Travesty To Majesty Part One - Before Dawn On Friday: "no Witnesses?" Series

GOOD NEWS PRESENTED BY MARK

Study of the Gospel According to Mark

As you read Mark, be aware that you are reading the very first written account of the ministry of Jesus – a fact well documented by credible Bible scholars. Quite naturally, we want to know who Mark was, and we find that he is mentioned frequently in the New Testament.

What we know about him is that he was the son of a very well-to-do woman in Jerusalem; her name was Mary, and her home became the center of early church get-togethers. So, you can imagine that Mark was there when Jesus’ closest followers came to his mother’s house for a “church council” meeting. Peter the chief elder referred to Mark affectionately as “my son.”

Mark was also the nephew of Barnabas who talked Paul into letting the youngster go with them on one of their missionary journeys - which, you may recall, resulted in Mark’s falling out of favor with Paul by leaving and going back home. However, it’s interesting to note that, years later, when Paul was in prison, facing execution, he asked Timothy to bring Mark with him, “for he is a most useful servant to me.”

I suppose Paul saw in this young man a Christian who had the ability to write; and, apparently having redeemed himself, he could now be counted on to carry out Paul’s wishes. This explanation is plausible because Mark had served as Peter’s scribe and, as such, had written much of what Peter related to him about his eye witness account of the ministry of Jesus.

MARK SERMON XII – TRAVESTY TO MAJESTY - MARK 14:53 --- 16:8

Series Within A Series

PART ONE: BEFORE DAWN ON FRIDAY – “No Witnesses?”

MARK 14:53-65 . . .

In the unfolding drama of the Passion of Jesus – (that period of time between the Upper Room and the borrowed tomb) - the last we heard from His “inner circle” of Disciples was that they were “running for the hills”! Following the arrest of Jesus – after Judas, one of His very own, had betrayed Him - His other Disciples are said to have fled – except for Peter, who hung around in the shadows but disguised himself to make it less likely that he would be recognized; later on, though, Peter would be identified and his hypocrisy exposed.

In the meantime, a travesty of justice had been set in motion. Mark and all the other gospel writers tell us that Jesus was hurriedly tried and condemned by the religious hierarchy --- Mark 14:53 and 55-63 and 64-65 . . . Matthew 26:57 and 26:59-68 . . . Luke 22:54 and 22:63-65 . . . John 18:24 . . . .

Why the hurry? Why were religious rulers so fearful of Jesus? What motivated them to break their own laws? There are scholars who argue the point that, because of the strictness of Jewish observance of laws, there was no way the Sanhedrin – Supreme Court of the Jews - would rush a common criminal case through the system, let alone a high-profile civil case.

Yet, according to Mark, Matthew, Luke and John, a rush to judgment is exactly what happened. Do you suppose Jesus’ message - reinforced by His miracles - actually rang “true” to many of those in high places – but they were not ready for a higher kingdom to be “ushered in” at a time when they were living in luxury in their own earthly kingdom?

Throughout history, there have been certain powerful politicians - and priests – who resisted “things that are nobler, things that are higher” due to the fear of relinquishing power and prestige – even if they knew that, by letting go, the best interests of ALL rather than a few would be served.

Our Lord’s mission was to save ALL people from their sins and to establish God’s kingdom in the hearts of ALL who genuinely believe. Thus He taught us to pray, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Why would a comparatively FEW religious folks want to kill someone whose mission was the salvation of ALL people?

We have a pretty good indication of the reason why as we examine the words of Judas, when he led the temple authorities to the garden where Jesus had gone to pray: “He’s the one!” The “one” what? May I suggest that He was identified as “the one” because He was NOT “one of them”?

The way of hypocrisy always prevails over the way of love when we allow selfish pride to rule the day and get in the way of doing what is right! Jesus came to serve, not to be served; He taught love of God and fellowman; He embodied compassion; He went about doing good! So, Mr. High Priest: