A Second Trial

 Here we go again.  In these verses, Luke gives the account of the apostles second trial before the Sanhedrin.  

The first time, the council basically gave them a warning ticket (Acts 4:18).  Peter and John told the Jewish leaders this wasn't going to stop them from telling others about Jesus (Acts 4:19-20).  

These religious big wigs toss the apostles in the clink a second time for continuing to proclaim the Gospel (Acts 4:17).  But this time God sends an angel to bust them out of the joint and continue preaching the Good News (Acts 4:19-21).

When the high priest and the Sanhedrin reconvenes the following day, they send for the 12 prisoners (v21).  There's only one problem.  They are not there (v22).  

And they are stunned at what they do find.  The cell block is still locked tight.  The guards are still standing at each cell door.  "But when we opened them we found no one inside” (v23).  

That left everyone scratching their heads (v24).  What in the wide, wide world of sports is going on?  

Suddenly, someone runs in to report that prisoners are actually "standing in the temple teaching the people" (v25).  They immediately send out the temple security detail to bring them in.  

But the cops don't make a big scene.  They don't use force.  But this has very little to do with civility and everything to do with public opinion.  "They were afraid of being stoned by the people" (v26).

It is interesting to note the difference in the reactions of the apostles and the captain of the temple guard.  

The Twelve didn't care that the council would most certainly arrest them.  They were going to obey the Lord.  They feared God.  

On the other hand, the temple cops worried about the people's reaction to putting the apostles in a paddy wagon.  They feared man.  

The Apostle Paul had the right priorities.  "For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God?  Or am I trying to please man?  If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ" (Gal 1:10).

Once the hearing gets underway, the high priest reminds them of the warning ticket he gave them just the other day.  

What particularly ticked him off was that these men were teaching the people that the Sanhedrin played a central role in Jesus' execution.  "You have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this Man's blood upon us” (v28).  

Clearly, the Gospel is turning the city on its head.  It's all the buzz.  

As they have done many times before, Pete and the boys boldly accuse the Jewish leaders as being culpable in the death of Christ (Acts 2:23, 26; 3:15; 4:10).  The apostles pulled no punches.

As leader of the Twelve, Pete responds.  And the Sanhedrin's not going to like what he has to say.  "We must obey God rather than men” (v30).  He says they really have no choice.  

When the ruling authority demands a follower of Jesus to sin in disobedience, there is but one godly response.  Obey God.  

We've come to call it civil disobedience.  A better term would be godly obedience.  This call to obedience was such a burden for Martin Luther King that he led the American Civil Rights movement.  

Throughout the Bible, we read of God-fearing individuals thumbing their noses at sinful authority (Ex 1:15-17; Dan 6:4-10).

Pete goes on to proclaim Jesus' resurrection before the council.  "The God of our fathers raised Jesus” (v30).  

Let's be clear on this.  This is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob who brought the Rabbi/Carpenter back to life.  

This is OUR God!  This is the God these Jewish leaders claimed to follow.

Then the fisherman drops the hammer and accuses the Sanhedrin of murdering Messiah.  "Whom you killed by hanging Him on a tree” (v30).  

And the Greek word used here is διαχειριζω/diacheirizo.  It means to lay hands on violently, to seize and kill, to murder.  

Pete doesn't want the high priest to miss his point.  Yes, Jesus' blood IS on his hands!

But it didn't end with simply a risen Jesus flaunting the council's failed plot to eliminate Him from the scene.  "God exalted Him at His right hand as Leader and Savior” (v31).  

Jesus has returned home to heaven.  And His Dad was saving a chair for Him.  It was the throne of authority at the Father's right hand (Ps 110:1 Lk 20:41-44; Acts 2:34-36; Phil 2:9-11).

God has given His Son the authority "to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins" (v31).  We often think of the forgiveness of sin as a gift, but how about repentance?  

Peter is teaching that repentance itself is a gift of God.  The Lord doesn't have to let us turn back to Him.  Our holy God could simply damn us to hell for a single sin, no questions asked.  

But He doesn't.  He grants us the gracious gift of repentance.  We should take full advantage of this wonderful gift each and every time it is needed.  For me, that is all too often.

Peter goes on to testify that the followers of Jesus "are witnesses to these things" (v32).  And they aren't the only ones.  “So is the Holy Spirit” (v32).  

God's Spirit also testifies to the truth of the Gospel.  And God gives His Spirit "to those who obey Him” (v32).  What a marvelous promise!  

And notice the appearance of the Trinity here in these verses.  The Father is at work.  The Son is risen, ruling and reigning.  The Spirit testifies.

In essence, Pete tells the council that if they make the apostles choose whom to follow, they will follow Jesus every time.  

How 'bout you?  

©2011

Jay Jennings

Prison Break!

 The Shawshank Redemption.  The Great Escape.  Escape from Alcatraz.  Papillon.  Stalag 17.  

Who doesn't love a great story of someone wrongly imprisoned busting out?  OK, probably not the warden.  But there is something in our souls that longs to hear these stories again and again.  

I truly believe our love for these tales of escape are in our hearts because God has placed them there.  We long to be free.  And we can only find freedom in Christ.

Well, if you like a good prison break, then you need to sit down and read the book of Acts.  Dr. Luke tells the story of three different escapes (Acts 5:17-21; 12:6-11; 16:23-28).  

Each time, the prisoners got help from the outside.  And that outside help was from the hand of God Himself.

We pick up this particular story as God is working countless signs and wonders through the apostles.  Healing of diseases.  Exorcising from demons.  

The early church proclaims the grace and salvation only in the risen Jesus.  The Sanhedrin had already tried to warn Peter and John to stop all this nonsense, but the two apostles blew them off (Acts 4:17-21).

At this point, the high priest and his cronies had enough (v17).  Most likely, the high priest mentioned here is Annas (Acts 4:6).  He was the patriarch of a family who held a kung fu grip on the high priesthood.  

Annas had served previously in the role but it was now "officially" held by his son-in-law Caiaphas.  Two of his sons would also hold that office.

Annas was the leader of the Sadducees.  This was a small but very powerful sect of Judaism.  These were the wealthiest of Jews that controlled the temple in Jerusalem.  

The Sadducees don't buy all of that supernatural mumbo jumbo that others proclaim.  No angels.  No heaven.  No resurrection.  Let's face it, that stuff is only a crutch for the weak.

Annas and his toadies were "filled with jealousy."  Luke's choice of verb is interesting.  To this point, he describes early believers as being filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4; 4:8, 31).  

But these members of the ruling religious elite were filled (Gr. πλεθω/pletho) with something else completely.  Something darker.  Jealousy.  

Rather than celebrate the miracles God was doing in the lives of people through the First Church of Jerusalem, they burned.  

What fills your heart when you see others succeed?  Do you see them as stealing something that should be yours?  Or do you celebrate their victory?  

I'll be very transparent with you.  In the past, I have struggled as I watched God grow other churches.  For 15 years, I served in small, struggling church plants.  I would watch other churches thrive while we struggled to survive.  

As long as I took my eyes off of what Jesus was doing and felt sorry for poor, poor pitiful me, jealousy would fill my heart.  

I thank the Lord that He revealed that to me and graciously allowed me to repent.  But this is something I must always guard against.

So I ask you, what fills your heart?

So what did the jealousy-filled Sadducees do?  "They arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison" (v18).  

Ironic, isn't it?  These religious leaders were prisoners of the jealousy bubbling up in their hearts so they throw the apostles in the pokey.  The apostles may be behind bars, but Annas and his posse are the real prisoners.

Luke tells us that all of the apostles were tossed in the clink.  Not just Pete and John like the last time (Acts 4:3).  All twelve of them.  And that included the new guy, Matthais (Acts 1:26).  

This was actually a fulfillment of something Jesus had told them earlier (Lk 21:12).  They locked them up "in the public prison."  Think the county jail.

"But" (v19).  You've gotta love any story about someone innocent put in the slammer that includes this wonderful little conjunction.  In other words, they may be prisoners now BUT something is about to happen.  

Do you have hope that Jesus in your darkest hour, Jesus is on the verge of doing something?  Is there a supernatural "but" about to happen?  It's in times like these that God loves to move.  We see it over and over in the Bible. 

  

"But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors  and brought them out" (v19).  Luke doesn't give us many details but here's what we do know.  It was nighttime.  

God sent "an angel of the Lord."  Notice that this is not THE angel of the Lord we see appearing at various times in the OT.  There's a lot of evidence that THE angel of the Lord is actually the pre-incarnate Christ moving and acting.  

This is AN angel of the Lord.  God has used such unnamed messengers many times in the Gospels, especially at Jesus' birth.  This unnamed angel unlocks the jail doors and leads out the twelve.

Jesus promised He would so this.  In the synagogue at Nazareth, He said that His Father "sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives" (Lk 4:18; Is 61:1-2).  Christ has come to free you as well.  From your prison of sin.  

The prison doors are open.  Don't just sit there.  Walk out!  Walk free!  This is why these prison break stories resonate in our hearts.  We're all prisoners in our sinful selves.  Jesus has come to bust you out!

This particular angel gives them instructions.  God has sprung them from the slammer but He has an assignment for them.  "Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life" (v20).  

He doesn't tell them to hit the road and lay low.  Get back to the temple.  Get back in the spotlight.  There's work to be done.  There's a message to proclaim.  

Christ has freed each one of us for a purpose.  And that is to tell others about Him, "all the words of life” (v20).

And that's exactly what these twelve men did (v21).  As the sun came up, they hit the temple courts and start teaching.  Don't miss the obedience of the apostles.  

It would have been real easy for them to say they needed the day off.  They were immediately obedient to God's command.  When Christ tells us to do something, let's not waste a second.  

Forget "The Shawshank Redemption."  God has a more breathtaking prison break for each of us.  And I'm SO thankful He set me free to proclaim "all the words of this life.”

©2011

Jay Jennings

Climbing into the Honda

 These were amazing days for the First Church of Jerusalem.  Thousands were coming to faith in Jesus.  

It seems like every time you turn around God is doing great miracles through the apostles.  

These believers have stood boldly for Christ when challenged by the Sanhedrin. They are so united in the Lord that people are selling property to meet every need.  

And then there was that ugly Ananias and Sapphira "incident."

Luke tells us that "many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles" (v12).  "Signs and wonders" is an important biblical phrase.  

And it's not just limited to the NT.  It's the description given in the OT for the miracles/plagues God did through Moses while in Egypt.  

Peter quoted Joel 2:28-32 in his Pentecost sermon, noting that God said, "I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below..." (Acts 2:19).

In other words, these words are a signpost to let us know that the Third Person of the Trinity is at work.  Don't forget that the Holy Spirit is the star of the show in Luke's second volume.  

The phrase "signs and wonders" appears a handful of times in the Gospels, but begins making regular appearances in Acts (Acts 2:43; 4:30; 6:8; 14:3; 15:12).

What's the purpose of the Holy Spirit working these signs and wonders?  The Apostle Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians.  "The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works" (2Cor 12:12).  

In other words, these were God's stamp of approval on His apostles.  They were clear indications to the people that these men were God's official representatives.

Once again they gathered under Solomon's Portico.  This was a covered porch on the outside of the Court of the Gentiles on the temple grounds.  

Dr. Luke writes that "they were all together" there.  This is the Greek word ‘ομοθυμαδον/homothumadon.  This adverb is sometimes translated as "in one accord" 

Did you know that all of the apostles could actually fit into a Honda?  In one Accord, get it?  When Dad Jokes meet Bible Jokes we know these are dark days.

One of Luke's absolute go-to terms is ‘ομοθυμαδον/homothumadon.  He uses it eleven times.  It is only found once outside of Acts (Rom 15:6).  

It carries the idea of being united with one mind and with one passion.  We must ask ourselves if we are united with one mind and one passion with other believers.  

Or are we busy pushing our own agenda at church?  Are we "one issue voters?"  

We can be so full of...well, ourselves.  Instead, let's set aside our personal agendas and and be filled with the Holy Spirit.  

Remember, this is Jesus' new command "that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.  By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (Jn 13:34-35).  

And this is Jesus' prayer for us.  He asked His Dad "that they may be one, even as We are one" (Jn 17:11).  

It's Paul's plea to the church at Philippi, "being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind" (Phil 2:2).

When we are submitted to Jesus and filled with His Spirit, we too are ‘ομοθυμαδον/homothumadon.  

This isn't up to anyone else.  It's up to you.  Yeah, I'm talking to YOU!  That's right, the one in the mirror.

One mind.  One passion.  One accord. 

Climb into the Accord.  There's room for one more!

©2011

Jay Jennings

Roll Call

Jesus has not only risen from the grave but taken the express back home to heaven.  Two angels told His followers that He most certainly will return.  It's hard to imagine the cocktail of emotions Christ's closest companions must have felt.

The first thing they did was to return to Jerusalem (v12).  It's easy to gloss over those words but they are important.  Luke is telling us that Jesus’ apostles were obedient to what He had commanded.  

Previously, the Lord ordered them to stay in the capital city (v4).  They weren't go anywhere until the Holy Spirit drenches and empowers them.  This is a reminder that in times of great emotion, we are to be obedient to Christ.  

The eleven apostles headed back to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives.  This mountain sits across the Kidron Valley from Jerusalem and the temple mount.  Olivet is actually 200 feet higher than the city.  

Dr. Luke writes that it is "a Sabbath's day's journey" from the city.  This possibly indicates that this occurred on a Saturday, the mandated Jewish day of corporate worship.  

In the coming weeks and months, that would change for those who followed Jesus.  They would shift their Sabbath to Sunday, the day of His resurrection.

"A Sabbath day's journey" is a half a mile, according to Exodus 16:29, the distance from the farthest tents on the perimeter to the tabernacle.  This limited to the distance a God-fearing Jew was to travel on Saturday.  

This distance would later impact Jewish life as culture became oriented around the local synagogue.  As a result, these synagogues became the central location for small towns in Israel.  

Taking a proper Sabbath has been a personal struggle for me.  God has certainly commanded it (Ex 20:8).  And Paul tells us that He clearly has determined that the specific day of the week doesn't matter (Rom 14:5).  

But do you take a full day of rest?  It should be part of the weekly rhythm of our lives.  

When they got back to the city, they headed for "the upper room, where they were staying" (v13).  This is no doubt the same upper room where they celebrated the Passover seder, where they hid after Jesus' crucifixion, and where the risen Lord appeared to them.  

Spoiler alert.  It would later be the very location where the Holy Spirit falls for the first time (Acts 2).

This is another great practical example from Scripture of the importance of community.  While quiet time alone with God is imperative, we need each other.  

God Himself said, "It is not good that the man should be alone" (Gen 2:18).  The very existence of the Trinity models perfect fellowship: Three Persons, One God!  

Just as the wolf preys on stray sheep, our enemy loves Lone Ranger Christians.  Are you in community?

At this point, Dr. Luke calls the roll of those in attendance in the upper room.  First, the surviving 11 apostles:  

-Peter

-John   

-James

-Andrew

-Philip

-Thomas

-Bartholomew

-Matthew

-James the son of Alphaeus

-Simon the Zealot

-Judas the son of James

It's interesting to note a couple of things.  Each time Jesus' closest followers are listed, the order is nearly the same each time.  

Peter is always first, indicating his status as first among equals.  Even though there might be slight variations in the order, they are divided into small groups that are always listed in the same order.

I do wonder if there is any significance to John now being placed after Peter in the list.  In Luke's list here in Acts 1, he jumps his older brother James.  Does this reflect his rising status among the apostles?  Maybe.

The good doctor tells his readers that the Eleven were united, both in mind and activity (v14).  And that activity was prayer.  What did they pray about?  

Most likely for "the promise of the Father" and their imminent baptism by the Holy Spirit (v5).  This is a great reminder to prepare our hearts as we call on God to fulfill His promises in Scripture.

Dr. Luke adds to the roster of those in the upper room at this point.  "The women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and His brothers."  "The women" were those same ladies listed in Luke 8:2-3 and later visited the empty tomb (Lk 23:55-24:11).  

We now read Mary's last mention in the NT.  She is to be revered and honored, but she is not divine.  Jesus' mother needed a Savior too.  And here in the upper room, she prayed to her risen and ascended Son.  

Jesus' brothers (and most likely His sisters) were there in that upstairs banquet room as well.  Earlier they didn't believe their oldest sibling was anything special (Jn 7:5).  

Here they worship Him as God.  The realization of His divinity and worship by His own mother and siblings may be one of the most dramatic proofs of who Jesus is!  I know that my family loves me, but there's no way they would worship me as divine!

Jesus' brothers would go on to have a MASSIVE impact on the early church.  In just a short span, they went from doubters to key leaders of the movement.  

James would become the leader of the church in Jerusalem as the apostles took Christ's Gospel of grace to the world.  Jude would write a tiny but power-packed epistle.

They assembled in an upper room in Jerusalem.  Dazed but NOT confused.  Jesus is ALIVE and He is God!

©2011

Jay Jennings

Three Strikes and You're NOT out!

Strike Three!

Three strikes and you’re out!

You don’t have to be a baseball fan to understand that phrase. Make the same mistake a third time and you’re done. Finished. It’s over.

Out of Chances

There’s a limit to mercy. At your job. In your marriage. In the criminal justice system. Blow it enough times and you’ll find yourself fresh out of chances.

And that’s if you’re lucky. In many situations, it’s one and done. And I’m NOT talking about college basketball stars turning pro after just a single season.

The Patience of Jesus

There’s one place where you never run out of strikes. Shoot, even in the kids T-Ball league where they don’t keep score, the ump will eventually ring you up and call you out. 

Not Jesus. His patience with His followers is ridiculously long. They blow it over and over and over. Yet He never gives up on them.

Rounding Third and Heading for Home

You would think He would set the bar just a bit higher for His own team of twelve. Nope. In their three years with our Savior, these knuckleheads continually drop the ball, swing and miss, and make the same mistake time after time.

Flip over to Mark 10:32-34 for yet one more example. Christ and His crew are rounding third and heading for home. They’re in the final weeks of their three-and-a-half-year journey together.

What’s about to God Down

The Lord takes a moment to explain to the disciples in detail what’s about to go down. Once they hit Jerusalem, things will go south quickly. We’re talking betrayal, torture, humiliation, and murder.

Despite all of that, He tells them they won’t believe how it’s going to end. At the end of the day, well “three days” if you’re counting, He’ll come strolling out of the cemetery better than ever.

Telling Them a Third Time

Jesus has told them twice before (Mk 8:31; 9:31). And just like the two previous times, they just don’t get it. But instead of giving up on His guys, the Son of God believes in His Dad’s plan. 

He trusts His Father, certainly NOT in this ragtag team of commercial fishermen, tax collectors, blue collar tradesmen, and at least one political activist. 

A Bloody Body and a Borrowed Tomb

Christ DOES trust what He will do through them once they see Him again days after they stuff His bloody dead body into a borrowed tomb. That’s because His resurrection is THE game changer.

Despite their endless list of bonehead mistakes and blatant unfaithfulness, He’s not done with them. Some people call Him the God of Second Chances. That’s selling Him WAY short. On this side of the dirt, He offers UNLIMITED CHANCES!

The Surprising Finale

As we’ll see, Jesus is about to give the Twelve the most detail yet about what’s about to happen. He not only runs down the roster of those involved, He also tells them specifically about the torture He will endure.

Our Savior wraps up this third scouting report with the surprising finale. Don’t miss the resurrection, boys! Guess what, they miss the resurrection. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

A Growing Crowd

Speaking of getting ahead, that’s exactly where we see the Son of God as we pick up the action. “They were now on the way up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them” (v32).

As we’ll see, “they” are all of Christ’s followers at the moment. The crowd has grown over the past few weeks. Miraculous healings and feeding a few thousand hungry people not once but twice will do that.

The Lord Is the Leader

Notice that the Lord is leading. Just like He is in this story, Jesus is ALWAYS walking ahead of us. As our Lord, He’s our Leader. He always goes first. After all, He does call Himself “the Way” (Jn 14:6).

We go where He does. We do what He does. We love like He loves. As His followers, that’s what we do. Trusting in who He is means trusting in where He leads.

The Journey to J Town

And in this case, they’re all on a journey to J Town. The big city. The capital. Dr. Luke tells us, “As the time drew near for Him to ascend to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem” (Lk 9:51).

If you’re familiar with the story, that’s where He’s been heading the whole time. As He’s about to tell His team, that’s where He has a divine appointment with Roman cross and an empty tomb.

Shocked, Startled, and Astonished

As everyone watches Christ walking ahead of them, they have different reactions. “The disciples were filled with 

awe, the people following behind were overwhelmed with fear” (v32).

Mark uses the Greek word here, θαμβεω/thambeo, to describe His guys. It means to be shocked, startled, astonished, and surprised. The term only shows up three times in the New Testament, all of them in the second Gospel.

The Traumatized Twelve

This verb comes from a root word which carries the idea of being too scared to move. And for you grammar nerds (like me!), it’s in the imperfect tense. That means they have an ongoing dread about what they’re a part of. Call them the Traumatized Twelve.

Think about that. The original Dirty Dozen has been hanging out with the Lord for three plus years. What they’re witnessing STILL takes their breath away. Increasingly, it’s like they’re watching a train wreck in slow motion…and they’re just realizing that they’re on the train!!

The Larger Crowd

Now Mark zooms out to show us the larger crowd traveling with Jesus. They have a little different reaction to what’s going on. “The people following behind were overwhelmed with fear” (v32).

The verb here in the original text is φοβεω/fobeo. It’s where we get our word “phobia.” It should come as no surprise that it means to be so scared that you’re tempted to run away.

A Nasty Ending

Let me put it this way, the rest of Jesus’ followers are freaking out. Why? They can see where this is headed. And I don’t mean Jerusalem.

The bigger bunch is probably realizing that this is heading for a nasty ending. They know the Romans have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to revolution.

The empire will put a quick and bloody end to all this Messiah talk. They’ve done it before and they’ll do it again. Their preferred way of snuffing out sedition is to nail rebel wannabes to the cross and let them die a slow, painful, public death.

Peter’s Version

So how do we know the difference between the emotions of the larger crowd and the disciples? You can thank Peter for that. Most of the earliest believers thought Mark got his details from the one the Lord nicknames Rocky.

A Third Team Meeting

At this point, Christ calls a team meeting. “Taking the twelve disciples aside, Jesus once more began to 

describe everything that was about to happen to Him” (v32).

It’s time to remind the guys what’s ahead. He’s already done this two times before (Mk 8:31; 9:31) and strongly hinted at it a third (Mk 9:13). Okay, guys. Let’s go over this again. Clearly you didn’t get it the first two times.

An Unstoppable Process

Mark’s description of the reason for this discussion is fascinating. He uses two Greek words which the NLT translates as “about to happen” (v32).

The first is μελλω/mello. It paints a picture of something will certainly take place. It’s inevitable. Destined to be. It MUST happen. You can take it to the bank.

The second is συμβαινω/sumbaino. It literally means to walk with your feet close together. Think a series of steps. A sequence of events. An unstoppable process. Once it starts, you can’t stop it.

An Ancient Plan

Jesus wants to make sure the Twelve understands this plan has been in place for a very long time. As a matter of fact, back before time was even a thing (Eph 1:4).

What will happen when they hit Jerusalem is all part of a divine strategy. Or as Isaiah writes, “It was the LORD’s good plan to crush Him and cause Him grief” (Is 54:10). 

The bottom line? It doesn’t matter what I understand or believe. That won’t change God’s ultimate purpose and plan. It WILL happen. The only question is whether or not I’ll be part of what He will do.

The Plans for the Passion

For the third time, our Savior tells His personal posse the plans for the Passion. “Listen…we’re going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence Him to die and hand Him over to the Romans” (v33).

Jesus jam packs this third prediction with more details than the previous two. The third time is NOT the charm. His description is even more gruesome. 

OUR Destination

Now He’s talking about how He’ll be publicly humiliated, spit on, and tortured before He’s murdered. If this holy huddle is supposed to calm the disciples’ nerves, it’s not working.

“Listen…we’re going up to Jerusalem” (v33, emphasis added). Just to be clear, boys, Jerusalem is OUR destination. The capital city is just as much their last stop too. It always has been. Everything else and every place else has led to this. 

Jesus’ Favorite Nickname

Once again, the Lord refers to Himself with personal His favorite nickname, “the Son of Man” (v33). This title appears 81 times in the NT and 14 times in Mark’s Gospel. Why do we know it’s Jesus’ fave? He’s the ONLY one who says it!

What does it mean? He’s claiming to the same One Daniel spied in a vision of the heavenly throne room. “I saw Someone like a Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven” (Dan 7:14). It’s the Lord’s not-so-subtle way of claiming to be the divine Son of God and the messianic Hero from heaven.

A Demonic Delivery

The first step in His Passion will happen when the Son of Man is “betrayed” (Gr. παραδιδωμι/paradidomi). The word literally means to hand over. This will be a demonic delivery and an unholy handoff. 

Notice that Jesus doesn’t say who does the handing over. The one who is not named is standing right there. None other than Judas Iscariot. The treasurer of the Twelve will soon sell out the Savior for 30 silver coins.

Defending Their Turf

Instead of giving Him the key to the city when He arrives in Jerusalem, “the leading priests and the teachers of the religious law” (v33) will do everything they can to defend their turf. 

The top priests are in charge of worship and sacrifice at the temple. There’s just one problem. They’ve turned this humble privilege into a money-making power grab.

Looking for Loopholes

Then there are “the teachers of the religious law” (v33). These are dudes highly skilled in Jewish law and theology. But instead of encouraging folks follow God’s commands, they use their knowledge to look for loopholes. 

In this case, a justification for killing Jesus. The Lord goes on to say, “They will sentence Him to die and hand Him over to the Romans” (v33). The folks in the Hebrew home office will condemn Christ to die and then ask Rome to do their dirty work.

Roman Involvement

This is Christ’s first mention of Roman involvement in His murder. Actually the word here (Gr. εθνος/ethnos) simply means people who aren’t Jewish. That means both Jews and Gentiles have divine blood on their hands. Nobody gets off the hook.

“He Deserves to Die!"

They all want Him dead because He says He’s God. NOT because He’s an incredible Teacher. NOT because He’s an amazing Healer. But because He claims to be none other than God in the flesh.

Fast forward to the light night kangaroo court in the hours before His death. When Jesus announces that He’s the “I AM,” Caiaphas rips his robe and asks for an immediate verdict from the Jewish leadership. They shout, “He deserves to die!” (Mk 14:62-64). They will fulfill what Jesus predicts.

An Unholy Alliance

The Jewish leaders need Roman help because only the empire has the legal right to execute. Much as they hate Rome, they create an unholy alliance to do what must be done. 

Catching His Followers Flatfooted

In the ESV Study Bible notes, Hans Bayer points out how the Lord experiences a double deliverance. First Judas hands Jesus off to Jewish leaders. That’s followed by a lateral to Roman occupying forces. 

It’s a demonic double reverse that will catch His followers flatfooted…despite THREE warnings!

Humiliation and Torture

Once the empire gets its hands on Him, Christ says it will go from bad to worse. “They will mock Him, spit on Him, flog Him with a whip, and kill Him” (v34).

For the first time, our Savior goes over the evil details of final hours. His killers won’t simply murder Him. Before that happens, they will toy with Him. Humiliate Him. Torture Him.

Grace Gets Disgrace

Forget the Greek word studies. This is way worse than we can ever imagine. The One who brings grace gets nothing but disgrace. 

Like bullies on the schoolyard, Roman soldiers will literally play games with Him. They’ll spit goober on the Son of God. They’ll rip off His flesh using cat o’ nine tails equipped with hooks and bone. 

A Slow and Torturous Murder

All that BEFORE they execute Him. As we said before, Rome’s go-to method of capital punishment is crucifixion. A long, slow torturous murder where the victim eventually dies of suffocation. 

In just a few days, that’s exactly how it will happen. Mark goes into into it very gory detail (Mk 14:43-15:41).

The Thrilling Conclusion

Thankfully the story does NOT stop there. Jesus doesn’t want the Twelve to miss the thrilling conclusion. “But after three days He will rise” (v34)! Not “He MIGHT rise” or “He COULD rise.” 

He. WILL. Rise.

Turning Everything Upside down

Despite all that will happen, Jesus WILL win. Conspiracy. Betrayal. Death sentence. Humiliation. Spit. Torture. Murder. It can’t get any worse than Thursday and Friday. But come Sunday, He’ll turn everything upside down.

He. WILL. Rise.

Calling His Shot

This is massive for many reasons. First of all, there have been a lot of people who’ve predicted their own death. Christ is the only One who predicted His own death AND resurrection…AND ACTUALLY DID IT!

I love what Andy Stanley says. “When Somebody predicts His own death and resurrection, and pulls it off, I just go with whatever He says.” Kinda makes Babe Ruth calling his shot seem like Little League stuff.

A Radical Transformation

Someone who can pull that off is worthy of trust, don’t you think? It certainly was for Jesus’ apostles. His resurrection will radically transform them from fearful runaways into fearless men on a mission. 

Our Savior’s resurrection is also huge because it’s a picture of happens when we place our trust in Him. A dude named Paul puts it this way. “Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven” (Col 3:1).

Catch that? “SINCE you have been raised to new life with Christ.” Not “when.” SINCE! He gives us brand new life the moment we put our trust in who He is and what He’s done.

They STILL Don’t Get It

There’s just one problem for the Lord’s disciples. At this point in the story, they still can’t wrap their heads and hearts around what He’s telling them. Not the first time (Mk 8:31). Not the second (Mk 9:31). Not the third.

How do we know they don’t get it? Because right after this, James and John are weaseling for key positions in His leadership. Jesus looks them in the eye and says, “You don’t know what you are asking!” (Mk 10:38).

Time for a New Team?

Over in Dr. Luke’s version of this same event, he cuts to the chase. “They failed to grasp what He was talking about” (Lk 18:34). Strike three!

I don’t know about you but this would be the critical moment when I would clean house. Time for a whole new team. 

Like My Dog Looks at My Laptop

The crew that God wants to use to change the world doesn’t have a clue. They look back at Jesus like my dog looks at my laptop. They don’t swing and miss. They can’t even get their bat off the shoulder.

And this is far from the end of their failure to deliver. Just wait till you see the dumpster fire these disciples become once they hit Jerusalem. 

An Endless Parade

But Christ refuses to give up on them. He knows everything will change when eventually seen Him stroll out of the cemetery and He fills them with His Spirit. 

Over and over again, God uses an endless parade of losers, morons, goofballs, and weirdos to accomplish His mission. Why? It’s all He has to work with. 

Get in Line

That man Paul tells Christ followers in Corinth how God loves working through people that the world sees as foolish and powerless and despicable (1Cor 1:26-29).

Does that describe you? Then get in line. You’re perfectly qualified for Jesus to use you in a big way. You’ll fit 

right in with those guys who just stood there watching strike three.

©2019

Jay Jennings