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Study No.21 : The Arrest of Jesus : Mark 14:43-52

A. Find Out:

        

1. Who came with the armed crowd? v.43a

2. Who had sent them? v.43b

3. What was Judas's sign to them? v.44

4. What happened to the priest's servant? v.47

5. What did Jesus' followers do? v.50

6. What happened to the young man? v.51,52

 

B. Think :

1. What was obviously the response of some of the disciples first of all?

2. When was it that they fled?

3. Why do you think it was necessary for Judas to identify Jesus?

 

C. Comment :

     The crowd come probably with torches as the disciples are sitting out on the dark hillside. "Dark deeds" are often in fact done in darkness and it is in the dark that this wrongful arrest takes place. It isn't easy to see who is who, that is probably why Judas has to identify Jesus. In all the scuffling that goes on, one of the disciples strikes out with a sword. It is only John's Gospel that identifies him as impetuous Peter (John wrote long after the others, possibly after Peter was dead).

     Jesus stops the disciples resisting and rebukes his captors for coming at night for him, but never the less, so that Scripture is fulfilled, he submits to them. When the disciples see this their courage evaporates and they flee in fear.

     The reference to a young man fleeing is only given in this Gospel and it is usually thought that this young man was the writer Mark. Who else would have remembered it, given it significance and bothered to include it? It is little things like this that confirm the historicity of the Gospels. Yes these are real down to earth historical events that actually happened.

 

D. Application?

1. Do we ever act hastily like Peter, contrary to Jesus' wishes?

2. Are we convinced as to the historical accuracy of God's record of the

    affairs of His Son?

 

  

Study No.22 : Jesus on Trial : Mark 14:53-65

 

A. Find Out:    

       

1. Before whom was Jesus taken? v.53

2. What were they looking for? v.55

3. What happened to their witnesses? v.56

4. Of what was he first accused? v.58

5. What did they then ask him? v.61

6. What was Jesus' reply? v.62

7. Of what did they declare him guilty? v.64

 

B. Think :

1. How would you describe the case brought by the religious leaders?

2. What did Jesus obviously think about it?

3. Why were they eventually able to condemn Jesus?

 

C. Comment :

      Jesus is taken before the top religious leaders who are just looking for some reason to condemn him. They bring in unscrupulous witnesses who have been so badly prepared they can't even agree. The case against Jesus is a shambles! They vaguely remember him saying something about destroying the temple and grasp for that. But even there they cannot agree. The "prosecution" witnesses are so disordered it is clear that there is no case to answer, and Jesus just remains silent, there is nothing worth saying about it. It condemns itself! Everything about this so-called trial is wrong. It is the very epitome of sinful man denying their God.

      Out of desperation the high priest asks a question that no sane man would answer, "Are you the Christ (Messiah)?". Jesus' answer could perhaps be summarised, "Oh yes. Definitely!". Because man can't provide a case against him, Jesus himself has to give them something on which to hang the death penalty. Blasphemy! Of course he spoke the simple truth but for unbelieving men, it's blasphemy and blasphemy deserves death. The lamb WILL be sacrificed.

 

D. Application?

1. Do we ever condemn people against the evidence, perhaps because we

     won't hear it?

2. Ask the Lord to help you not be afraid to testify to Him

Study No.23 : Peter's Denial : Mark 14:66-72

A. Find Out:

        

1. Where was Peter? v.66a

2. Who questioned him? v.66b

3. Of what was he accused twice? v.67,69

4. What was his reaction? v.68

5. How strongly did he react the third time? v.71

6. What jogged his memory? v.72

 

B. Think :

1. Why do you think Peter denied Jesus?

2. It is thought that Peter helped Mark write this Gospel. What does it say

     about him that he could include this passage?

3. How do WE deny Jesus?

 

C. Comment :

     Peter represents the disciples in general and probably us as well, there is nothing special about him. By nature he is more impetuous and outspoken than some, but that's the only difference. He had walked with Jesus, shared in his miracles, but is still very much a human being and as such is prone to weakness, fear and selfishness. We need to recognise that we are all prone to these things, it just depends on the circumstances for them to be revealed. With Jesus we may be something very different, but on our own that's the sort of people we humans are!

     Peter had just been through the trauma of seeing Jesus arrested. They had just been through a week of tension with the religious authorities in Jerusalem . Something in Peter had drawn him after his master, that much was good. Now come the challenges to "own up" and acknowledge who he was with. Fear grips him. What might happen to him? He denies Jesus three times. Let's not cast the first stone at Peter. The wonder of this is that Jesus knew this would happen and despite it (or even perhaps because of it - think on that) Jesus called him as the chief apostle and later used him mightily.

 

D. Application?

1. Thank the Lord that He knows our failures.

2. Thank Him that He still loves us!

Study No.24 : Before Pilate : Mark 15:1-5

A. Find Out:

           

1. Who were involved at this stage? v.1a

2. To whom did they next take Jesus? v.1b

3. What did he ask? v.2

4. Who then accused Jesus? v.3

5. How did Jesus respond? v.4,5

6. What was Pilate's reaction? v.5

 

B. Think :

1. How is the whole religious leadership seen to be guilty?

2. How did Jesus deal with this next stage of interrogation?

3. How does Pilate appear at this stage?

 

C. Comment :

     First we note the time that this all occurred, early in the morning. This has gone on throughout the night and no time is being wasted. These leaders are in a hurry! Second we note WHO is involved, the whole religious leadership of Judaism. This was not the fault of one man, but all of them collectively.

     Then Pilate becomes involved as Jesus is taken before him, and he represents the political leadership who only appears concerned to find out if Jesus is a possible political opponent. To give him his due he doesn't seem very favourably inclined towards the Jewish leaders and he does give Jesus opportunity to make a defence.

     Finally there is Jesus himself. Already beaten and mocked (14:65) he has been up all night at the hands of these unscrupulous men, but his reactions are still not wrong in any way. At this stage there is really nothing for him to say, events are proceeding without him having to say anything, so he remains silent. Pilate had an opportunity to speak out for what was obviously right. He had the power to oppose the wrong Jews, but did neither. He opted out!

 

D. Application?

1. Do we take the line of least resistance and opt out when there is wrong

     around us?

2. Ask God for strength to be involved in His world!

Study No.25 : Pilate Surrenders : Mark 15:6-15

   

A. Find Out:

          

1. What custom was there at Passover? v.6

2. What had Barabbas done? v.7

3. Who did Pilate "offer" to release? v.9

4. Why did the crowd call for Barabbas? v.11

5. Why did Pilate give way? v.15a

6. What did he do with Jesus? v.15b

 

B. Think :

1. Of what, in respect of the religious leaders, was Pilate aware?

2. What did he expect of the crowd?

3. How would you describe the religious leaders from this passage?

 

C. Comment :

      On a bend at the bottom of a steep hill there is often an escape road to allow runaway vehicles to avoid crashing. It is probable that Pilate viewed this custom of releasing a prisoner each year at Passover, as such an escape from the situation before him. He knew these religious leaders were wrong but he hadn't the moral courage to stand up to them, but here he sees an opportunity before him to escape.

      The crowd come and, instead of calling for Jesus as he expects, they call on Pilate to release a revolutionary called Barabbas. Pilate is suddenly cornered. Wait! Perhaps they want Barabbas AND Jesus! Well, what about Jesus? Crucify him! Crucify him? But I thought... Crucify him!! Pilate is out of his depth. First the religious leaders, then the crowd, what can he do? In the absence of strength of character, surrender is the only possibility. He surrenders.

      Behind all this we see the evil of the RELIGIOUS leaders! Religion is shown for what it is, meaningless ritual! That's why Jesus didn't come to perpetuate religion, he knew it had no power to make men strong. Neither "religion" nor "politics" have any real answers to man's problem of sin, only Jesus does!

 

D. Application?

1. Strength comes from knowing Jesus.

2. Look to him for such strength today.

 

Study No.26 : Crucifixion : Mark 15:16-32

   

A. Find Out:

          

1. Summarise the soldiers' activity? v.16-20

2. Who was forced to carry Jesus' cross? v.21

3. What was Jesus offered? v.23

4. What times was Jesus crucified? v.25

5. What did passers-by do? v.29

6. Who also mocked him? v.31

 

B. Think :

1. Why do you think another had to carry Jesus' cross?

2. What sorts of pain do you think Jesus suffered?

3. Why was everybody against him?

 

C. Comment :

     This is one of the most horrific episodes in human history. Jesus, who had never thought, said or done a wrong thing, Jesus who had blessed thousands of people with peace, with healing, with deliverance, is taken and abused and put to death in one of the most horrible ways possible. This is not the place to meditate on the physical agonies created by crucifixion, sufficient to note that they offered a drug to help cope with it (and prolong it?). Instead we should observe the awfulness of Jesus' rejection by his world and the isolation he suffered for us. This one who had spent three years in the midst of crowds is now rejected, mocked, and humiliated, having been deserted by those closest to him, and given over to the callous soldiers, spiteful priests and embittered thieves who hung either side.

     This is the battle ground for the climax of history. In the face of all this and in the face of all the unseen hordes of hell who would harass him (see Psalm 22:1-18) in his greatest weakness, will this gracious, gentle Jesus give way and curse the world? No, a thousand times no!!! The Son of God will not succumb to sin, even in the moment of rejection and agony.

 

D. Application?

1. Thank the Lord that He died in isolation to take our isolation, that He

     died in pain to take our pains, all in His love for us.

2. Worship today this One who did not give way to sin!

 

Study No.27 : Death : Mark 15:33-41

A. Find Out:

          

1. What happened after 3 hours? v.33a

2. How long did it last? v.33b

3. What did Jesus cry out? v.34

4. What happened as Jesus died? v.38

5. Who did the centurion declare him to be? v.39

6. Who were there at the Cross? v.40,41

 

B. Think :

1. Sin separates us from God. Jesus, the Bible says, became sin (took our

     sin) for us. How would that account for his cry?

2. How would that account for the tearing of the temple curtain which

     separates the holiest place where God is said to dwell?

3. What does it say about the women that they stuck with Jesus

     throughout the crucifixion?

 

C. Comment :

      For 6 hours Jesus hangs in excruciating pain on the Cross. As the end draws near the sky darkens. We don't know what caused it but it was certainly symbolic of what was happening. God was being pushed out of his world by sinful men. It also indicates the awfulness of what Jesus went through. Somehow, in ways we cannot understand, all of the evil, the sin, the wrong of the world was heaped on Jesus at that moment, the Bible teaches us. God didn't move away but from Jesus' perspective His Father could no longer be seen or sensed. The awfulness of sin and its separating effect almost drowned him.

      At that point Jesus took all of your sin and mine, all of our guilt, all of our shame, all of our punishment. At that moment there was an enormous gulf between the Son of God and God Himself. The way of reconciliation was being purchased but at what a cost! And all this was because He loved us and knew this was the only way.

 

D. Application?

1. Jesus took our sin so that we might receive His righteousness (2 Cor

    5:21 ) Thank and praise Him for the wonder of that.

2. Marvel at the wonder of redemption!

   

Study No.28 : Jesus' Burial : Mark 15:42-47

A. Find Out:

          

1. What day was the crucifixion? v.42

2. Who went to Pilate? v.43

3. What was Pilate's reaction? v.44

4. Who did he call to verify the truth? v.44,45

5. What did Joseph do with the body? v.46

6. Who watched what was happening? v.47

 

B. Think :

1. Check all you know of Joseph. What sort of man was he?

2. What must it have cost him?

3. What is implied by this passage about death by crucifixion?

 

C. Comment :

      The day of the crucifixion was the run up to the Sabbath which began at 6.00pm on this day and ran through to 6.00pm the next day. The Jews didn't work on the Sabbath so if anyone was to deal with Jesus' body they had to do it quickly, they had to move in before the Law forbade work.

     Joseph of Arimathea is a PROMINENT member of the Council which has just condemned Jesus. We don't know if he had any part in that but now he steps out publicly to take Jesus' body and give it a proper burial. That would have raised many eyebrows in the Jewish community but this dear man obviously cares little about that! When he was needed he put aside his reputation and stepped forward. Pilate's reaction shows that crucifixion was usually a long drawn out business where men hovered on the brink of death for a long while. Yet again we see that Jesus was in control of his own destiny and did not prolong his death unnecessarily. After six hours he gave up his life. 1 Peter 3:19 suggests that Jesus descended into hell on his death. He has a set programme to go through. Even in death He is Lord!

 

D. Application?

1. Thank the Lord for the courage of Joseph. Ask that you may similarly

     stand up for what is right.

2. Thank the Lord that His death was not merely in the hands of men, but

     was still under His own control!

 

Study No.29 : Risen! : Mark 16:1-8

A. Find Out:

          

1. Why did the 3 women go? v.1

2. What day was it? v.2

3. What difficulty did they have in mind? v.3

4. But what did they find instead? v.4,5

5. What did the angel say about Jesus? v.6

6. What did he tell the women to do? v.7

7. What did that leave the women feeling? v.8

 

B. Think :

1. How long has passed since the crucifixion?

2. What were the emotions of the women at the different stages here?

3. Does the angelic message solve their problems? Why?

 

C. Comment :

     Late on Friday Jesus was buried in a rush. Saturday was Sabbath. Now it is early Sunday morning, the first day of the Jewish week. Work can be done again. Several of the women who had watched the crucifixion are concerned at the lack of proper burial procedure. They determine to go to the grave and properly anoint the body, forgetting that this had been done previously [Mark 14:8]. They are aware that the tomb has a large stone over it and wonder how to deal with it. They are a mixture of being very down to earth, practical and caring and yet somewhat confused, these women!

     At the tomb they have a divine encounter, they meet an angel and Jesus is gone! Jesus is risen! Tell the others that Jesus will meet them in Galilee as he said. They had been concerned on the way, worried when they saw the stone rolled away, frightened when they saw the angel, and now confused as they leave. Resurrection and angel visitations are all too much to take, especially when you were certain that he was dead! They had forgotten in the anguish of all they had witnessed that Jesus had prophesied his resurrection. Perhaps a bit too down to earth, these women?

 

D. Application?

1. Confusion is understandable in the circumstances.

2. Faith overcomes confusion!

 

Study No.30 : Ascended : Mark 16:9-20

   

A. Find Out:

          

1. To whom did Jesus appear? v.9,12a,14a

2. How had the others first received the news? v.11,13

3. What did Jesus say about that? v.14

4. What did he command them to do? v.15

5. What then happened to Jesus? v.19

6. What signs follow belief? v.17,18

 

B. Think :

1. Why do you think the disciples have such a hard time believing that

     Jesus has risen?

2. What command did Jesus issue?

3. What promises were given?

 

C. Comment :

  You may see from your Bible that this passage is not in some of the oldest manuscripts. Note however that:

a) all the appearances of Jesus are also recorded in the other Gospels

b) the signs of v.17 & 18 were all fulfilled in the book of Acts

c) the ascension of Jesus is confirmed in the book of Acts as well.

  This passage is therefore, an excellent summary passage, first of the HISTORICAL EVENTS, being i) the resurrection of Jesus and appearances to his followers ii) the difficulty they had coping with it iii) his bodily ascension to heaven iv) the apostles continuing as Jesus had instructed.

  Second, see it summarises DIVINE COMMAND AND PROMISES, being

i) command to tell the good news,

ii) promise that salvation would follow belief and

iii) promise of power and authority to follow.

    We should observe that the criteria for salvation AND for ministry is simply BELIEF, belief that what Jesus said is true and is for today and that, as he leads us, the same things may happen today. It is for those who believe, not merely for the earliest disciples. There is no time limit: Jesus is still the same today! (Hebrews 13:8)

 

D. Application?

1. Affirm the truth of Hebrew 13:8 today!

2. Praise Him for the truths in today's passage.

 

RECAP No.3  "The End & the Beginning"  Mark 14-16

SUMMARY :  

       

In these 10 studies we have seen Jesus:

  - arrested

  - taken before the Sanhedrin & Pilate

  - crucified & buried

  - risen

We have also seen:

  - Peter disown Jesus

  - the women stand by Jesus

  - Joseph of Arimathea stand up for Jesus

  - the women meet the risen Jesus

  - a summary of the future of the church.

 

COMMENT :

      These chapters are a whirlwind of action. Jesus taken, falsely tried and then crucified. His disciples in total disarray leave him. Unlikely people stand by him: Joseph, a member of the Sanhedrin, and the various women.

     We also see the worst of mankind being revealed as they reject the very Son of God and do their worst. This, amazingly, is the will and purpose of God. This is all within the plan! (see Acts 2:23,24)

 

LESSONS :

1. Human loyalty is a frail thing

2. Hasty promises are often rash promises

3. It takes a strong character to stand out for good when all around reject good

4. Jesus died for me, that I might be made righteous

5. Even in death Jesus was in control

6. Faith overcomes confusion

7. Jesus is alive today!

 

PRAY :

1. Thank the Lord that he died for us knowing we were frail, weak and would let Him

     down, but He did it - because He loves us!

2. Worship Him because He is Lord and Saviour.

SUMMARY

1. In respect of JESUS we have seen him:

- triumphantly entering Jerusalem

- clearing the temple of traders

- cursing the fig tree

- answering the leaders about authority

- telling the parable about the vineyard

- responding to the Pharisees over paying taxes

- responding to the Sadducees over resurrection

- responding to the teacher about commandments

- challenging over whose son the Christ is

- commenting on right giving

- teaching on the end times

- being anointed

- at the last super

- predicting Peter's denial

- praying in Gethsemane

- being arrested, tried & crucified

- risen from the dead

2. In respect of the AUTHORITIES we have seen:

- the chief priests seeking to kill Jesus

- the chief priests seeking to trap Jesus

- the Pharisees seeking to trap Jesus

- the Sadducees seeking to trap Jesus

- a young teacher enquiring of Jesus

- them having Jesus arrested

- Pilate refusing to stand for truth

- Joseph taking Jesus' body for burial

3. In respect of OTHERS, we have seen:

- the crowds welcoming Jesus into Jerusalem

- Peter affirming loyalty to Jesus

- the disciples sleeping while Jesus prays

- Judas betraying Jesus

- Peter denying Jesus

- the women staying with Jesus at the Cross - the women at the tomb

- the disciples after the resurrection

 

CONCLUSION

1. In respect of JESUS:

  

1.1   His MASTERY OVER THE CIRCUMSTANCES :

a) It is very clear that he sets up his entrance into Jerusalem , his disturbing the temple and the authorities in it, even the convicting evidence at his so-called "trial".

b) He was completely aware of what was going to happen and had predicted his death & his resurrection and Peter's denial & Judas's betrayal

c) He was in complete control of all of the attempts to trap him in dialogue when the various religious groups came against him.

1.2   His CONCERN FOR HIS FOLLOWERS.

He does not keep them in the dark but shares freely with them what is going to happen in the immediate future and in the distant future.

1.3   His DESIRE TO DO HIS FATHER'S WILL.

This is God's purpose that is being worked out. That must come first. His purpose is to provide a means of salvation for all who will receive it.

 

2. In respect of OURSELVES:

 

  The various people who appear in these chapters reflect what is common to mankind:

2.1   The religious people

  - who are more concerned with their own self righteousness and ritualistic

     religion than receiving the Lord of Creation

2.2   The political leader

  - who is more concerned about what others will think of him that about

     truth.

2.3   The ordinary people

  - who are easily swayed and are really only concerned about what they

     can get out of the present moment for themselves

2.4   Jesus' followers

    - who are frail and weak when it comes to trials and tribulations, who are

       prone to letting him down, and yet who are loved by him!