Thursday, November 6, 2014

Mark 14:47-52-- Where is God?

But one of those who stood by drew his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his ear. And Jesus said to them, "Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me, as you would against a rebel? Every day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me; but this has taken place to fulfill the Scriptures." And they all left Him and fled. A young man was following Him, wearing nothing but a linen sheet over his naked body; and they seized him. But he pulled free of the linen sheet and escaped naked.

Mark has not said that the disciples came to where Jesus was being arrested, but clearly they were there—he was defended by one and “they” all fled, just as Jesus predicted the disciples would scatter.  

One of the disciples (we learn in another gospel it was Peter) cuts off one of the high priest’s servants ears.  This indicates that they were ready to fight, to defend Jesus with their lives, if they have to.  Jesus' response to his arrest, however confused them.  Jesus first complains about the arrest—he says that it is too much like how one would arrest a rebel, not a citizen.  Jesus says that they could have come at any time in Jerusalem and taken him away.  The implied statement is that he would not have resisted then, and he will not resist now.  He is not a rebel.  Then he concludes that the arrest only happened this way because it needed to fulfill what was written in God’s word—God’s promises had to be fulfilled.  

The disciples, however, were expecting Jesus to resist arrest.  They were expecting a rebellion to take over Jerusalem, and now seemed a good time to start.  But Jesus was allowing them to take him away—and then he says that this arrest was according to God’s plan.  Because of their confusion, they didn’t know what to do, so they ran away—just as Jesus had predicted they would according to the Scriptures (Mark 14:27).  The young man running away naked is a mystery in the book of Mark—only mentioned in this gospel.  Some have speculated that it is Mark himself, showing what he did on that night—but it is not known.  At the very least, the man shows the shame of the disciples’ running, for nakedness is a great shame in that culture.  

Okay, we are assured that when bad things happen, God is getting us ready for a victory.  What happens when the victory doesn't come?  God is acting strange.  As if He WANTS us to fail.  As if he's not going to deliver us from the horror that our enemies plan for us.  First, he prepares us for victory, and then He sets us up to fail!  What kind of God do we have?

We need to remember that God isn't the power that snatched victory out of the jaws of defeat.  He is the God of resurrection.  He creates victory after defeat and death have already won.  If we expect a last-minute victory, then we haven't waited long enough.  God will grant us victory long after our enemies have declared us dead.  Our job is to keep our resolve and keep waiting.  The one who endures past the end will be saved.

Mark 14:43-46-- Betrayal

Immediately while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, came up accompanied by a crowd with swords and clubs, who were from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. Now he who was betraying him had given them a signal, saying, "Whomever I kiss, he is the one; seize him and lead him away under guard." After coming, Judas immediately went to Him, saying, "Rabbi!" and kissed him. They laid hands on him and seized him.

The nature of Judas’ “betrayal” was twofold:  First, he knew where Jesus and the disciples went privately, so the temple guards could capture him without his supporting crowds.  Secondly, he identified Jesus as the one whom they were after, for the guards didn’t know him by sight, especially at night.  This is “betrayal” for Judas is placing Jesus’ under the authority of the guards of the priests.  The irony is that Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss.  A kiss is a sign of family, of fraternity and brotherhood.  But Judas was using the kiss to identify Jesus so that he might do what no brother would ever do.  Judas also called Jesus, “rabbi” which literally means “master.”  And yet, in calling Jesus “master” Judas was handing Jesus over to be enslaved by another.  Jesus, however, did nothing against Judas in any way, nor resisted arrest.

Yes, our friends betrayed us.  They forsook us, they hated us, they handed us over to the authorities, they beat us, they gossiped about us, they lied about us, they misunderstood our intentions, they denied they ever liked us.  We became an enemy to them, and they treated us like an enemy. We are the bad guy now.

As difficult as it is to experience this, we must remember that God will use this.  He will take the betrayal and turn it around to victory.  The fact is, if it were not for the rejection, we could not obtain the victory.  In our moment of weakness, when we are completely vulnerable, that is when God steps in.  When the rug is pulled out from under you by those whom you have loved, then look for a greater place.  God is on the move.

Mark 14:32-42-- Gethsemane

They came to a place named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, "Sit here until I have prayed." And He took with Him Peter and James and John, and began to be very distressed and troubled. And He said to them, "My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death; remain here and keep watch." And He went a little beyond them, and fell to the ground and began to pray that if it were possible, the hour might pass Him by. And He was saying, "Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will." And He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? Keep watching and praying that you may not come into testing; the Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." Again He went away and prayed, saying the same words. And again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to answer Him. And He came the third time, and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough; the hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us be going; behold, the one who betrays me is at hand!"

Gethsemane is an olive tree grove just outside Jerusalem, near an olive press.  This is where Jesus often spent the night with his disciples while he was in Jerusalem.  It was a secluded spot, where he could have some privacy with his disciples, and large enough that he could break the disciples into groups.  

Eight of the disciples he left at one side of the garden, bringing his “inner circle”—Peter, James and John—with him to the other side.  Then he told them to “keep watch”, which they took to mean “stand guard against enemies,”  but Jesus wanted them to pray, which is what he did just a little distance from the three.  

He needed his privacy so he could pray openly before the Father without distractions. The text mentions a number of times how Jesus was grieving—but he was not grieving because of his death or because “the weight of the world’s sin was to be put upon him” (a theological idea that cannot be found in the gospels).  Rather, he was grieving about the “cup” which is his sufferings, especially the shame and rejection he was to endure.  It is hard to overemphasize the importance honor has in this culture, and how terrible any shame was.  This cultural context was lived out by Jesus, and to knowingly endure the most shameful treatment anyone could imagine was overwhelming.  So much so that Jesus begged to be released from it.  At the same time, he allowed that if it was God’s will to endure such shame, he would accept it.  

While he was praying, the disciples were sleeping.  They were supposed to remain alert and pray, for they were to be put through a terrible test.  Jesus clearly told them what difficulties would face them that night just earlier, but they were too tired to feel the significance of what Jesus said.  Jesus woke them three times, warning them that they needed to be praying, the time of testing is very close.  But they fell asleep three times, not heeding Jesus, and so they were unprepared when the test came.  

Jesus’ statement “The Spirit is willing but the flesh is weak,” is very significant for New Testament theology.  The statement could mean that our spiritual side wants to follow God, but our natural side does not have enough strength to do it, and it would fit in the context—the disciples claimed they would die for Jesus, but their sleep is overwhelming them so they are unprepared.  However, in later theology, it is the Holy Spirit that is contrasted with the flesh (see Romans 8 and I Peter 4:6), which might mean they interpret Jesus here as also speaking of the Holy Spirit.  If this is the case, then Jesus would be saying that the Spirit of God wished to assist the disciples, but the disciples are too weak—meaning tired—to ask for or pay attention to the Spirit’s assistance.  

Finally, it is Jesus who “kept watch”, for he was the one who noticed the crowds coming and understood their significance—he was about to be “handed over” or betrayed.

Every single one of us must face the moment of test, the moment in which our faith might break because the task of remaining faithful is too difficult for us.  At this point, when it comes, Jesus warns us to "keep watch" even as he warned his disciples at their fateful hour.  But what does "keep watch" mean?  Does it mean that we should be aware of the danger that is about to come?  Of course, Jesus just warned the disciples of what that danger was and that it was upon them.  

Does it mean that we need to be prepared?  That we should get more knowledge, more resources, to fight our battle?  That we need more people, more help?  If we prepare in this way, we only display our ignorance.  In the end, the battle for our souls will be the battle for our resolve.  Our resolve to remain on the path of God, no matter who else has forsaken us.  Our resolve to keep our faith, no matter how many difficulties.  Our resolve to stick to God's plan, even if the whole world is in opposition to us.  Our resolve to have the will to stand our ground with God, although our worst disaster befalls us. 

How can we be prepared for this?  We can't, ultimately.  We are human, and so our will has limits.  The only thing we can do is seek God and ask for His strength.  God is the one who has enough resolve for us and all who follow Him, if only we would seek it.  Jesus asks us to follow him into prayer, crying out to God for strength. 

Mark 14:26-31-- Alone

After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. And Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away, because it is written, 'I WILL STRIKE DOWN THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP SHALL BE SCATTERED.' But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee." But Peter said to Him, "Even though all may fall away, yet I will not." And Jesus said to him, "Truly I say to you, that this very night, before a rooster crows twice, you yourself will deny Me three times." But Peter kept saying insistently, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!" And they all were saying the same thing also.

The night of the last supper was a difficult one for the disciples, thus far.  First, Jesus said that one of the twelve would betray him, but he didn’t indicate which one.  Second Jesus’ pronounced his death before their next meal.  But Jesus had one more announcement to them.  

Jesus knew that this was the night that his passion would happen, so he informed the disciples that they would all leave him and no longer be disciples—they would forsake the school.  Jesus didn’t say this because of some insight in their character (although that might have come into play) but because of the fulfillment of Scripture.  In Jesus’ reading of Zechariah 13:7, he sees himself as the shepherd struck down by God, and the disciples are the sheep.  Thus, he says that the disciples would leave him when he would be struck.  

Peter, one more time, made the bold (but wrong) statement, proclaiming that he would stick with Jesus, no matter what.  Jesus then makes his famous prophecy that Peter would deny Jesus three times before the early morning.  Peter (true to form) denied his denial claiming that he would die with Jesus.  Of course, Peter was thinking of dying in a battle, not humbly surrendering himself to the authorities to be killed, which is what Jesus had in mind.  

On thing in the midst of this passage is sometimes missed, which is that Jesus also prophesied his resurrection here, and told his disciples to meet him in Galilee.  The disciples must have missed it as well, because they didn’t know about it when the event happened.

It is one of the most depressing facts of being a leader that follows God that, at one point or another, everyone will forsake you.  This happened to Job, to David, to Paul, to Francis of Assisi, to Elijah, to Jeremiah, to Ezekiel, and on and on.  

Perhaps it's because God's path is so difficult.  Perhaps it's because the leaders who choose God's path live such a different life, and seem so isolated. Perhaps it's because they seem so arrogant or heavenly minded to really connect well to others, except at a distance.  But God's leaders often find themselves alone, without any real friends.

There are two things to remember when we are isolated for the sake of God.  First, we need to remember that just because we are alone that doesn't mean that everyone has forsaken God.  As God said to Elijah, that he still reserved 5000 people who didn't bow the knee to other gods.  Even so, God leads people in many different directions.  No matter how right we seem to be, often those directions are away from us.

Secondly, we must remember that when we are isolated, we are never alone.  Often our period of isolation is right on the edge of our greatest victory, because God has not forsaken us.  God is the one who pulls victory out of a situation that seems a couple steps past defeat.  Never think that God's plan has failed.  We just don't see the end game.