Mark 14:53-61

Mark 14:53-61 

The Message 

  When I think of a trial, I think of the high priest Joshua (not the battle of Jericho Joshua) standing before God in Zechariah 3.  Satan stands ready to accuse, but before Satan can say a word, the Lord rebukes Satan and calls for Zechariah to be honored.  It's one of my favorite passages in Scripture -- Joshua was a great priest, Satan was determined to tear him down, but God intervened regardless of Satan and honors Joshua.  It reminds me how Satan is always ready to attack us, at any time and in any place, and yet God takes the first word and redeems us, honors us, and rebukes Satan, even when we are too weak to do so.

  In the same way, they're drumming up false charges against Jesus, and they eventually resort to lies and made-up stories to try and convict him.  The truth cannot convict him.

  Friends, someday, you and I will stand before God.  Satan tries to convince us that we have to stand before God on our own merit, that we'll have to rely upon our own strength and deeds to pass the test.  May Scripture assure you that when you stand before God, you will be seen as blameless, thanks to the work of Christ.  You will be celebrated as holy, thanks to the work of Christ.  You will be treasured and beloved, perfect in every way, because Christ has suffered the punishment of sin and made life eternal possible for you.  

  We need not fear the trial, no matter the accusations, no matter the things that lie in our past, because our hope is in Christ, who stands ready to forgive, having spoken a word of grace over us that will cover us for all of time.

Mark 14:43-52

Mark 14:43-52 

The Message 

  For tonight's reason why this actually happened:  If you were going to make it up, would you include verses 51-52?  This is thought to be Mark, and he records himself running away naked when caught by the group coming to get Jesus.  He flees for his life, leaving all else behind to save his own skin.  Probably not his finest moment, right?

  Did you notice how they showed up for Jesus in the dead of the night?  They brought swords and clubs, brave behind their weapons in the dark of night.  Would they have been so brave in the middle of the day?  I doubt it.

  I know anxieties well, and they were always the worst in the middle of the night.  I'd lie awake in bed at 3 am, contemplating my own death, asking big questions and terrified of the answers (or lack thereof).  By morning, they were never as intense as they were at night.  

  This is how evil works.  It waits until you're alone, isolated, and at your weakest.  Evil often doesn't come attack us when we're in the midst of community, when we're feeling confidant and grounded.  Instead, it waits, picking its moments, finding our vulnerabilities and preying on them, often subtly, but sometimes with swords and clubs in the middle of the night.

  The older I get, the more often I turn to the 23rd Psalm.  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death -- that's when evil pounces, when we're in that valley.  That's when evil whispers in our ear, suggesting this or that.  It reminds me of a Jenga tower -- evil taps on the blocks, looking for weakness, watching our towers, seeing what makes us sway, what threatens to topple us.  Evil is crafty and patient.  Modern life offers comforts, and it often isolates us from uncomfortable things, and so we forget.... and then evil creeps in, tapping away, reminding us of fears long forgotten.

  I shall not fear, for the Lord is with me, his rod and his staff, they comfort me.  I look to the staff, and I see the tool of a shepherd, willing to do whatever it takes to protect the sheep.  I look to the rod, and I see a tool of punishment, the rod that struck the rock in the wilderness and gave water to the Israelites, the rod that strikes the Son on the cross as a punishment for sin, when grace then pours out and gives life to us.  

  In the darkness, in my fears, I look with hope to the hills, from whence my Savior comes, and I cry aloud in hope, to remind myself of the power of God, and to remind my sisters and brothers in Christ that they are not alone, and we need not fear evil, for we are a community of believers linked by our bold hope in Jesus Christ, our Risen Savior!!!

Mark 14:32-42

Mark 14:32-42 

The Message 

  This is only 11 verses, and yet there is so much going on.  Jesus is broken hearted, thinking about the ordeal that awaits him, asking God if there is another way out.  (Note:  it's okay to ask God for alternatives when you don't like what's in front of you.  This isn't freedom to disobey, but it is freedom to ask God big questions as we try and understand better what God is doing.) (Note 2:  Again, verses like this support the claim that this is how it happened.  If the disciples made this up, would they have written it this way?  Would they have Jesus begging for an alternative?  Or would they skip that part and have him going bravely to meet the enemy, filled with confidence?)

  Jesus then discovers that the disciples cannot stay awake.  The one thing he asks of them, they cannot do.  Laziness creeps up over the best of their intentions.  Mark notes that the disciples didn't have a plausible excuse... they were simply tired.

  We've all been here, right?  Simply tired.   Worn out from all sorts of things, without a great excuse, and missing out on our spiritual responsibilities.  Guess what?  Join the crowd.  The disciples set a precedent for us.  It's not an excuse... but a reminder that you are human, just as Peter was.  

  Finally, Jesus goes to meet his betrayer, who has been a friend for years.  He goes to meet his fate, motivated by love for you, for me, for us.

Mark 14:27-31

Mark 14:27-31

The Message 

  Have you ever failed, despite believing with all your heart that you'd succeed?  How did you feel beforehand?  How did you feel afterwards?  What did you do next?

  I have failed many times.  I'm usually not afraid to try something new, and sometimes it works out great, while other times...  not so much.

  Here, Peter tells Jesus that of all the people in the world, he would never abandon or deny Jesus.  He has the strength, the character, the fortitude to stand up against any threat, even if it costs him his life.  He says this to Jesus' face, and I'm sure he meant it.  He thought he'd be able to...

  But you may know the rest of the story.  Peter ends up denying Jesus, despite his best intentions.  (Stories like this help us reach the conclusion that the Gospels are true.  If you were going to make this up, would you include this?  Would the disciples write stories that make the disciples look bad?   Of course not.  No one would do that.)  The disciples all claimed they would never abandon Jesus, but when the Roman soldiers came, they all did.

  The best part?  

  Jesus knew they would do it ahead of time, and Jesus choose them anyway.  Then, after they had abandoned him, Jesus still loved them.  He still went to them.  He still called them and sent them.

  And Jesus does the same to you.  No matter your failures, no matter your weakness.  Jesus chooses you.  He calls you.  He sends you.  He uses you.  He loves you.