4/3/2015
THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST
MARK 14:12-15:47
The Lord Controls Circumstances
Mark 14:12-13 On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked Him, “Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?” He sent two of His disciples, telling them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you, follow him…
The Lord Plans Ahead
Mark 14:14-16 Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is My guest room, where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?’ He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.” The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.
Betraying Jesus Betrays Oneself
Mark 14:17-21 When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. While they were reclining at the table eating, He said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray Me–one who is eating with Me.” They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, “Surely not I?” “It is one of the Twelve,” He replied, “One who dips bread into the bowl with Me. The Son of Man will go just as it is written about Him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born!”
The Eternal Covenant Is A Communion
Mark 14:22-26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to His disciples, saying, “Take it; this is My body.” Then He took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it. “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” He said to them. “I tell you the truth, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God.” When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Communion Is Tested
Mark 14:27-31 “You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written: “‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee. “Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not!” “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “today–yes, tonight–before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown Me three times.” But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with You, I will never disown You!” And all the others said the same.
To Become THE Sin Offering Was Inconceivable
Mark 14:32-35 They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took Peter, James and John along with him, and He began to be deeply distressed and troubled. “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” He said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” Going a little farther, He fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from Him.
Spiritual Battle Requires Spiritual Power
Mark 14:36-40 “Abba, Father,” He said, “everything is possible for You. Take this cup from Me. Yet not what I will, but what You will.” Then He returned to His disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” He said to Peter, “are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” Once more He went away and prayed the same thing. When He came back, He again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to Him.
Betrayal is Treachery
Mark 14:41-46 Returning the third time, He said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes My betrayer!” Just as He was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders. The betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest Him and lead Him away under guard.” Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!” and kissed Him. They seized Jesus and arrested Him.
To Stand Alone Is To Like Jesus
Mark 14:47-52 One of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. “Am I leading a rebellion,” said Jesus, “that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture Me? Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest Me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled!” Then everyone deserted Him and fled. A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.
No Evidence Should Be An Acquittal
Mark 14:53-56 They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, elders and teachers of the law came together. Peter followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire. The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put Him to death, but they did not find any.
False Witnesses Are Unreliable
Mark 14:57-59 Many testified falsely against Him, but their statements did not agree. Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against Him: “We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this man-made temple and in three days will build another, not made by man.’” Yet even then their testimony did not agree.
Facts Are Bold
Mark 14:60-62 Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Are You not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against You?” But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
Blasphemy Deserves Death; Truth Deserves Devotion
Mark 14:62-65 The high priest tore his clothes. “Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked. “You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?” They all condemned Him as worthy of death. Then some began to spit at Him; they blindfolded Him, struck Him with their fists, and said, “Prophesy!” And the guards took Him and beat Him.
To Be With Jesus Invites Public Ridicule
Mark 14:66-69 While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him. “You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,” she said. But he denied it. “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,” he said, and went out into the entryway. When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, “This fellow is one of them.” Again he denied it.
Failure To Recall Your Vows Is A Curse
Mark 14:70-72 Again he denied it. After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.” He began to call down curses on himself, and he swore to them, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about.” Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice you will disown Me three times.” And he broke down and wept.
Justice Is Perverted By Political Expedience
Mark 15:1-3 Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, reached a decision. They bound Jesus, led Him away and handed Him over to Pilate. “Are You the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate. “Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied. The chief priests accused Him of many things.
Silence Is Powerful
Mark 15:4-7 So again Pilate asked Him, “Aren’t You going to answer? See how many things they are accusing You of!” But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed. Now it was the custom at the Feast to release a prisoner whom the people requested. A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising.
Jealousy Is Betrayal
Mark 15:8-11 The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did. “Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate, knowing it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead.
Public Opinion Can Pervert Justice
Mark 15:12-15 “What shall I do, then, with the One you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them. “Crucify Him!” they shouted. “Why? What crime has He committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify Him!” Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified.
Human Nature Unleashed Is Evil
Mark 15:16-20 The soldiers led Jesus away & called together the whole company of soldiers. They put a purple robe on Him & twisted together a crown of thorns & set it on Him. They began to call out to Him, “Hail, king of the Jews!” Again & again they struck Him on the head with a staff & spit on Him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to Him. When they had mocked Him, they took off the purple robe & put His own clothes on Him. Then they led Him out to crucify Him.
The Lord Accepted The Full Measure of Our Sin
Mark 15:21-24 A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross. They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull). Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but He did not take it. They crucified Him. Dividing up His clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get.
The Lord Identified With Us ar Our Worst
Mark 15:25-28 It was the third hour when they crucified Him. The written notice of the charge against Him read: THE KING OF THE JEWS. They crucified two robbers with Him, one on His right and one on His left. So the scripture was fulfilled, which says, “…He was numbered with the transgressors.”
The Lord Did Not Repay In Kind
Mark 15:29-32 Those who passed by hurled insults at Him, shaking their heads and saying, “So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, come down from the cross and save Yourself!” In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked Him among themselves. “He saved others,” they said, “but He can’t save Himself! Let this Christ, this King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe!” Those crucified with Him also heaped insults on Him.
SIN Alienates Us From God
Mark 15:33-36 At the sixth hour darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. At the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?”–which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, He’s calling Elijah.” One man ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave Him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take Him down,” he said.
HOW He Died Proves WHO HE IS
Mark 15:37-39 With a loud cry, Jesus breathed His last. The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard His cry and saw how He died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”
The Promise To Eve Was Fulfilled
Mark 15:40-42 Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there. It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath).
The Sin of The World Crushed Him
Mark 15:43-45 As evening approached, Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Pilate was surprised to hear that He was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph.
The Tomb Of Jesus Was Borrowed
Mark 15:46-47 So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where He was laid.