CHAPTER 15
We have been taking a rapid trip through Mark looking at what's so awesome about Jesus in hopes that we can rekindle that amazement awe and wonder for Christ leading to the ultimate motivating factor in living for Jesus and that is loving Him. In this clip from City Slickers, Billy Crystal is talking with Jack Palance (Curly), a fearsome cowboy who gives him this piece of advice
The next day Billy goes to get more information on the "one thing" and finds Curly dead. Thus he never finds out what that one thing is. We find out what it is in Matt. 22:36-38. “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and greatest commandment.If we love God, everything in else falls into place!
Read 1Peter 2:21-24. According to this, how was Jesus able to suffer, be insulted, etc. without retaliating?
What does it mean to entrust yourself?
Read 1 Samuel 24:11-15. How did David model this principle?
What's so awesome about Jesus in this chapter is He entrusts Himself to the Father in at least 5 different ways that we will look at. He not only left us an example as 1 Peter 2:21 says but He bore these things on His back on the cross so we wouldn't have to. Louie Giglio in his message on Isa. 53 says, "Every wrong that we have done and every wrong that has been done to us has been swallowed up in every right that Jesus has done and in every wrong that has been done to Him." Lets look at these 5 examples and stripes that Jesus bears for us in this passage in Mark on the crucifixion.
1. Jesus didn't feel the need to defend Himself
Read Mark 15:1-5 and Isa. 53:7. What amazed Pilate?
What crimes were they accusing Jesus of?
A. Luke 23:2
B. John 19:7
C. Mark 14:58
Read 1Peter 3:16. What defends us better than words?
By no means does this mean we should not argue our case or try to defend ourselves when accused falsely. There are just times when you can't convince people, just let it rest and let the Father defend you and let Jesus take your false accusations on His stripes. The truth will eventually come out, if not in your lifetime, in eternity. Give an example of a time you were accused falsely and how it turned out;
2. Jesus didn't feel the need to prove Himself
Read the following verses and tell how He could have proved He was the son of God
Luke 23:8-12
Luke 22:64
Matt. 27:42.
What is contradictory in this verse?
How did Jesus prove who He was in different ways than they expected?
Do you ever feel the need to let the world know how great you are?
Give an example when you felt the need to show or tell someone how great you were, maybe when you were being slighted or someone less "worthy" than you was being exalted.
3. Jesus didn't feel the need to hide His vulnerability or weakness
Read Mark 15:21,34. What 2 ways did Jesus show His vulnerability in these verses?
Look back at Mark 14's lesson. How were the 3 early leaders of the church - Peter, Paul, and James vulnerable?
In what ways to you hide your weaknesses in front of fellow Christians especially, to save spiritual face? Give some examples.
4. Jesus didn't feel the need to be pitied.
Read Luke 23:27-31. How were the women showing Jesus pity?
How did He respond to that?
What are some practical applications for that in your life?
5. Jesus didn't feel the need for revenge
Read Luke 23:32-47 and Matt. 27:44. How did Jesus respond to those who had wronged Him?
What were the positive results?
Read Rom.12:19-21. What does Paul say in regards to this topic?
Have you ever sought to get revenge or are currently biding your time until you can get revenge? Describe it. How has it turned out?
Summary
You might say, "That's all well and good but Jesus was God and I'm not. There is no way I could do all these things." Well, there is a clue to how Jesus managed to succeed. If you get a red letter Bible and go through Matthew 26,27 Mark 14,15 Luke 22,23 and John 18,19 looking at all the things Jesus says matching them with cross references to the Old Testament you can see that in His times of crises and mistreatment He lived and breathed scripture. Are you in the Word everyday so that you are able to see past the temporal into the eternal and entrust yourself to the One who judges justly? Then look at these red letters and count how much time in His hour of abuse did He offer prayers to the Father. I know - Bible Study and Prayer - Sunday School answers. Might as well add witnessing too! OK if you want to, He does a lot of that too! Whether these are trite answers or not, these are what Jesus did and we must also if we want to be able to thrive in these areas.
Entrust yourself to the Father knowing that He loves you so much that He allowed all this abuse to be heaped on His Son because this was the ONLY way to save you. Jesus carried this abuse on the cross so you can give it up instead of carrying it yourself. He proved Himself by staying on the cross when He could have come down. He proved His Godliness by forgiving the people that did this to Him, and saving people by not saving Himself. Look forward to the times when all the wrongs will be made right and entrust yourself to the one who is in charge of all that.
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