The Arrest, Trial And Death Of Jesus, Part 2 Series

The Arrest, Trial and Death of Jesus, Part 2

Mark 14:66 – Mark 15:20

- Jesus is demonstrated in this book as a “servant”

-- Today we continue the final week of Jesus’ life and ministry

- On Wednesday night we saw several things take shape in this story:

- 1) Jesus took His inner circle to a place of solitary to pray

-- His one request is that we stay awake and pray with Him

-- This is something we should be doing today; PAY ATTENTION

- 2) His betrayer brought the Pharisees to His location to arrest Him

-- This was done under the cover of night, in secret and was shameful

-- Remember: it’s the middle of the night and there are plenty to testify

- 3) It’s the beginning of end of Jesus’ life takes shape with an assault

-- Why? Because He answered the chief priest with, “I am”

- This sets up a tremendous confrontation with Jesus and Roman leaders

-- No one is allowed to proclaim themselves as king, and Jesus does

-- This one fact is what enrages them, for it is blasphemy to them

-- What they have failed to see, is Jesus is only answering truthfully

- Read Mark 14:66-72

∆ Point 1 – “I’ve never met the man” (66-72)

- We see that Peter does in fact love Jesus, but remains at a distance to Him

-- We really cannot blame him for this; lots of fear and uncertainty in this

-- It is human nature to not burst in and rescue when danger is so evident

- When he is identified as being with Jesus (v67), he denies it

-- Not only does he deny it, he removes himself from that area

-- V68 says he goes from the fireside to the front porch (entryway)

- His withdrawal tells us volumes about what he is thinking right now

-- APP: “I could be next … and so I need to keep moving away from here”

- Then, this same girl (from v66) sees him there and calls him out again

-- “This fellow is one of them”; he also is a disciple of this man Jesus

-- What this does it cast Peter in a light of suspicion, He is one of them!

-- Once again, Peter denies that he is a follower of Jesus

- This really puts the pressure on him, and others join in accusing him

-- “Surely, you are one of them …” -- you are here, and you’re out of place

-- You are Galilean, Jesus is a Galilean, and so you must be with Him!

- In v71 Peter does something unique, and really seals the deal

-- The Bible says he calls down curses on himself, and loses his mind!

-- He curses at them, vehemently denying that he is with Jesus

- What Peter is saying here is, “May God curse me if I’m lying!”

-- This is a serious thing to do as a Jew; asking God to curse you is horrible

-- It is so serious he is willing God curse him if he is lying

- APP: So, why is this scene so important to us in 2014?

-- It is amazing how easily those who follow Jesus should be identified

-- This is where we see ourselves as well; do others know who you follow?

- When Peter denies him for the third time, a rooster crows, and he knows

-- He knows what he has done, his heart is broken, and he weeps for himself

- APP: It is not for Jesus he weeps, but because he realizes his sin

-- Psalm 51:3, “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.”

-- He has denied the One who has loved him, the one who’s brought life

- Read Mark 15:1-15

∆ Point 2 – Pilate’s Dilemma (1-15)

- Pilate is now in a very interesting predicament with what to do with Jesus

-- Jesus has been brought before him and he has to deal with this crowd

-- Remember, this is during the Passover, a time where crowds are great

-- He know his decision(s) could incite a riot, causing additional issues

-- Also, failing to act will cast him in a bad light with Caesar; a ruthless leader

- We know from the other Gospels that Jesus will face three civil trials

-- All of which are greatly manipulated by the Pharisees; pressuring them

-- These trials set Jesus up with a no win situation, before Pilate who’s weak

-- In Mark’s gospel, we see Pilate who’s heard the accusations get right to it

- “Are you the King of the Jews?” (v2)

-- The Pharisees really had three accusations against Jesus