The Plot to Kill Jesus - Mark 14:1-2
After two days it was the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take Him by trickery and put Him to death. 2 But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar of the people.”
The Passover commemorated the “passing over” of Hebrew households in Egypt by the angel of death. Before Pharaoh released the Hebrews from slavery God told Moses “instruct My people to take the blood of a lamb and spread it above the doorpost of their homes” this was to be a sign that they trusted in God by faith. If they didn't listen the firstborn male of each household would die. So the people listened to the Lord and that night when the death angel went through the land he passed over the homes that were “covered by the blood”.
The firstborn of the Egyptians perished but the Hebrews were delivered, this caused Pharaoh to release the people. This event of course is still observed by Jews today in the Passover meal. The unleavened bread was a picture not only of their quick departure from Egypt but also the absence of sin, the leaven (or the yeast) symbolized sin, so as they departed they departed cleansed, cleansed by the blood of the lamb through faith. This took some passion and faith to carry out.
Few things picture the Lord Jesus Christ more clearly than the Passover & the feast of unleavened bread. How is a person saved? How is sin washed away? The Scripture says in Hebrews 9:22 that without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin but it’s not only that justice has been served with the “shedding of blood” it’s that people trust in God by faith, faith that in the death of Christ their sins have been forgiven!
Jesus came as the lamb of God, that’s what John the Baptist said of Jesus when he saw Him, “Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world!” He didn’t come just to take away the sins of the Jewish people (that’s who He came to first, the lost sheep of the house of Israel) but Jesus came to take away the sins of the whole world, that is all people, from every nation, tribe and tongue! When you consider His mission – a mission of mercy, how amazing is it that the reaction of the Jewish leadership was to plot to kill Him?
You would think they would be grateful! God is willing to bless them, forgive them, the kingdom is offered, eternal life is offered – how could they possible respond this way? A week or so ago the deacons and myself talked about some of the challenges the church faces. In some ways it’s the area we live in, in some ways in the nation we live in, in some ways it’s the times we live in….. The fact of the matter is God is reaching out to lost and dying world and people flat out don’t care! They either presume God’s grace or they don’t feel they need it!
They are not necessarily looking to plot your demise but really that all depends. I promise you if a man rose up and preached the way John the Baptist preached, if he had a national platform and was willing to stand up to the powers that be and get personal the way John did with king Herod, what do you think would happen? If you preach at someone directly and you get personal you may not die a martyr’s death but I promise you people would be plot against you in some way shape or form!
But generally speaking, people don’t care! They don’t care about Jesus, they don’t care about the Bible, they don’t care about church and they have no concern about being forgiven of their sins! Unbelievers just don’t care! Christians however are different. Right? Are Christians different? I would say yes…and no! Let’s see what the Lord says – turn to the book of Revelation 3:14-22
And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: 15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. 22 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches
The Lord says “I know your works”. Who is He speaking to? He is speaking to the church! This is what you would call a difficult passage! I know at times preachers say things that offend people, I mean you really can’t avoid it. If you never offend anyone that probably means your message is so watered down that it’s not doing any good. When the prophets preached they were persecuted, when the apostles preached they were thrown in prison, when Jesus preached they plotted His death! When I preach people shake my hand on the way out the door. Maybe I’m not doing it right!
I have had heard a few criticisms lately so maybe I’m getting better but in all seriousness the truth is going to offend people sometimes. Jesus ruffled some feathers and preachers (if they are preaching the Word) they (WE) will ruffle some feathers to at times. I speak for 45 minutes during Sunday School, a half hour for the sermon, I do an hour on the radio on Wednesday, another half hour is played on the radio on Thursday and when we have a Bible study you can add another hour or so. Right there you have at least a few hours of public speaking every week so eventually someone’s not going to take issue with something I say.
What I am leading up to is this, some people get the impression that Jesus never said anything critical EVER! Of course we know He did, He had several things to say to the Scribes & Pharisees but then some people will say “But He would never say anything unkind or critical to believers.” Well let us hear the words of Jesus to the church at Laodicea –“ because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.” While it’s true this comment was directed at a specific church and therefore it does not apply to all churches I think we understand that Laodicea is not the only church that could be described this way, so we need to be on guard.
Why did the Lord choose this analogy? Well, historians and Biblical Scholars tell of the aqueducts in and around Laodicea. Nearby there were hot-springs that the people enjoyed, there were also cold mountain streams that the people would drink from but the water system for Laodicea flowed underground for miles and by the time it got to the people It was tepid and dirty. When visitors came to visit the city they would often take a drink and spit it out! It was totally unappealing!
We like our coffee hot, we like our water & juice cold but when we take a drink of something that is lukewarm we would just assume spit it out! Its true nonbelievers don’t care about the things of God, they couldn’t care less! What about Christians? I think what Jesus is saying here is that some believers don’t seem to care that much either! They’re not hot! They may not be cold but they are “Lukewarm”.
Jesus said in verses 17 “….I will vomit you out of My mouth because you say “I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing – and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked. As we said this letter in Revelation is written to the church at Laodicea so it doesn’t apply to all churches and God forbid it should ever apply to us but I think we need to consider these words. Many commentators define the age were living in as the “Laodicean age” and I think that’s accurate for the following reason – Not only are there many “Lukewarm believers” the Biblical Jesus has been kicked out of many churches! He has been replaced by the Hippie version of Jesus who is cool with anything you say, think or do! Abortion, fornication, homosexuality, dishonestly, laziness, IT’S A TOTAL FREE FOR ALL! Just don’t litter or pollute the environment.
Verse 18 “I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; white garments that you may be clothed…” He is saying, repent and turn to me! You think you have everything you need? The thing you need most is the thing you lack – You may have a church building but I am not in it! Jesus in an uninvited guest in not only many hearts but many churches!
Rev 3:19-20 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
Many of you have seen the artist rendition of this, where Jesus is standing at the door, knocking…. People like to point out in that famous painting there is no door knob. Jesus is outside, He can’t get it, and what He is saying here is basically people in the church of Laodicea don’t want Him to come in.
Often this verse is used as in illustration that Jesus is knocking at the door of you heart, won’t you let Him in? That’s fine, I believe He does that, that’s a fine analogy but in this verse He isn’t knocking on the door of your heart He is knocking at the door of the church! He also came knocking on the door of the house of Judah, they didn’t answer.
MARK 14:1-2 After two days it was the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take Him by trickery and put Him to death. 2 But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar of the people.”
The religious leaders wanted to put Jesus to death but they didn’t want to do it during the feast because they feared the people. There were more people in the city during the feast days. People were also more sensitive during the feast days so for them to arrested Jesus who many regarded as a prophet on a feast day, that was too risky!
So they plotted and calculated a way to do it so as not to cause an uproar. This tells us that although the leaders rejected Him, although the Nation did as a whole, there were still many people who believed. That’s what we see now in our nation. Our leaders don’t care about Him, our Nation (as a whole) has rejected Him but there are still many faithful followers. The question is - are we the silent majority? I’m not so sure that we’re the majority but often times I think we are far too silent!
The leaders in Israel were concerned about the people rising up in defense of Jesus, do our leaders even give that possibility a 2nd thought or is the church too Luke warm to ever respond with that kind of passion?
It’s not enough to just say yeah that’s true I wish things were different or I wish people would do more! That’s not enough, we need to look in the mirror and say “How can I better serve the Lord?”
Let’s close in prayer!
