How Can We Know? (Luke 1:1-4)
Every day we are bombarded with a huge amount of information. Wherever we turn another message clamors for our attention. Newspapers, the radio, TV and the Internet demand we give our time and attention to what they have to say. Advertisers try to convince us that we need what they have to sell. Politicians and celebrities try to persuade us to join their causes. Rumor and gossip try to frighten, scandalize or tantalize us.
However, this leaves us with a problem. Many of the messages we hear contradict one another. If what this person says is true, then what someone else is telling us cannot be true. We need wisdom to discern whether one of them is correct or whether both are equally wrong. We need wisdom to know when someone is trying to mislead us. We need to learn to recognize truth when we hear it. Further, we need to learn what importance to assign to the truths we encounter – not everything which is true is worth our attention.
We face the same dilemma in regard to spiritual things. There are many different philosophies and beliefs, each claiming to be the truth. Some people say that as long as a person is sincere, it doesn’t matter what he believes – the various religions and philosophies are merely different paths which all lead to God. But this concept cannot be correct. Roads which go in opposite directions do not arrive at the same destination. Different religions contradict each other. What one affirms as truth another denies. Since this is so, how can they direct a person to the same reality? Some religions even deny the existence of God altogether. How can following such a religion lead one to God? No, either God exists or He does not. The truth about Him does not change no matter what some religious teacher may claim. We need discernment to recognize the truth and to separate it from falsehood.
This being the case, how can we know when a spiritual teacher is telling us the truth? How do we know that he is not mistaken? Something which gives us confidence in the message is the personal experience of the person who is proclaiming it. Did he personally witness the events he is telling us about? Did he personally hear the teaching? One of the things which gives us great confidence in the teaching about Jesus Christ is that it comes directly from people who spent time with Him – they personally saw what He did; they heard for themselves what He said. The Apostle John writes concerning this, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.” (1 John 1:1 NIV)
The Holy Bible contains four books which tell us of the life, work and teaching of Jesus Christ. All four of them are based on eye-witness testimony. Two of them were written by Apostles whom Jesus chose to live and work with Him throughout His ministry. The other two were written by men who were closely associated with the Apostles and were careful to investigate the facts.
Luke begins his inspired account of the life and teaching of Jesus in this way, “Since many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us, even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus; that you might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed.”
Who was the man who penned these words? Though his name does not appear in his account, the tradition of the church has always ascribed the book to Luke. Luke was an associate and friend of the Apostle Paul. Luke accompanied Paul on some of Paul’s evangelistic journeys and helped him in his work. Paul called Luke “the beloved physician” (Colossians 4:14). From this we learn that Luke was a highly trained professional. As a physician he, no doubt, was taught to carefully observe and investigate a patient’s symptoms before making a diagnosis. This skill in observation is evident in his writing. Both in his Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles, which he also wrote, we find a wealth of details which are lacking in other accounts.
It appears that Luke was also a highly educated man. Like the other writers of the New Testament Scriptures he composed his account in the Greek language. However, his accounts use the most literary and polished Greek in the entire New Testament. In contrast to Mark who wrote in the language of the laboring class, Luke’s language is that of an educated scholar.
What was Luke’s purpose in writing this account of Christ’s work and teaching? He says that it is so the reader may “know the certainty of the things you have been taught.” (Luke 1:4) Jesus claimed not only to be a teacher sent from God, but the Savior whom God sent into the world to redeem mankind. Therefore, it is important that we know the truth about Him with certainty. If we can be certain that Jesus really is the Savior then it will be easier for us to follow Him and live for Him. On the other hand, if we are not certain who Jesus is nor certain about what He did, then our faith will remain weak and ineffective.
In view of this, how can we be confident of the things Luke wrote in his account? We can be confident because he did not merely write down random rumors about Jesus. On the contrary, he diligently researched and investigated his subject. He sought out the written accounts of eyewitnesses of those events he did not personally witness. In addition, it is likely that he interviewed people who were present. For example, he gives details of Jesus’ birth that do not appear in the other accounts – details that only Jesus’ mother, Mary would have known. Toward the end of Paul’s life, Luke accompanied Paul to Palestine. While there Paul was arrested and imprisoned for two years. It is likely that during those two years Luke sought out and interviewed those most acquainted with Jesus’ life and teaching.
Luke wrote his Gospel for a man called Theophilus. The name Theophilus means ‘lover of God’. Therefore, we can also say that Luke wrote this book for everyone who loves God and wants to know the truth about Jesus. If you love God then this book is for you.
In our next program we will look at what Luke writes about the events leading up to Jesus’ birth.
Is It Worth Bleeding For?
One way to evaluate how important something is to us is to ask how much we are willing to pay for it. For example, we might really like a particular piece of furniture. It would look very nice in our home. But however nice it may look and however much we want it, we will not purchase it because it is too expensive. In other words, it is not important enough to us for us to pay the cost. We would consider purchasing it only if the seller reduced the price to the point where it became more important to us to have the furniture than the money it costs to obtain it.
Money is not the only way to measure how important something is to us. Another way to determine how important something is, is how much we are willing to suffer for it. For example children are important to their parents. We know this because most parents are willing to suffer a great deal for their children. They sacrifice much to protect their children or to give them a better life.
This is also a good way to evaluate how strong our convictions and beliefs are. How much are we willing to suffer for them? Paul wrote, “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared…” (1 Corinthians 15:3-5 NIV) We know that these truths really were important to Paul because he repeatedly put his life on the line to testify about them. Are they important enough to us that we are willing to die for them rather than deny them?
There is another aspect to this. The book of Hebrews says, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.” (Hebrews 12:2-4 NIV)
How important is holiness and righteousness to us? How important to us is our relationship to God? Are we willing to go as far as to shed our own blood if that is what it takes to resist temptation and sin, or is the pleasure we get from sin more important to us? We have God’s promise that no temptation will ever become too strong for us (1 Corinthians 10:13) but how important is avoiding sin to us?
We are important enough to Jesus that He bled to redeem us from sin and restore our relationship to God. Is our relationship with Him important enough that we are willing to bleed for it? Are we willing to bleed if that is what it takes to avoid sin?
Words
Words are wonderful. They can enlighten, encourage, instruct, inform, comfort and heal. However, words are also dangerous. They can obscure, deceive, discourage, misinform and hurt. Even when it is not our intention to damage or to wrong, our words can lead to misunderstandings. Our own words can ensnare us or make us look foolish. No wonder King Solomon wrote, “When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.” (Proverbs 10:19 NIV) It is true that the more we say, the more words we utter or write, the greater the chance is that we will say something which is wrong or inappropriate; the greater opportunity we have to cause harm, to give grief or hurt someone.
How can we avoid the sin into which our words so often lead us? Solomon pointed to the solution when he said that the wise hold their tongues. It really isn’t necessary to always say everything which comes to mind? James writes, “We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.” (James 3:2 NIV) So, one way we can reduce the number of our faults is simply to speak and say less: To exercise control over our tongues instead of allowing our tongues to control us.
In the rest of his letter, James gives several practical examples of how we should control our words. One of them is this: “Above all, my brothers, do not swear – not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no, or you will be condemned.” (James 5:12 NIV) One lesson is that if we never take an oath or make a vow, then we cannot be held liable for breaking our oath or vow if, in spite of our intentions and best efforts, we are unable to fulfill what we said we would do.
What do our words say about us? Do we allow our tongues to lead us into sin? Do we use our words to hurt and wound others or, do our words comfort, encourage and help others to live for God? Would the world be a better place if we said less? Would we be better people if we said less?
Preach the Good News! (Mark 16:9-20)
There are some things which are so far outside of our experience or our expectations that we find them extremely difficult to believe. Even though Jesus clearly told His disciples that He would rise from the dead, they did not expect Him to do so. When Jesus’ tomb was found empty they still could not bring themselves to understand or believe the truth. After all, who ever heard of someone raising himself from the dead? One of the strongest proofs of Jesus’ resurrection is the disciples’ transformation from unbelief to a burning faith which changed the world. Let’s read about in Mark’s account starting in chapter 16, verses 9 through 14.
“Now when he had risen early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. When they heard that he was alive, and had been seen by her, they disbelieved. After these things he was revealed in another form to two of them, as they walked, on their way into the country. They went away and told it to the rest. They didn’t believe them, either. Afterward he was revealed to the eleven themselves as they sat at the table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they didn’t believe those who had seen him after he had risen..”
Mark writes that Jesus’ companions were still mourning and weeping on the Sunday morning following His crucifixion. Their beloved friend, teacher and master was dead. Not only had they lost someone very dear to them, their own personal hopes and aspirations died with Jesus. In light of this, Mary’s news that Jesus had risen from the dead should have been welcome. They should have been filled with joy that their decision to follow Jesus was not in vain. Instead, they refused to believe. In spite of seeing Jesus raise the dead, they could not imagine Him overcoming His own death.
The disciples still would not believe when two men confirmed Mary’s report by relating how they had met the resurrected Jesus. It wasn’t until Jesus, Himself, appeared to them and rebuked them for their refusal to believe the other eyewitnesses that they accepted the truth.
The cross proved that the disciples’ ideas about the Kingdom of God and what it meant to follow Jesus were wrong. Christ’s resurrection reversed the verdict handed down by the religious authorities who had Him executed. The resurrection undid the shame and condemnation of the cross. But how would Jesus’ resurrection change the day-to-day lives of the disciples? Clearly, it was unreasonable to think that Jesus would continue His ministry as if the crucifixion never happened. For one thing, Jesus no longer was with them in the same sense as He had been before. He would suddenly appear among them then, after a short while, would disappear from their sight. We know from another account that some of the disciples thought about going back to their former occupations. However, Jesus had other ideas. In verses 15 through 18 Mark tells us what instructions Jesus gave the disciples.
“He said to them, “Go into all the world, and preach the Good News to the whole creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who disbelieves will be condemned. These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new languages; they will take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it will in no way hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” So then the Lord, after he had spoken to them, was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.”
What is this ‘good news’ Jesus told His disciples to preach? By the means of Jesus’ death on the cross and the resurrection, God did for us what we could not do for ourselves. Because we have sinned against God we are worthy of death. By His death Jesus took the burden of our sin upon Himself and paid our penalty. By means of Jesus’ resurrection we also can be raised up into new life from the death we have incurred by our sin. Truly this is good news. But how will people learn about it? Jesus instructed His disciples to go into all the world and proclaim this good news to everyone. This is why even today the followers of Christ go everywhere, to all lands and tell people from all walks of life that through Jesus’ death and resurrection they, too, can have life.
What must someone do in order to receive this life? How can they be saved? Jesus said that those who believe and are baptized will be saved. Believe what? We must believe in the resurrection of Jesus. We already saw how the disciples refused to believe and how Jesus rebuked them for their lack of faith. It was only after they believed that Jesus had risen from the dead that He could use them to proclaim the good news. Similarly, we also must believe.
However, belief is far more than acknowledging certain facts. True belief will always result in action. Belief which results in salvation will cause us to submit to baptism. Baptism is being fully immersed in water in the name of the Father (that is, God), the Son (that is Jesus) and the Holy Spirit. Elsewhere Scripture explains, “Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” (Romans 6:3-4 NIV) Have you believed been baptized so that you may be saved? If you do not believe, as Jesus said, you will be condemned.
Jesus told His disciples that they would have the ability to perform miracles. What was the reason for this? The miracles were signs that the good news the disciples preached was genuine. In Scripture we have many examples of the miracles the disciples did while they proclaimed the good news. Now, however, when we have the written testimony of who Jesus is and what He did we no longer need miracles to confirm the message.
In spite of this, many people still claim to perform miracles. Yet, if the miracles do not point to Christ or confirm the good news of the resurrection of Jesus, then the one who performs them is bearing a false message.
Mark ends his account with these words, “They went out, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word by the signs that followed. Amen.” The question we should ask ourselves is whether we, too, are obedient to Christ.
An Empty Tomb (Mark 15:42-16:8)
Jesus’ cry from the cross, “It is finished!” also expressed the understanding of His disciples. When Jesus died, all their hopes died with Him. Though Jesus plainly told them ahead of time what would happen, they did not understand or believe. Afterwards, however, something occurred which changed everything. In the Gospel account which bears his name, Mark tells us what happened after Jesus died. In chapter 15, verse 42 through chapter 16, verse 8 he writes:
“When evening had now come, because it was the Preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathaea, a prominent council member who also himself was looking for God’s Kingdom, came. He boldly went in to Pilate, and asked for Jesus’ body. Pilate marveled if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he had been dead long. When he found out from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph. He bought a linen cloth, and taking him down, wound him in the linen cloth, and laid him in a tomb which had been cut out of a rock. He rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of Joses, saw where he was laid. When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, that they might come and anoint him. Very early on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. They were saying among themselves, “Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?” for it was very big. Looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back. Entering into the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were amazed. He said to them, “Don’t be amazed. You seek Jesus, the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen. He is not here. Behold, the place where they laid him! But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He goes before you into Galilee. There you will see him, as he said to you.’” They went out, and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had come on them. They said nothing to anyone; for they were afraid.”
Like Pilate, the Roman governor, many people question whether Jesus really died on the cross. They speculate that perhaps He merely fainted and Joseph of Arimathea placed Him in the tomb without realizing that He still lived. The reason people insist that Jesus didn’t die is that the alternative is terrifying. If Jesus truly did die then the fact that the women found His tomb empty points to a reality people do not wish to accept – Jesus rose from the dead. And, if Jesus rose from the dead it means that He is who He always claimed to be. He is not merely a good man, or even just a prophet. He is more than that. He is divine. If Jesus really did have the authority He claimed, to take up His life again, then we must acknowledge that He also possesses the authority He claimes to have over us. People do not want to accept Jesus as their Master so they deny His death or that He rose from the dead.
Unfortunately for people who wish to deny Jesus’ death, Pilate investigated the facts. When told that Jesus had died, he summoned and questioned the officer who commanded the soldiers who crucified Jesus. There was no doubt in the officer’s mind. The Roman soldiers knew their business. They were well acquainted with death. It is highly likely that Jesus and the two thieves put to death with Him were not the first men the soldiers had killed. Though Mark does not mention it, another account of Jesus’ crucifixion says that to make absolutely sure there was no mistake, one of the soldiers thrust a spear into Jesus’ side. Blood and water flowed from the wound (John 19:34). This indicates that before the spear pierced His lungs and heart Jesus had already been dead long enough for His blood to separate. There could be no question that Jesus was dead. It was only after receiving satisfaction on this point that Pilate allowed Joseph to bury Jesus’ body.
Not enough time remained in the day to fully comply with Jewish burial customs. However, Joseph, with the help of a man by the name of Nicodemus, wrapped Jesus’ body in cloth and placed it in a room carved out of the rock. Then they rolled a very large, flat stone across the entrance to seal it. The stone was large enough that the women who came to anoint Jesus’ body with spices doubted that they would be able to roll the stone away from the tomb’s entrance.
The stone was not the only impediment which prevented someone from interfering with Jesus’ body. Another account relates that at the request of the chief priests and Pharisees, Pilate officially sealed the tomb and posted a guard on it (Matthew 27:62-66).
In light of this it is no wonder that the women were amazed when they found the tomb open. Their amazement turned to alarm when a young man spoke to them inside the empty tomb. Other accounts call this man an angel and say that his clothes shown brightly, like lightning (Matthew 28:2-3, Luke 24:4).
The angel’s message was as unexpected as his appearance. He said that Jesus had risen from the dead. When someone dies, we expect him to stay dead. This is our universal experience. It is true that the Scriptures record that some of the Jewish prophets such as Elisha had the ability to raise the dead. It is probable that the women had even witnessed Jesus raise a few people from the dead, such as one of their friends, Lazarus. No doubt this was proof that Jesus had divine authority. Yet in all of human history, there had never been a case where a dead person raised himself. It was one thing to hear Jesus say, “The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.” (John 10:17-18 NIV) It was a very different thing to actually witness Jesus do it. Perhaps for the first time the women began to understand who Jesus really was.
The women were so frightened by what they saw and heard that they fled the tomb. They were afraid to tell anyone what happened in spite of the angel’s command to take a message to the disciples.
Like the women, we too are sometimes amazed and alarmed when we encounter God’s mighty power. We too are frightened when we learn the truth of Jesus’ rising from the dead and what it means. The question is what will we do after we find out? Will we deny the truth? Will we keep it to ourselves as the women did? Or will we allow the truth about Jesus to transform us and our lives?
Forsaken (Mark 15:21-41)
If we think about dying we picture our death as calm and peaceful while being attended by those who love and respect us. For Jesus it was very different. His death was not only agonizing, it could not have occurred in a more degrading and humiliating way.
Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea, condemned Jesus to die by crucifixion – that is by having His outstretched arms nailed to a wooden beam and His feet nailed to the supporting upright. Jesus had already been severely beaten and whipped. As a result He was unable to carry His cross to the place of execution. In chapter 15 of the account which bears his name, verses 21 through 41, Mark tells us what happened.
“They compelled one passing by, coming from the country, Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to go with them, that he might bear his cross. They brought him to the place called Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, “The place of a skull.” They offered him wine mixed with myrrh to drink, but he didn’t take it. Crucifying him, they parted his garments among them, casting lots on them, what each should take. It was the third hour, and they crucified him. The superscription of his accusation was written over him, “THE KING OF THE JEWS.” With him they crucified two robbers; one on his right hand, and one on his left. The Scripture was fulfilled, which says, “He was counted with transgressors.” Those who passed by blasphemed him, wagging their heads, and saying, “Ha! You who destroy the temple, and build it in three days, save yourself, and come down from the cross!” Likewise, also the chief priests mocking among themselves with the scribes said, “He saved others. He can’t save himself. Let the Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, that we may see and believe him.” Those who were crucified with him also insulted him. When the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. At the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is, being interpreted, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Some of those who stood by, when they heard it, said, “Behold, he is calling Elijah.” One ran, and filling a sponge full of vinegar, put it on a reed, and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Let him be. Let’s see whether Elijah comes to take him down.” Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and gave up the spirit. The veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom. When the centurion, who stood by opposite him, saw that he cried out like this and breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” There were also women watching from afar, among whom were both Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome; who, when he was in Galilee, followed him and served him; and many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem.”
The crucifixion of Christ is both the ultimate example of mankind’s baseness and God’s redeeming love. God, in His mercy, used Jesus’ murder and degrading humiliation as the means by which our sins may be forgiven. Volumes have been written about Jesus’ death and it’s meaning for us. In this program we will only look at a few details.
At least some at the cross tried to ease Jesus’ pain. They offered Him wine mixed with myrrh. Myrrh is a narcotic. Whether they offered it in mercy or whether they did it to make the soldier’s task easier, Jesus refused to drink it. He would experience the full measure of pain and suffering with a mind not dulled by drugs. When we are faced with suffering should we not follow His example? While discussing how we should respond to persecution the Apostle Peter writes, “The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.” (1 Peter 4:7 NIV) The word he uses for ‘self-controlled’ means ‘free from the influence of intoxicating substances.’
The notice the governor placed on the cross declaring Jesus the King of the Jews was Pilate’s way of taunting those who brought Jesus before him. They condemned Jesus on the basis of claiming to be a king. Jesus’ kingdom was not political and Pilate knew it. Pilate’s sign actually vindicated Jesus and condemned the Jews for killing their Messiah whose coming they had awaited for centuries. Yet the Jews condemned themselves for they also, in their mocking, acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah. He only needed to prove Himself, they said, by coming down from the cross. Since these people did not believe the signs Jesus had already performed it is unlikely that they would have believed even if Jesus had come down.
However, those around the cross also expressed a great truth in their mockery. They said that Jesus saved others but He could not save Himself. The reality is that Jesus could have saved Himself. Another Scripture says that He could have called 10,000 angels to His assistance. But if He had saved Himself, He could not have saved others. Only by His death could the sinless Jesus pay the price God requires for sin. And so, Jesus’ love compelled Him to endure the cross.
Scripture often links darkness with judgment. When the sun stopped shining on the day Christ died it indicated God’s judgment upon the world. But it also showed God’s judgment against Jesus. While on the cross Jesus took the sins of the entire world, past, present and future, upon Himself. Since God is pure, holy, and righteous He cannot abide sin. When Jesus became sin, God turned away from Him. This prompted Jesus to cry out in the words of Psalm 22, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” That forsaking made it possible for us to come near to God. The Apostle Paul writes, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV)
God’s presence dwelt in the form of a divine light in the inner room of the Temple in Jerusalem. When Christ Jesus cried out, “It is finished!” and gave up His spirit the curtain which separated this room from the rest of the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom. This symbolized that Jesus’ sacrifice has made it possible for mankind to come into God’s presence.
The manner of Jesus’ death convinced the soldier in charge that Jesus really was the Son of God. When we consider His death and the meaning of it should we not believe also?
Jesus’ crucifixion was not only a testament to man’s cruelty, it was a fulfillment of prophecy. In Psalm 22, King David predicted Jesus’ suffering on the cross, the taunts, insults and mockery of the crowd, the gambling for Jesus’ clothes and being forsaken by God. Yet in the same Psalm David predicted Jesus’ ultimate triumph and exaltation.
Crucify Him! (Mark 15:1-20)
God cares about justice and He wants the courts to be just. For example, God said to the Israelites through the prophet Moses, “Follow justice and justice alone, so that you may live and possess the land the LORD your God is giving you.” (Deuteronomy 16:20 NIV)
In spite of this clear instruction in the Law of Moses, the religious rulers perverted the court system in order to condemn Jesus. Since they did not have the authority to put anyone to death, they dragged Jesus before the Roman governor. Mark tells us what happened in chapter 15, verses 1 through 15 of the Gospel which bears his name. “Immediately in the morning the chief priests, with the elders and scribes, and the whole council, held a consultation, bound Jesus, carried him away, and delivered him up to Pilate. Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” He answered, “So you say.” The chief priests accused him of many things. Pilate again asked him, “Have you no answer? See how many things they testify against you!” But Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate marveled. Now at the feast he used to release to them one prisoner, whom they asked of him. There was one called Barabbas, bound with his fellow insurgents, men who in the insurrection had committed murder. The multitude, crying aloud, began to ask him to do as he always did for them. Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” For he perceived that for envy the chief priests had delivered him up. But the chief priests stirred up the multitude, that he should release Barabbas to them instead. Pilate again asked them, “What then should I do to him whom you call the King of the Jews?” They cried out again, “Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they cried out exceedingly, “Crucify him!” Pilate, wishing to please the multitude, released Barabbas to them, and handed over Jesus, when he had flogged him, to be crucified.”
When the authorities brought Jesus before Pilate, they apparently thought he would merely confirm the death sentence they had already pronounced. Pilate, to his credit, refused to do so and forced the authorities to present their charges against Jesus.
This presented the authorities with a real problem. The case against Jesus was based on blasphemy. This was nothing which would stand up in a Roman court. The Romans did not care about religious disputes. Luke tells us what charges the authorities made: “…We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Christ, a king.” (Luke 23:2 NIV)
The first accusation was an outright lie. Jesus had never told anyone not to pay their taxes. On the contrary, He had said to “give to Caesar what is Caesar’s” (Mark 12:17).
Pilate apparently knew enough about Jesus’ teaching to see through the accusation about taxes, but he had to investigate the accusation about Jesus claiming to be a king. In other words, was Jesus guilty of sedition – inciting revolution against Rome? He asked Jesus to state whether He was a king. Jesus affirmed that He was, but from the way He said it, it was apparent that His kingdom was not a physical or political one. The truth is that on the occasion when He fed 5,000 people Jesus had already turned down the people’s attempt to make Him king. Whether Pilate knew this or not, he was astute enough to realize that Jesus was no threat to Rome.
The religious authorities accused Jesus of many other things. To Pilate’s surprise, Jesus did not dignify any of the accusations with a reply. By His silence Jesus condemned His accusers.
At this point another factor entered the picture. Pilate had the prerogative of releasing a prisoner during the Passover feast. The crowd asked him to do so. Instead of allowing the crowd to say which prisoner they wanted released, he gave them a choice – Jesus or Barabbas, who was a notorious criminal. No doubt Pilate did this in the attempt to highlight how absurd the accusations against Jesus were. He knew Jesus was innocent and that Jesus’ accusers were motivated by envy. It must have been a profound shock to him when the crowd chose the guilty Barabbas over the innocent Jesus. It’s also highly ironic that they did so. One of the reasons the authorities wanted to kill Jesus was that He had called Himself God’ Son (John 5:18). Barabbas’ name means “the son of the father.” So, the crowd chose the false son over the true Son.
In his confusion over this development Pilate asked what should be done with the King of the Jews. How pathetic that the judge tried to avoid making a decision and asked the crowd for a verdict. The crowd’s verdict was immediate and brutal – “Crucify him!” Once more Pilate tried to reason with them by asking what crime Jesus had committed. The crowd was not interested in reason or justice. They wanted blood.
Up till now, Pilate had acted honorably. Weak perhaps, but at least he had maintained his own integrity. But now he crossed over the line of moral compromise. He perpetrated an injustice in the hopes that it would prevent a greater injustice – he had Jesus flogged. Floggings themselves were sometimes enough to kill a man. In this case instead of arousing pity, it only stoked the crowd’s lust for blood. Pilate finally gave in and condemned Jesus to crucifixion.
Before facing the horror of being nailed to a cross Jesus had to endure yet another humiliation. In verses 16 through 20 John writes, “The soldiers led him away within the court, which is the Praetorium; and they called together the whole cohort. They clothed him with purple, and weaving a crown of thorns, they put it on him. They began to salute him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” They struck his head with a reed, and spat on him, and bowing their knees, did homage to him. When they had mocked him, they took the purple off him, and put his own garments on him. They led him out to crucify him.”
Like the soldiers many people, even today, despise and mock the true King. They bow before Him in ridicule and false devotion. Conversely, many offer true worship and service to false Christs. Little do they realize that one day, “at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.” (Philippians 2:10-11) We should bow before Jesus in humility and devotion now, before the time comes when we are forced to bow before Him against our will.
I Don’t Know This Man! (Mark 14:66-72)
The truth is that we do not know how we will act in a given circumstance until we actually come face to face with that situation. For example, we like to think that we will sacrifice ourselves for those we love. But it is not until the needs of a loved one conflict with our own desires that we find out how sacrificial we really are. We like to think that we will stand firm when threatened. But it is not until we actually face a threat that we find out how brave we are.
We also tend to boast the loudest in our areas of greatest weakness. The man who is truly honest does not need to tell others how honest he is. His character speaks for itself. In contrast, the person who brags about how loyal or faithful he is, is usually the one who is the least dependable. As the Scripture warns us, “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” (1 Corinthians 10:12 NIV) The life of the Apostle Peter provides us with an illustration.
Though Jesus repeatedly told the His disciples it would happen they could not imagine that He would ever be arrested and condemned to death. Even worse was Jesus’ statement that one of the disciples would betray Him. Jesus went on to say that all the disciples would abandon Him. In reply Peter boasted, “Even if all fall away, I will not.” (Mark 14:29) Jesus warned Peter that his boast was misplaced, “…tonight – before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times. But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.”…” (Mark 14:30-31)
Shortly after this, the religious authorities arrested Jesus and put Him on trial in an upper room in the palace of the high priest. Though all the disciples fled at Jesus’ arrest Peter, to his credit, returned and followed the arresting officers as they took Jesus to the high priest. However, Peter could not enter the courtyard of the palace until John, whom the high priest knew, spoke for him to the servant girl on duty at the door. Upon entering the courtyard, Peter joined the Temple police warming themselves at a fire. He apparently tried to blend in, as if he was one of them. In chapter 14, verses 66 through 72 of the Gospel account which bears his name, Mark tells us what happened next.
“As Peter was in the courtyard below, one of the maids of the high priest came,
and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him, and said, “You were also with the Nazarene, Jesus!” But he denied it, saying, “I neither know, nor understand what you are saying.” He went out on the porch, and the rooster crowed. The maid saw him, and began again to tell those who stood by, “This is one of them.” But he again denied it. After a little while again those who stood by said to Peter, “You truly are one of them, for you are a Galilean, and your speech shows it.” But he began to curse, and to swear, “I don’t know this man of whom you speak!” The rooster crowed the second time. Peter remembered the word, how that Jesus said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” When he thought about that, he wept.”
To understand this incident we must remember that Peter was alone, surrounded by potentially hostile people who could have turned him over to the same authorities who put Jesus on trial. We do not know where John was while Peter warmed himself by the fire. Perhaps he went upstairs to witness Jesus’ trial and did not know about the drama taking place in the courtyard. In any case, he offered no support when Peter came under suspicion.
The first to accuse Peter was the same servant girl who let him inside. She identified him as one of Jesus’ disciples. Perhaps she did this because she did not appreciate Peter’s attempt to blend in and hide his identity. More likely, it was from conceit. She wanted to show the men around the fire that she knew something they didn’t. Whatever her motives, her statement was enough to panic Peter. He lied about his relationship to Jesus and moved away from the fire. However there was no escape. No doubt the door to the outside was shut again and Peter did not have the authority to order the doorkeeper to let him out.
Once more a servant girl accused Peter of being Jesus’ disciple. This time she did not speak to Peter directly, but to the other people in the vicinity. In contrast to Jesus who remained silent when accused, Peter interrupted the discussion and denied again that he was a disciple of Jesus. The word Mark uses indicates that Peter did not make a simple statement, but denied his relationship to Jesus at some length.
Aside from displaying his cowardice, Peter’s denial only created more trouble for himself. By speaking at length his Galilean accent became obvious to those who heard him. In their minds his accent proved that Peter really was one of Jesus’ followers. When they pointed this out, Peter not only denied it, but swore and called down curses upon himself. The man who had once boldly confessed that Jesus was the, “…Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16) now was so frightened that he called God as his witness that he didn’t even know the man they were talking about. He acted as if he had never before heard the name ‘Jesus.’
At this point two things happened. By now the high priest had concluded his farce of a trial and found Jesus guilty. The authorities and guards mocked and beat Jesus before dragging Him off to the court of the Roman governor. Luke records that while this was going on Jesus turned and looked straight at Peter. The other thing which happened was that the rooster crowed.
The sound of the rooster and Jesus’ look undid Peter. He remembered Jesus’ prophecy that Peter would deny Him three times. The courtyard door opened to let the crowd pass on their way to the governor. Peter went out and wept bitterly.
When we read about this incident we tend to look down on Peter and boast, “If I had been there I would not have denied my Lord!” But if we wear the name of Christ we need to ask ourselves this question: Do I deny Christ by the way I live? When I do not do what Jesus has told us to do am I not denying Him? At least Peter repented of his denial. Are we honest enough to do the same?
Are You the Christ? (Mark 14:53-65)
The Bible teaches us that God is righteous and just. God will not condemn someone for a sin he has not committed. For example, when Abraham plead with God to spare Sodom he said, “…Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:23-25 NIV)
In light of this it was the height of hypocrisy for religious leaders who claimed to represent and serve God to, themselves, break the law and violate justice when they put Jesus on trial. In chapter 14, verses 53 through 65 of the Gospel which bears his name, Mark tells us what happened:
“They led Jesus away to the high priest. All the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes came together with him. Peter had followed him from a distance, until he came into the court of the high priest. He was sitting with the officers, and warming himself in the light of the fire. Now the chief priests and the whole council sought witnesses against Jesus to put him to death, and found none. For many gave false testimony against him, and their testimony didn’t agree with each other. Some stood up, and gave false testimony against him, saying, “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands.’” Even so, their testimony didn’t agree. The high priest stood up in the middle, and asked Jesus, “Have you no answer? What is it which these testify against you?” But he stayed quiet, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” Jesus said, “I am. You will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of the sky.” The high priest tore his clothes, and said, “What further need have we of witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy! What do you think?” They all condemned him to be worthy of death. Some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to beat him with fists, and to tell him, “Prophesy!” The officers struck him with the palms of their hands.”
In three different places in this book Mark wrote that the religious authorities were already seeking an opportunity to kill Jesus. The purpose of the court they convened was not to serve justice, or even to uncover the truth, but to find a pretext to accuse Jesus of a capital crime. To put it another way, the religious authorities had already determined the outcome of Jesus’ trial and merely needed a way to give their decision to put Him to death the appearance of legality.
Though the authorities wanted to cover their decision with the cloak of legality they did not hesitate to break the Law in order to obtain the outcome they wanted. It is unjust to accuse someone of wrongdoing until a crime has been committed. The purpose of a trial is to determine whether the accused person has, in fact, committed the crime. However, in Jesus’ case, the authorities turned things around. Instead of starting with a crime and trying to find who had perpetrated it, they began with the man they wanted to destroy and went looking for a crime with which to accuse him.
The authorities’ plot fell apart. The Law of Moses clearly states, “On the testimony of two or three witnesses a man shall be put to death, but no one shall be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.” (Deuteronomy 17:6 NIV) The requirement for two or three witnesses did not apply only to capital crimes. In another place the Law says, “One witness is not enough to convict a man accused of any crime or offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.” (Deuteronomy 19:15 NIV)
Even though the authorities brought out many false witnesses to accuse Jesus, none of their accounts matched. No case could be made on the basis of their testimony. Finally, two of these false witnesses claimed that they heard Jesus threaten the Temple. This was a misrepresentation of a statement Jesus had made some three years in the past. The temple Jesus referred to was His own body, not the Temple in Jerusalem where the Jews made their sacrifices. Even so, the witnesses’ statements did not agree. Their testimony was not legally valid even if the judges let stand the distortion of what Jesus actually said.
To salvage the case the High Priest turned to Jesus and asked Him to respond to the testimony. Jesus did not fall into the trap; He remained silent. To have said anything – even to dispute the testimony – would have been to acknowledge that it was admissible. Jesus’ silence only highlighted the fact that the testimony against Him had no legal standing.
With the case in jeopardy the High Priest abandoned altogether his strategy of calling witnesses and questioned Jesus directly. By doing so he threw away all pretense of acting as an impartial judge and became a prosecuting attorney. However, the question he asked went right to the core issue of Jesus’ identity and the authorities’ main objection to Jesus. Was Jesus the Christ, that is, the Son of God?
Up to this point Jesus had remained silent, but for Him to remain silent now would have been to deny His own identity. So, He boldly and forcefully asserted that He was, indeed, the Christ. Not only was He the Christ, His accusers would personally witness how God would exalt Him. While making this astonishing statement Jesus also identified Himself as the ‘Son of Man’ foretold by the prophet Daniel, whose kingdom will never be destroyed. By His own confession, Jesus is the ‘Son of Man,’ the ‘Son of God’ and the Christ. To reject any of these titles is to call Jesus a liar.
Jesus’ answer was exactly what the High Priest wanted. He accused Jesus of blasphemy which carried the death penalty. Overthrowing normal court procedure he called for a voice vote from the other members of the court. They joined in condemning Jesus rather than accepting the truth of His identity. Then they did something which demonstrated how corrupt their court was: They spit at Jesus, blindfolded Him, struck Him and demanded that if He were a prophet to tell them who hit Him. After they had their fun they turned Jesus over to the guards for another beating.
Watch and Pray (Mark 14:27-52)
We often have a higher estimation of our own moral strength and courage than is the case. We hear about someone yielding to pressure to do wrong and say, “I would never do that!” However, when it is we who have to face the temptation or the pressure to do wrong we find that our boasting about what we would or wouldn’t do was misplaced.
Jesus’ disciples found that they were not able to live up to their boasts. After Jesus and the disciples ate the Passover meal together they went to the Mount of Olives. In chapter 14, beginning with verse 27 of the Gospel which bears his name, Mark records what happened. “Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of me tonight, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ However, after I am raised up, I will go before you into Galilee.” But Peter said to him, “Although all will be offended, yet I will not.” Jesus said to him, “Most certainly I tell you, that you today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” But he spoke all the more, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” They all said the same thing.”
Even though Jesus plainly told them on more than one occasion that He would suffer and die, the disciples could not grasp it. They expected Jesus to establish an earthly kingdom in which they would have positions of honor. This misunderstanding of Jesus’ kingship and their own ambitions blinded them to the reality of their weakness. During their meal Jesus had already shocked the disciples by saying one of them would betray Him. Now He quoted the prophet Zechariah to warn the disciples that all of them would abandon Him. Instead of taking Jesus’ warning to heart and preparing to face the test which was coming, each of the disciples declared that he was more loyal than all the others.
The reasons for the disciples’ vulnerability to temptation became apparent a little later. In verses 32 through 42 Mark writes, “They came to a place which was named Gethsemane. He said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I pray.” He took with him Peter, James, and John, and began to be greatly troubled and distressed. He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here, and watch.” He went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass away from him. He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible to you. Please remove this cup from me. However, not what I desire, but what you desire.” He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Couldn’t you watch one hour? Watch and pray, that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again he went away, and prayed, saying the same words. Again he returned, and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they didn’t know what to answer him. He came the third time, and said to them, “Sleep on now, and take your rest. It is enough. The hour has come. Behold, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Arise! Let’s get going. Behold: he who betrays me is at hand.””
It is ironic that the people who declared their undying loyalty to Jesus would, a few minutes later, not comply with His request to keep watch. Instead of remaining vigilant the disciples gave way to slumber. The disciples’ actions provide us with a lesson why we also find it difficult to resist temptation. When we fail to follow Jesus’ instructions, fail to pray and fail to keep up our guard then, like the disciples we, too, will be unfit for the difficulties and trials which come upon us.
In contrast to the disciples, Jesus prayed earnestly that God would spare Him from the ordeal which was coming. Since Jesus was arrested, condemned and crucified, many would say that God did not listen to Jesus’ prayer. However, the writer of Hebrews assures us that God did hear Jesus’ prayer to be saved from death. How can this be? It is true that Jesus died, but it is also true that God raised Him from the dead. Jesus now lives forever. Death has no hold on Him. In this way God answered Jesus’ prayer to be saved from death in the most significant way possible.
Why did God grant Jesus’ prayer? Mark writes that Jesus prayed for God’s will to be done regardless of His own desires. The writer of Hebrews points out that God heard Jesus because of His reverent submission. If it seems like God is not listening to us when we pray, perhaps it is because we are asking from selfish motives instead of asking for God’s will to be done.
Jesus repeatedly admonished His disciples to watch and pray. In verses 43 through 52 Mark tells us what happened the last time He did this, “Immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, came—and with him a multitude with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. Now he who betrayed him had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I will kiss, that is he. Seize him, and lead him away safely.” When he had come, immediately he came to him, and said, “Rabbi! Rabbi!” and kissed him. They laid their hands on him, and seized him. But a certain one of those who stood by drew his sword, and struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. Jesus answered them, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to seize me? I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and you didn’t arrest me. But this is so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled.” They all left him, and fled. A certain young man followed him, having a linen cloth thrown around himself over his naked body. The young men grabbed him, but he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked.”
Few actions are so despicable as betrayal cloaked in love. Perhaps it was with Judas’ betrayal in mind that the Apostle Paul later wrote, “…Greet one another with a holy kiss.” (1 Corinthians 16:20) But Judas was not the only one at fault. Because they had not prepared themselves to face temptation, the disciples’ prideful boasts of loyalty turned into craven desertion. True, one of them tried to defend Jesus with a sword but this, too, came from a failure to understand Jesus’ purpose and the nature of His kingdom. Other accounts of this incident record that Jesus not rebuked Peter for resorting to armed violence, he healed the man Peter wounded. With that, bravado turned to fear and all the disciples fled. Scholars believe that the young man who fled naked was none other than Mark who wrote this account.
Jesus also pointed out the cowardice and hypocrisy of those who arrested Him. Jesus openly taught at the Temple. They could have arrested Him there. Instead they chose darkness in which to arrest the “Light of the World.” They brought weapons to subdue the unresisting, ‘Prince of Peace.’