He Was Right

Mark 15:33-47

Many would conclude that we have come to the end of the Jesus

story today

-many would surmise that He gave it a pretty good shot—you

know, that whole “Messiah, Savior-of-the-world” thing

-they’d likely go on to acknowledge that He did accomplish some

genuine good in His lifetime—He taught some nice things such

as “love your neighbor as yourself” and “turn the other cheek”

-any casual student of Jesus of Nazareth would admit that He

practiced what He preached, too...He was never afraid to be

seen with the down-and-outs, prostitutes, drunks, and other

general, run-of-the-mill sinners

But all would agree that He took it all a little too far...that He wasn’t

satisfied with being a radical...no, Jesus had to be a revolutionary—

who knows? maybe He had some insatiable hunger for power

-but you do know what those who are actually in power do with

revolutionaries, don’t you?

--well...they kill them, of course

---everyone—and I mean everyone—could see that one

coming from a mile away...and one guy could even see it

coming from 700 years away

The prophet Isaiah was inspired by God to foretell these haunting

words about the Messiah à I offered my back to those who beat

me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my

face from mocking and spitting. [50:6]

Do you remember all that we’ve read about Jesus in Mark 14 – 15?

-keep listening...

The prophet Isaiah goes on to foretell the Messiah’s unimaginable

suffering à There were many who were appalled at him—his

appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form

marred beyond human likeness...He had no beauty or majesty to

attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire

him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and

familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he

was despised and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our

infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken

by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our

transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment

that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are

healed... the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was

oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led

like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is

silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment

he was taken away...[and] cut off from the land of the living...He was

assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death

So here’s the deal...some guy, supposedly called by God, prophesies

the suffering, the death, and even the burial of the Messiah to this

incredible detail some 700 years before it happens

-and we’re supposed to believe that?

--in the big picture, our belief or disbelief doesn’t matter much

---our faith, or lack thereof, does not change the truth

--because you see, that prophet? —well, he was right

Radicals we deal with—we might write them off as a little loony, but

we’ll tolerate them...but revolutionaries are silenced—permanently

-it should be no surprise then what happens on that Friday morning

--I mean, everyone could see this crucifixion coming from a mile

away...and One could see it coming head-on down the very

path on which He was traveling

Simply glancing through Mark’s Gospel, it’s easy to find several

occasions upon which Jesus predicts His own death

Mark 8:31 à [Jesus] began to teach them that [He] must suffer

many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and

teachers of the law, and that he must be killed...

-He essentially says the same thing in Mark 9:31

Then in chapter 10, His disciples start to get just a little freaked out

-Mark 10:32-34 à They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with

Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while

those who followed were afraid [NOTE: we learn from John’s

Gospel why they were astonished and afraid...in John 11:8, the

disciples protest Jesus’ plan to return to Jerusalem...they argue,

quite logically, I suppose à But Teacher, a short while ago the

Jews tried to stone You, and yet You are going back there?

Which, what they were really asking is, “And You expect us to go

back there with You?”]. John continues à Again He took the

Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to Him.

“We are going up to Jerusalem,” He said, “and the Son of Man will

be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law. They will

condemn Him to death and will hand Him over to the Gentiles,

who will mock Him and spit on Him, flog Him and kill Him...”

And a couple of days before His death, a woman poured expensive

perfume on Jesus’ head...and while this angered many who were in

the house, Jesus told them it was, in His words, “a beautiful thing.”

-why?

--well, He went on to explain further in Mark 14:8 à She poured

perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial.

--personally, I think that’s a little morbid, but...that’s just me

-did the woman understand everything that was going on?

--I doubt it...but, you know, it doesn’t really matter

---Jesus knew...once again confirming the fact that the cross

had been God’s plan all along...a plan Jesus was more

than just vaguely aware of...it was the very reason He came

-and guess what?

--the Revolutionary Himself? —He was right

Mark 15:24 reads like a line in just another newspaper story à And

they crucified Him.

It all came down to this defining moment in history...the virgin birth,

the angels, the miracles, the life-changing teaching, the promise of a

new kind of kingdom...all brought crashing down in a violent, bloody

end by a hammer, three nails, and a cross

-Read Mark 15:33-37

And that shouldn’t surprise us...because we’ve already established

the reality of what those in power do with revolutionaries

-so it’s also no big shock that everyone could see this coming from

a mile away...but there was one who was surprised at how the

entire story ended à Read Mark 15:39

So here’s this Roman soldier, a professional executioner, who’s had

no formal theological training—in fact, he’s had no informal

theological training, but that doesn’t keep him from making what

many people would call the most ludicrous statement of all time

-but guess what?

--he was right

The Celebration of the Lord’s Supper

*Read Mark 14:12-22

*Read Mark 14:23-25