Jesus in Mark: Wk 18

Here is a name that you probably won’t know, and likely won’t remember. Balthasar Hubmaier. He was an evangelical Anabaptist in the sixteenth century. That is a fancy way of saying, he was a Christian a few hundred years ago who stood up for baptism being something that was supposed to happen after you put your faith in Jesus and want to follow Him as Lord. That wasn’t always the primary view of the Church, even though we see it in the New Testament, but Balthasar among many others at that time were trying to teach people that was the proper way to practice baptism.

Balthasar has an interesting story, he was persecuted heavily for his beliefs, even though they were Biblical beliefs. He faced persecution from the world and unfortunately from within the Church at that time. See, there had become a practice of killing heretics, people who taught falsely about Christianity, and who wouldn’t reject what they were teaching. Many times this was done by corrupt leaders-this was in the midst of the protestant reformation, and there was a lot of corruption in the church.. But over the years, Balthasar actually did cave into persecution, and two times he compromised and even denied his commitment to Jesus because of the suffering he was being put through. He Ended up going through a process of repentance and even wrote a piece called Short apology where he publically apologized to God for his unfaithfulness.

So, two times he faced persecution and failed, but a third time came at the end of his life when Balthasar was being threatened with death by fire in 1528. This time, Balthasar did not reject Jesus or the beliefs that God had been calling him to stand for and He was killed. But witnesses were quoted saying that he appeared to be in joy more than pain and He audibly was praying to God as he died. Balthasar went from rejecting Jesus and his beliefs in some times of suffering, to repenting and turning back to Jesus, and being faithful all the way to the point of death. Now, he is remembered for his ministry and faithfulness roughly 500 years later.

I know this is such a crazy and heavy story. How could “christians” do something so terrible to him? How could he reject Jesus? But also, how could he stand for Jesus even when he faced a fiery death?

We don’t want to think about this part of following Jesus in this world, but here’s the reality: People will do terrible things, even in the name of Jesus at times. People will fall short in big and small ways. BUT, Jesus is always faithful.

Main Point: Jesus is faithful, even when his people are not.

Tonight we will see a contrast of a couple of stories, all that have a similar experience in different ways to that of Balthasar Hubmaier. As we wrap up our time in Mark, we are at the end of Jesus life on earth prior to his crucifixion.

Tonight we will be in the end of Mark 14, if you want to begin to turn there with me now.

Jesus has been through a lot since what we covered last week. To really quickly catch us up:

The chief priests began to talk about ways to arrest and kill Jesus in secret.

Jesus went into a home in Bethany and a woman, poured out expensive oil on Jesus, anointing him. Which was a practice to do before someone is buried after they die. She did it to show her devotion to Jesus, but Jesus told them it was preparing him for burial.

Jesus then had the passover meal with his disciples, teaching them to regularly eat and drink in memory of what he was about to do for them- breaking his body and spilling His blood for them on the cross.

Then, He warns Peter that he will deny him three times before the rooster crows twice that night. Peter swears he will die before he ever denies Jesus.

Then Jesus goes to the Garden of Gethsemane and takes Pater, James and John with him, he takes them to pray with Him, they fall asleep the whole time, but Jesus prays for the father to not make him go through with what is about to happen- he knows he is going to be tortured and killed and is asking God the Father to make another way. But he finishes by praying- Not my will but yours be done. He yielded to the Father, He was willing to die on the cross if that whats God the Father’s only plan.

Then, finally, Jesus gets up from praying to be arrested. Judas, one of his close disciples had betrayed him for some money and had brought a mob of people, armed with weapons, to arrest Jesus and bring him to the Jewish leaders. That is where we find ourselves tonight.

Mark 14: 53 begins the passage that shows Jesus’ trial before being sentenced to death on the cross.

Let’s read it together and see what happens:

Mark 14:53–65 CSB

They led Jesus away to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes assembled. Peter followed him at a distance, right into the high priest’s courtyard. He was sitting with the servants, warming himself by the fire. The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they could not find any. For many were giving false testimony against him, and the testimonies did not agree. Some stood up and gave false testimony against him, stating, “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands, and in three days I will build another not made by hands.’ ” Yet their testimony did not agree even on this. Then the high priest stood up before them all and questioned Jesus, “Don’t you have an answer to what these men are testifying against you?” But he kept silent and did not answer. Again the high priest questioned him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” “I am,” said Jesus, “and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “Why do we still need witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy. What is your decision?” They all condemned him as deserving death. Then some began to spit on him, to blindfold him, and to beat him, saying, “Prophesy!” The temple servants also took him and slapped him.

There is a lot going on that needs to be pointed out here.

A trial like this was extremely unusual. They never happened at night time, this is the middle of the night. They also, couldn’t hold trials like this the night before a Sabbath or festival day- This was Thursday night, Sabbath started on Friday night. They also could only bring in witnesses that had true, firsthand testimonies, these were planted by the religious leaders with false testimonies. Finally, these trials were never held in the high priest’s room like this.

Clearly, this was a rushed attempt to capture Jesus quietly and handle him quickly before the crowds found out, or realized what was happening. Remember, multiple times they had been angry at Jesus and wanted to arrest him but they didn’t because they were so scared of the crowds following Jesus. People Loved Jesus- he loved them, healed them and taught them- they wouldn’t have let go of him easily.

It’s like if I went to UNC or DUKE and stole their mascot- I wouldn’t go in the middle of a school day- I’d never make it out of there, but maybe a mid-night heist would work!

Here is a PHOTO of what the scene likely looked like: SHOW PHOTO

So, they have this whole plan and here we see Jesus in front of the Sanhedrin- A council of Jewish leaders who had authority over the Jewish people to judge their cases, so long as it wasn’t related to Roman issues.

You can see Jesus would’ve been in front of a whole bunch of Jewish leaders, along with the high priest who would have the highest authority of course.

71 men, with many of them hostile toward Jesus and a few witnesses who have been brought in to lie about Jesus.

It’s a room full of many people who are mad and fired up, or confused, and the blame is being pointed at Jesus. I think we can imagine the temperature in the room based off of how we see politics tend to play out today unfortunately.

So, what happens?

They put all of this together to tried to have a few people give testimonies that would incriminate Jesus and get him in enough trouble for them to take Jesus to the romans with grounds to kill him.

But how do their witnesses do? Did they do a good job?

NO! They failed miserably. It says they couldn’t get their stories straight and and none of them lined up with one another.

So in verse 60 we see the high priest, Caiaphas, stand up. He sees the trial is spinning out of control.

He gets up and takes control of the room.

He begins questioning Jesus himself. Look back at verse 60 with me.

Mark 14:60–64 CSB

Then the high priest stood up before them all and questioned Jesus, “Don’t you have an answer to what these men are testifying against you?” But he kept silent and did not answer. Again the high priest questioned him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” “I am,” said Jesus, “and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “Why do we still need witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy. What is your decision?” They all condemned him as deserving death.

This is a very important moment for us to be able to look back on.

All throughout Jesus’ ministry, He would not directly admit his identity in public. He clearly suggested it, he said it in a few more private conversations, but he always told others not to tell anyone because his time had not yet come. What time? THIS TIME! The time for his death.

Jesus knew that the second people began to openly know and talk about him as the Messiah, God’s Son come to earth. Well, exactly this would happen. He would be killed byt he Jewish leaders. So, here, with death clearly unavoidable- when asked if he is the Messiah, the Son of God, he says : “I AM!”

This statement is huge. It obviously seems to reflect back on the old testament as God revealed his identity to the Israelites as “I am who I am” And he was know as the I AM.

And at this moment the council decides together that he truly does deserve death for that claim.

Jesus here knows that his time has come- to go to the cross, be beaten and killed for the sins of the world.

Jesus in the face of certain death remains faithful to the mission that He was always here to fulfill.

Jesus is faithful, even when his people are not.

These Jewish leaders were clearly anything but faithful in this moment. They were supposed to lead the people to worship God and look forward to the Messiah, the savior he was sending- JESUS! Yet, here they are condemning him to death.

But they aren’t the only ones unfaithful in this story. Think about who else has been unfaithful to Jesus.

Just before this story Judas, one of his close disciples, a friend, betrayed Jesus for money. He is the reason Jesus is in this trial now.

Someone who walked with Jesus, did ministry with Jesus and ate around the table with Jesus, he betrayed him in the end for his own selfish gain.

Judas was unfaithful , yet, Jesus was Faithful!

But that’s not even all.

While Jesus is in this trial something is happening outside.

Peter had followed Jesus to his trial and was waiting outside by the fire.

Now, remember, just earlier that day Jesus had warned Peter he would deny him, yet Peter swore he would die before doing that!

Read with me in verse 66:

Mark 14:66–72 CSB

While Peter was in the courtyard below, one of the high priest’s maidservants came. When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with Jesus, the man from Nazareth.” But he denied it: “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about.” Then he went out to the entryway, and a rooster crowed. When the maidservant saw him again, she began to tell those standing nearby, “This man is one of them.” But again he denied it. After a little while those standing there said to Peter again, “You certainly are one of them, since you’re also a Galilean.” Then he started to curse and swear, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about!” Immediately a rooster crowed a second time, and Peter remembered when Jesus had spoken the word to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.

Peter, literally one of the three closest disciples to Jesus, a guy who was at every single most powerful moment in Jesus’ ministry, the guy who was the most excited for Jesus, the most protective of Jesus, the most passionate for Jesus- denies even knowing who he is.

3 times, in increasing severity, Peter rejects any relationship to Jesus...

Because of fear, because of doubt, because of anxiety, because of self-preservation…whatever the many understandable reasons Peter denied knowing Jesus, he denied his discipleship to Jesus.

And then when the rooster crows the second time, just as Jesus had predicted to him, he realizes what happened, he realizes his failure and breaks down weeping! Other gospel accounts tell us that in that very moment Jesus looked over at him as well! Surely with a look of love and grace, but also of sadness.

But here we have two of the most tragic stories of unfaithfulness by Jesus’ disciples: betrayal by Judas and denial by Peter, and Jesus is faithful.

In that moment before the Sanhedrin Jesus could have spared his own life. He could have said no, I am not the Messiah, I don’t want to cause any trouble, let me go and I won’t be a problem anymore. And he wouldn’t go through the torture, the humiliation, or the death that was about to come.

But thankfully,

Jesus is faithful even when His people are not.

So, what do we take from this passage as Christians today in 2023?

First, realizing Jesus will always do what he says He will do, and be who He says He is!

I love that we sang Take You At Your Word tonight. There couldn’t be a more perfect song for this passage. This moment displays God’s faithfulness to do what He says he will. From the very Beginning God had a plan to save humanity from their sin problem by sending His one and only son. And even in this difficult and dark moment- HE CAME THROUGH! Even when Jesus had every reason to quit on us He did what God always said He would do! Jesus went froward to the cross to die in our place and raise from the dead so we could be forgiven and have life! Jesus will always do what He said He will do, and Be who he said He will be.

He said he would give his life for us, He did.

He said he would raise from the dead he did.

He said he would give us his Spirit, He did.

He said he would never leave us or forsake us he won’t.

He said he will be back to make all things new, HE WILL!

What Jesus has said in His life and through the Bible is true and reliable. Everything he says about who you are is true. Everything he says about who God is is true, and everything he has promised to do, He has done and will do!

We can KNOW JEsus is always faithful to what he says!

Know when people let you down, Jesus never will

People will let you down. You will let people down. Unfortunately, we see this all the time, even int he church. And it can be discouraging but listen. Even when church leaders or other christians fall far, commit sin, or betray trust- that doesn’t change who Jesus is.

People so often get mad at God, or leave the church, or walk away from faith because people have let them down. But Jesus is faithful even when people aren’t. Imagine seeing Judas betray Jesus or Peter deny Jesus- yeah we’d be like Jesus can’t be that great if these are his people… but that only happens if we ignore what Jesus was doing in front of the sandhedrin at the verys ame time! He is faithful even when his people are not.

And, on top of that, we know Peter turned back to Jesus when he fell short and he was forgiven and even became one of the most important leaders in the early church movement! There is always the opportunity for redemption in God’s Kingdom when we turn from our sin and come back to Jesus! He is faithful even when we arent!

Finally:

We must prepare to be a faithful witness.

There is an anonymous quote:

Witnessing is not something we do; it is something we are.

Anonymous

You have ben called to be a witness to who Jesus is and what He has done.

To close I want to share a very personal story that I hate is true from my life.

I will be brutally honest with you all, this is so embarrassing and I still hate thinking about this moment in my past...

Middle School, you aren’t like a CRAZY Jesus person are you? No! Of Course not.

I wasn’t even truly following Jesus at this point in life, and I still felt absolutely horrible. I knew at that moment I had just failed. No I wasn’t crazy, but that’s not what they meant. They meant- you aren’t one of those Christians who doesn’t listen to bad music, doesn’t watch bad tv and movies, doesn’t try to hook up with people, doesn’t love to live in sin of all kinds? That’s what they were asking, and I was completely honest, NO I wasn’t that kind of Jesus person. I knew I should’ve been. But at that time I wasn’t. And so, when I wasn’t following Jesus closely, I couldn’t stand up for Him boldly.

If I could go back, I’d just ask what they meant? And I think it would’ve led to a great conversation about why I live differently because of Jesus. That is how we get to be a faithful witness for Jesus. When we are questioned, challenged, or even mocked for our beliefs and the way we live our lives, we have the opportunity, and the calling to faithfully show people the love and truth of Jesus.

We need to be prepared for those days by constantly drawing close to Jesus, spending lots of time in prayer, and actually obeying Jesus with our lives. Then, people WILL ask, and we CAN be faithful. Like Peter, and Balthasar Hubmaier, we will fall short and maybe even be really unfaithful in our witness to Jesus at times in our lives- but Jesus is faithful, even when we aren’t. And We can learn from those moments and pray for God to help us be faithful in the future.

You are called You to be a witness for Jesus in this world with your life. You will be unfaithful to that if you do not follow Jesus closely and pray consistently.

As Jesus faithfully was a witness for himself and what He was here to do. You have come to experience His life, power, forgiveness and transformation- you are called by Jesus to share that with others. Tell them about Jesus because they NEED HIM! When persecution comes, remain faithful and know that JESUS will not let you down!

because Jesus is faithful even when we are not!

Bow your heads with me:

Response:

Have you been saved by this faithful Messiah?

Are you ready to be a faithful witness for Jesus in your school, in your home, etc.

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