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Sermon Notes  April 17, 2011

Mark 15: 22-39

Intro:  “The Passion of the Christ” was released Seven Years ago…

I watch the Mel Gibson Movie, “The Passion of the Christ” Two times.

— Second viewing I noticed a woman make her way out of the theater

just after Pilate condemned Jesus to be crucified

• Aha, I thought, she does not want to witness the terrible suffering/violence.
• Five minutes she returned with large coke and Popcorn

She casually snacked & slurped throughout the crucifixion scene!

t/s – This casual, calloused, comfort with the Cross stands in contrast with our text,            Marks account… Two word phrase, “They Crucify Him,”

• A Reverential Reticence to look directly at Jesus on the Cross

Beneath – dividing up his garments

Above – Sign, The King of the Jews

Beside – Two thieves  insulting him

Around – The place called skull Hill and ugly crowd

But Mark quickly pulls our eyes away from the sight of Jesus on Cross.

• Take off Your Shoes… Holy Ground!

Mark 15: 22-39

“And” == dominates nearly ever verse… 15 of 18 in KJV!

The monotonous repetition of “and,” “and,” “and,” gives the effect

of an endless succession of the waves of sorrow, pain, and contumely (ridicule) which broke over that sacred head.”

— Alexander Maclaren (d. 1910 – great Scottish preacher)

READ

As the Story of the Crucifixion of Jesus unfolds, several tensions surface (questions)

1. Will Jesus Come Down from the Cross?

— vs. 30, 32, 36

— He did Not! Enemies Saw Evidence of His weakness,

We Know It as an amazing display of Strength!

1. Will They See? (understand who Jesus really is)

— vs. 39 – Finally, the centurion Sees!….The Son of God!

1. Will He ever Speak?

— Two words to Pilate early Friday morning…No more all day!

— Largely Silent for six Hours

Seven statements are recorded from the Cross.  Mark only chooses one.  Essential!

Vs. 34 – My God, My God, Why have you Forsaken me?

–  Troubling thing for Jesus to Say.  What does He mean?

A Quote from a Psalm (22)

Exp – Jesus quotes the first sentence from Psalm 22 … Familiar Messianic Song.

• Jewish teachers made reference to an entire Psalm by quoting first verse.
• A song of complaints & suffering; also, a song of faith & Hope!

All the ends of the earth will remember…All the families will Worship!

Note:  The fact that Jesus cried to God, “My God,” shows not entirely without hope!

A Mysterious blend of Access to God and Abandonment by God.

Psalm 22 == I am utterly forsaken now; but, God will exalt Me!

Next week, Praise God, The Exaltation!

Today, Forsaken?!

A Cry from His Soul!

Exp – On the Cross, Jesus was utterly forsaken, abandoned, desolate…

— Pain real; blood wet & warm, shame overwhelming, loneliness absolute

Point = the Weight of His Suffering forced the cry from His lips!

ILL – Crosses are popular jewelry, home decor….cultural … “Nice”

Crucifixion did not become common in art until all who had seen a

Real one died off! C.S. Lewis

Danger == Oh, now I know what it was like!  (We cannot Imagine!)

t/s – This Cry from the Soul of Jesus speaks to more than the weight of the physical            suffering of Jesus; it speaks to the essential

Work of Jesus on the Cross.

A Rare, glimpse into the great mystery….

What Happened on the Cross? (what did Jesus DO when He died there?)

Exp – Hear the Word of the Lord (I am not fit to answer) — the Deep End!

But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for

Our iniquities; The chastening for our well being fell upon Him, and by

His scourging we are healed.  All of us like sheep have gone astray,

Each one of us has turned to his own way; but the Lord has caused the

Iniquity of us all to fall on Him.  (Isaiah 53:5-6)

He made Him Who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf that we might

Become the righteousness of God in Him.

And He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross.,, (1 Peter)

Jesus died on the Cross as a substitute for you & me.  He paid the debt, once for all!  He took our sins upon Himself!

Now hear His cry — My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?

Jesus became sin.  For the first time He was cut-off from perfect fellowship with the Father!  Father, somehow, turned His back on His sin-laden Son.

• Result – Veil in Temple Torn in Two from top to Bottom!

He open the Access to the Holy Presence!

ILL – Common Question, “How could a Loving God send someone to Hell?”

n       Recent and Regional Question….Unusual, self-centered society.

More Substantial Question —

How can a Holy God Embrace a Sinner like me in Heaven?

App – Jesus Paid It All!

The Cry of the Cross reveals the ultimate Penalty/Wage of Sin – DEATH

— Separation from God….abandoned, God-forsaken, forever!

t/s – Most people underestimate the cost of Sin!

ILL – I had a paper route when I was 10-12 years old

Throwing papers one spring during baseball season…broken glass Door!

— Quickly promised to pay for the damage

— Wealthy entrepreneur ($25 month)! — Savings Account

— a Few Days Later…. Elderly Lady standing on her porch in front of her

New glass door….handed me the bill

** The Cost was twice what I had!  No Way to Pay!

I had over estimated my ability to Pay… Underestimated the Cost

I Can Deal with my own Sin … One day you will  — utterly cut-off, forsaken…..

Full of fear, dread, regret….. “Wailing and gnashing of Teeth”…

• My God….why have You forsaken Me  (words will catch in your throat)
• My God…..Why have I forsaken You

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April 10, 2011

Mark 14: 26-31 & 66

1 Peter 5: 6-10

Sermon Notes  April 3, 2011

Mark 14: 43-50

Intro:    This morning, we will read one of the most famous, well

known paragraphs in the Bible.  Even people who have never

read the Bible, know this story.  It has so much raw power,       moves people so deeply, it has been retold, recaste, reflected

over and over again in literature and art.

• Almost everyone knows this story

• Few have clearly understood and embraced its Truth.

Speaks to the Core of Christian Message

Mark 14: 43-50

Context = Jesus wakes up disciples in the darkness of                           Gethsemene, “The one who betrays me is here!”

Text (Note: vs. 49-50 == 14:27)

Betrayal Moves Us.  A visceral reaction.

ILL – I first learned about betrayal when my sixth grade girl friend          went to a movie at the Ki-He-Ka theater with a seventh grade   boy… “She Done You Wrong!”

• Deep down we all know, “Betrayal Is WRONG!”

Betray = treachery, disloyalty, unfaithful to one who puts faith in us.

This story from the Gospels moves us because we have all experienced Betrayal and feel, deep down, just how WRONG it is!

t/s – What is the Point?  How Does Betrayal contribute to the Gospel?

Judas’s Betrayal and the Desertion of the Disciples, speaks to the Gospel in two crucial ways….

Sin, Our Sin, Is Betrayal

Exp – Few of us deny our sin.  Instead, we minimize it, make it

More understandable, acceptable…

ILL – “Sinful Pleasures”  (candy display in gift shop)

ILL – Grandmother of rebellious four year old, “He is just awful!”

— and oh so cute!

The Character of Sin

a)      Aiming at the Wrong Target (missing mark)

b)      Crossing the Line/Boundary  (transgression)

c)      Rebellion against King  (Americans embrace)

d) Treachery or Betrayal!

Sin is, at its bare essence, an act of unfaithfulness, disloyalty

Against the One who created and cares for me all my life!

Sin Is Relational (Against God! … Not rules)

• Subject’s rebellion against King
• Citizen’s violation against Lawmakers
• Child’s aggression against Parent
• Woman’s Unfaithfulness to Husband!

ILL – Hosea married an Adulterous Woman (made a fool of him)

Israel’s Sin is Like a Wife’s Adultery…. Betrayal!

App – God is your Creator, Provider, Faithful & Rightful King.

Your sin is not cute, an acceptable guilty pleasure…

Your Sin is Betrayal, Dessertion….WRONG!

(Should Burn in Your Belly like Betrayal)

Note: Mark sneaks up on us….With whom will I Identify

n      Not Pharisees; not scribes; not Romans; Crowds

n      I am like the Disciples… I like Jesus… with Him

n      Would I Forsake, Betray….?

Died He for me, who caused His pain?

Jesus Still Died for Us.

Exp – This paragraph clarifies some confusion about Jesus’ Death

• He did not die because the authorities ambushed Him.
• He did not die because Judas Tricked Him
• He did not die for His few Loyal Friends….

Betrayed and Forsaken…. ALL!

ILL – We sometimes develop this fantasy about the Cross

• Jesus was like a war hero who laid down his life for his friends who were in trouble!
• Helpless, vulnerable, weak…

What Jesus did was heroic, spectacular…. Understandable.

• Unfaithful, deserters….Enemies

Amazing Love! How can it be?

Romans 5: 6-8, 10

App – Only an Honest embrace of My Sin gives me an

Accurate appreciation for His Death!

Conclusion

Your sin is as Wrong as Betrayal; and, Jesus still died for you.

Beneath the cross of Jesus, Mine eyes at times see;

The very dying form of Him who suffered there for me.

And from my smitten heart, with tears, two wonders I confess;

The wonders of His glorious love and my unworthiness.

Prayer

Invitation

I don’t want you to waste another Easter going through the motions.

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Sermon Notes  March 27, 2011

Mark 14:36

I know of a man who was distressed and troubled by his circumstances.  He was so burdened that he felt one more pound of pain would push him into the grave.  It seemed his troubles surrounded him.  He sought the support of friends, but longed to be alone.  The sorrow affected him physically … , stumbling and falling to the ground too weak to stand.  His Life situation overwhelmed him, crashing down like a tidal surge.

What do you think of such a person?

• Troubled, burdened, overwhelmed…
• Aren’t these symptoms of a weak faith?
• Strong Christians live in Joy, Peace & Victory…

Fear, Doubt, Distress, … these are foreign to Faith!

Surely this man needs the Lord!

Problem:          This man Is the Lord.

I just described Jesus in Gethsemene

Thesis:  Sometimes, Circumstances press in and overwhelm us.

Mark 14: 32-42 Read with Comments

• “Gethsemene” = Wine Press
• Vs. 33 – Conflict between need for Friends & desire to be alone
• Vs. 33-34 – Alexander MacLaren, Scripture seldom undertakes to tell of Christ’s Emotions.  Still seldomer does He speak of them

— distressed = “sore amazed”…struck with sudden fear

— troubled   =  “very heavy”….uncomfortable as away from home

— deeply grieved = exceeding sorrowful….surrounded by sorrow

• Fell to the ground = “was falling”….more than one time

1st – Marvelous glimpse into the redemptive suffering of Christ (Real)

2nd -Practical Help When Sorrows like Sea Billows Roll

— Devastating diagnosis

— Family is Falling Apart

— Combined weight of life’s small disappointments weight Heavy

— Broke

When Circumstances press in and overwhelm you…

Four Pillars of Truth      (36)

• Help for Holding up under the Pressure of Pain

1. God Cares about Me

“Abba, Father” = a term of intimacy…. I know you love me!

ILL – Disciples on storm tossed sea,

“Master don’t you care that we are dying here!”

App – Stand firm in God’s Love…Acceptance

1. God Controls My Circumstances

Exp – “All things are possible with You”

— You have not lost control of me or my situation.

ILL – Isaiah was afraid, he felt that circumstances were Heavy.

“I saw the Lord seated on His Throne!”

App – God Is on His Throne

T/S – These two present a problem.

If God loves all and has all power, WHY I s he allowing this?

1. God Welcomes My Honesty

“Remove this cup from Me” ….  Jesus makes a very honest request.

“Cup” now instead of “Hour” == OT for Wrath/Suffering

— He knew why He had come….Father’s Purpose

Yet, honestly, the thought repulsed Him!

Ill – Thad got splinter upstairs in Garage…hid it from Mom (Fester)

Ill – Jeremiah,“You tricked me God! Cursed be the day of my Birth

App – Without Honesty we are Isolated in our Pain…Cut off

1. God’s Way Is Best

“Yet, not what I will but what You will.”

— Despite how I feel, I know that Your ways are RIGHT!

• • I want what You want!  Your Way is Best.

ILL – Peter’s advice to a group of Christians suffering persecution

1 Peter 4:19 — Where did Peter get that Idea!?

He learned it from the Master in Gethsemene

Conclusion

The dark night drove Jesus to His knees.  He fell to the ground under the heavy burden; but, in the garden, He found His feet.  When the Hour came, He stood tall and said, “Arise.  Let us be going!”