Mark Pt. 36: Jesus, Our Passover

Jesus, Our Passover

Mark 14:12-26 (ESV)

The Significance of The Lord’s Supper

And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, “Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?” And he sent two of his disciples and said to them, Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him, and wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, the Teacher says, where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples? And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us. And the disciples set out and went to the city and found it just as he told them, and they prepared the Passover.

And when it was evening, he came with the twelve. And as they were reclining at table and eating, Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.” They began to be sorrowful and say to him one after another, “Is it I?” He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the dish with me. For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.

And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it, broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant which is poured out for many.” 

Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah…..I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people….I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. (Jeremiah 31:31-34)

Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God. And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God; I will extol you. Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! (Psalm 118:28-29)

Summary Points:

-When you choose your faith, be sure you choose based on what God has said.

-Jesus gave His life for us. He now gives His life to us.

-The blood of Christ reminds us everyday that we have peace with God…..forever!

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Mark Pt. 34: How Long, O Lord?

How Long, O Lord?

Mark 13:14-37 (ESV)

But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where he (it) ought not to be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

….on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate…. (Daniel 9:27)

Let the one who is on the housetop not go down, nor enter his house, to take anything out, and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. And alas for women who are pregnant and for those nursing infants in those days! Pray that it may not happen in winter. For in those days there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, and never will be. 

And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. (Daniel 12:1)

And if the Lord had not cut short those days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days. And then if anyone says to you, “Look, here is the Christ!” or “Look, there he is!” — do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. But be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand.

But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and…..the moon will not give its light, and…..the stars will be falling from heaven, and…..the powers in the heavens will be shaken. And…..then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And…..then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. (v.30-31)

But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard, keep awake (and pray). For you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. Therefore stay awake – for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning – lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: stay awake. (v.34-37)

Summary Points

– He is coming. Unannounced. It’s not wise to be lazy and unaware.

– You want to escape final judgment. You want to stand before the Son of Man, to be welcomed by Him, embraced by Him.

– When you see the signs, you will know He is near.

– While we watch and wait, we are on a rescue mission. We use the good news of Jesus Christ to hand off people from earth to heaven.

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Mark Pt. 33: Expect Opposition

Mark 13:1-13

2/4/24

Expect Opposition

13 And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” 2 And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”

3 And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?”

 5 And Jesus began to say to them, “See that no one leads you astray. 6 Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. 7 And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet. 8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains.

9 “But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them. 10 And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. 

11 And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. 

12 And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death. 13 And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

So why does Jesus tell them these things?

– They think Jesus is about to triumph once and for all, he is resetting expectations. 

– Their view of the Messiah is not quite right, even if they know Jesus is God.

– He is preparing them for the things to come

– He doesn’t want them to lose heart when the temple is destroyed.

What good does it do us to know it?

– Obviously rejoice in seeing that what he says comes true. Evidence for the legitimacy

– It reinforces God’s character, that He is in control and keeps his promises.

– How we should trust God for guidance and security, God seldom does things the way we would draw it up.

– I hope this text gives you assurance that in the face of opposition and rejection, we have the lords spirit in us and will carry us through. 

Application – three themes, pulled from the text

Endure – 13 “But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”

– How do we endure? What are the things that distract you?

– Marathon runners don’t just “not get tired”. They train. They pace themselves. They are disciplined and have a regimen. 

– They have goals. Do you know where you want to be?

– Run the race at a consistent speed, rhythm and discipline.

Hold fast to the straight path – 5 “See that no one leads you astray.”

– Surround yourself in good company. Harder to get lost in a pack. Be with Christians

– Know the truth. Study his words, don’t let the only time you open your bible be at church on Sunday. Study it on your own.

– Does the world hate you? Don’t pick fights for your own sake, but if you get along with the world, and you feel like you fit in, are you the person Jesus is talking about?

– Is your path straight at that point, if you don’t feel the tension between you & world?

Be the new temple – 11 “for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.”

– Are you living a life empowered? 

– God now lives inside you, be a light. Evangelize. 

– Jesus used the conversations of the people around him to teach. Having the holy spirit should encourage us to look for similar opportunities. 

– Jesus knew that because of the persecution the disciples would face they would be able to share the good news with very important people. When you find yourself in those situations, do you let the spirit move? 

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