbi

Jesus is defending and commending her

Mary gets it, she perceives what they cannot

Jesus is going to die.

People that are that close to God tend to see things and hear things more clearly

She pours on him this expensive/precious perfume b/c she realizes in a few days

Jesus will pour out his precious blood for the saving of many lives.

She anoints him for burial, Jesus says.

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

The Power of Smell

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.

It’s so significant that Jesus says

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.”

Mary is a picture of a mature devoted follower of Jesus

Pouring out on Him that which is most precious to her

Application

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?

Maybe lit. alcohol or some other addiction

PRAY:

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.

Portrait 3: Judas, the wolf in sheep’s clothing

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

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

WHY?

There are all kinds of questions about Judas

Was he ever a true follower of Jesus?

What drove him to betray Jesus? Etc.

The other gospel writers give glimpses:

John’s Gospel

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.

Greed?

Was it money and greed that drove him?

30 Pieces of Silver

Judas agrees to deliver Jesus for 30 (Matt 26:15) pieces of silver, roughly about $7500 in our day

~ 4 months wages for a laborer

In the OT the penalty paid by the Owner 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.”

It’s 40% of what the perfume would have cost

Was Judas accustomed to take a 40% cut?

Luke’s Gospel

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.\

Anger and bitterness?

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.

opportunity: lit. a foothold, a place at your table

Anger, resentment, unresolved hurt, un-forgiveness

can open the door to the enemy, to give him a seat at your table.

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 6)

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

which further agitated him

He let his disappointments fester

He grew disillusioned with Jesus

He grew to hate Jesus

He opened the door to the enemy

And finally he decided to deliver Jesus over.

Application

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

Are there seeds of disappointment and despair taking root in your life?

Judas pretended to follow Jesus for years,

perhaps was even self-deceived into thinking he was a true follower.

But at some point a line was crossed,

a decision was made

and he never turned back

Perhaps it was at Bethany.

PASTORAL WORD

I don’t want to cause unnecessary anxiety but but I do want ask HARD QUESTIONS.

If you are living a life of growing resentment and bitterness towards God with no end in sight then you are not on a good path.

Today is an opportunity

Hebrews 3:12–14 (NIV)

12 See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.

13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,”

so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.

14 We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end.

Hebrews 3:12–13 (ESV)

12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

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!

We do this together as God’s People

with God’s Word and God’s Spirit

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

Don’t leave today without talking to someone.

Portrait 4: The Disciples

We’ve seen those who our openly hostile to Jesus

We’ve seen Mary who is a picture of a mature devoted follower of Jesus

We’ve seen those who are false followers of Jesus — 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

The rest of Mark 14 takes us through the passover meal, the Last supper and the prayer in Gethsemane

I just want to focus in on one scene.

in this way we are painting just a broad brush stroke

HOLY WEEK Conversations we’ll comeback an look at some of these significant evens

Live @ 5pm with Pastors Justin and Mike

The Lord’s Supper

At the Passover Meal, the Lord’s Supper

Jesus makes three predictions

That one of the 12 will deliver Him/over

That one of the 12 will deny Him

All 12 will desert him

Judas

He basically says to Judas’ face that he knows what he is about to do.

Judas shares in the last supper with the Twelve

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.”

Luke 22:20–22 (CSB)

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!”

Jesus predicts to his face that he knows

Matthew 26:25 (CSB)

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

Jesus permits satan to have his way with Judas, that the scriptures might be fulfilled

John 13:26–27 (CSB)

26 ...When [Jesus] 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.”

All will desert

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.”

This exactly what plays out

The go to Gethsemane to Pray

Judas shows up with a Mob

Mark 14:50 (CSB)

50 Then they all deserted him and ran away.

Peter

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.

Why does Jesus tell them this?

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.

Peter

Here’s Peter trying his best to be the leader

to be strong

Yet like so many of us, He thinks he’s further along than he actually is.

He has some hard lessons to learn.

Application:

This is an honest assessment of where you are.

Do you think you are farther along than you actually are?

This is where Christian Community can be so helpful

if we are willing to ask and receive.

Why we believe in Groups at One Hope

ask someone this week: “Where do you think I’m at with Jesus?

We all want to be further along than we actually are.

My Story

the Spiritual Plummet after Covid

really difficult, getting back to walking with God

We all go through these periods where we feel like God is absent, that he has abandoned us.

But the truth of the gospel is that

thought we may abandon him, he will never abandon us.

Though we may struggle to forgive and receive forgiveness, Jesus has already paid the price

he has already forgiven us.

We just need to appropriate it

to experience it

to claim it so to speak.

The Passover Meal

Here is the beauty of the Gospel.

Jesus has invited us all to sit at the table with Him.

To recieve his abundant mercy in grace, no matter where we are in our journey.

Judas sat at the Lord’s supper and partook

Judas had his feet washed by Jesus (John 13)

The lord’s opportunities to turn to him are abundant

And it is demonstrated in the very passover meal they were celebrating

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.”

Jesus freely offers forgiveness of sin

freely offers to dine with you

Closing Exhortation

We are all at different points on our journey with Jesus

Where are you and what is your next step?

Don’t be surprised at those who want to kill the name and influence of Jesus.

Who are the ‘mary’s’ in your life that you can learn from?

Who are the ‘judas’s’ in your life that aren’t helpful for your walk?

Those who are cynical, bitter and resentful at God and others.

What do you need to pour out to Jesus?

What seeds have taken root?

What is your next step to take with Him?

Closing Prayer

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.”