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:
“What has He done wrong”? “Nothing really”! “It’s just that He is not ‘one of us’!”
Indeed, Jesus was not “one of them”! Hypocrites bend and break the rules to have it their way or no way. Jesus was no hypocrite; and in the face of such blatant hypocrisy, Mark says that Jesus “remained silent.” Today an attorney might say “He pled the Fifth Amendment”; but, folks, there was a lot more to His silence than fear of incrimination! How so?
For three years our Lord had gone throughout every region of the land proclaiming the Gospel of Grace and Truth that would set men free. At this point in time, there was nothing left to say that “they” had not already heard - or heard about. What “they” really wanted was for Jesus to “slip up” and make a statement that could be used against Him. So, the chief priest “set Him up” by asking a “loaded” question: “Are you God’s Anointed One?”
By not evading this pointed question or refusing to answer it, Jesus showed His COURAGE. Knowing that an answer in the affirmative would give them an excuse to condemn Him to death, He told the truth: “I AM.”
You might say that, when “push came to shove”, and the question no longer had to do with a false charge but with true character, for Jesus to have remained silent at that point could have been misconstrued as subdued admission that He had been wrong as to who He was. There are times when “silence is golden” - but there are other times when silence may be “yellow.”
Now that the opportunity to make a profoundly prophetic declaration had been handed to Him on “a silver platter,” Jesus seized the moment to “drive home” the major point that He knew would be used against Him as a basis for nailing Him to the Cross: “And you will see the Son of Man at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
In this tremendous burst of theological genius, Jesus amplified His answer to the most important question He had ever been asked; and, in His answer, we see His CONFIDENCE - in His mission . . . in His message . . . in the outcome of all He would endure on His way from travesty to majesty!
Was Jesus brilliant or what? The high priest and all of his highly educated Sanhedrin associates knew the Scriptures pertaining to the eventual reign of a “Son of Man” - misinterpreted by them as “one of us rulers” - but in reality, "one of us ordinary folks” would be the Messiah. For example, Psalm 110:1 . . . and Daniel 7:13-14 . . .
As is usually the case when a victim of unjustified accusations gains credibility by making an argument contrary to what the “powers that be” want to hear, the “chief” of these would-be assassins shuts off any further argument and declares the case decided! “What is there to be gained by further discussion?” “Why do we need any other witnesses?”
If normal procedure had been followed, as customarily was the case in a trial before the Sanhedrin, witnesses on behalf of the defendant would have been called; but, in this case, no such witnesses were allowed. It was as if the influential and politically-minded high priest thought to himself:
“We knew before we convened what we were going to do; if we allow this trial to go any further, we fear that the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth will emerge; so, enough already!”
Folks, had witnesses for the defendant been allowed, let me suggest a sampling of the testimony that could and would have been given:
“I was a leper and He cleansed me.”
“I was blind and He made me able to see.”
“I was deaf and He made me able to hear.”
“I was lame and He made me able to walk.”
“I was paralyzed and He gave me back my strength.”
“I was lost in sin but He saved me.”
“I was dead but He brought me back to life!”
The good deeds Jesus had done and the good news He came to share was not the kind of evidence the high priest wanted to hear. Even witnesses who conjured up false charges could not get their stories straight, amounting to nothing more than “hearsay” - inadmissible in any court of law, ancient or modern! Yet, such non-evidence was all that was listened to.
The real truth that sets sinners free is the gospel of salvation by grace witnessed in the life, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God’s Son and our Savior. Evidence of the transforming power of the gospel has been, and continues to be, seen in the changed lives of genuine believers.
One such transformation occurred in the life of John Newton - captain of a ship that brought slaves to America - who heard the gospel, was saved, became a preacher, and later in his ministry shared his testimony by penning the words of the famous gospel song that is sung the world over:
“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me;
“I once was lost, but now am found; was blind, but now I see.
“’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved;
“How precious did that grace appear, the hour I first believed!
“Thru many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come;
“’Tis grace hath bro’t me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.
“When we’ve been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun,
“We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise than when we first begun.” Amen.
