Missions Paul

Going a little further

Mark 14:32-35

32 They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34 “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” 35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him.

Paul says in Philippians 2:8 “and being found in appearance as a man He humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross.”

What took Jesus home to be with His Father was just sheer obedience: pure, unadulterated obedience.  No compromise, no deals, no negotiation.  “going a little further.” Obedience is exactly that; it means going a little further.

Are you willing to go a little further?  That is what the Father is asking of you. You may have done a lot and come a long way in your walk with God but still the call comes from the Holy Spirit – will you go a little further?  If you will you are going to experience pain – for every time someone decides to go a little further there is a stage of pain that they need to break through.  A stage of discomfort; an area of feeling ‘I’ve never been in this place before in my life.  I feel so uncomfortable right now it is on the point of the pain barrier and I am not sure if I can go any further’.

He has taken His disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane and has said to the majority of them ‘Will you stay here because I need to go a little further’.

He takes Peter, James and John and as He goes a little further He tells them ‘my friends, I need to tell you something – we are going a little further and there is something about me that you need to know. I know that you are with me but My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. My soul, that inner being, right now, is being swamped. I am so overwhelmed I can hardly breath – it almost feels as though I am going to collapse and die right now.  I am not sure if I want to go a little further but I know that you guys are my best mates and I want you to be around me and I want you to help Me go a little further right now’.

And He went a little further and we are so glad He did.

The unbelievable thing at that moment in time was this. He gets an understanding that He still needs to go a little further.  He says to Peter, James and John ‘You stay here, I’ve got to go a little further’.   Doctor Luke is more detailed, ‘being in anguish He prays more earnestly and His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.’ (12;44) He went a little further.

You want to be like Jesus?  Will you go a little further?  You have got to leave some of the disciples and go away and experience the pain and then leave maybe your best three friends and experience a pain that is so deep.

There is a certain obedience that can never be found in groups.  I am talking of a different level of obedience where you have got to leave your loved one because there is a certain obedience that is only alone.  That is what God is calling you to do so that you get to a place where there is only you and God and there is no one there to soothe your pain but you are being obedient to the point of death and crucifying your flesh and all your earthly desires and all the strong temptations and the pulls of the paths of life and you are dealing with it.

There is an obedient place in God that is solely reserved for one.  Loneliness is not a bad thing, sometimes we are afraid to be lonely, but Jesus knew the times of loneliness on the mountain and in the garden of Gethsemane. There is safety in groups and sometimes that’s the problem.

Can you go further? Or do you go a little while and then it has fizzled out and you go back to how things were because it’s just too difficult to keep going further, to walk with God; to walk with God in holiness; to walk with God in such a way is so hard.

Today, go further.

Scripture quoting

Mark 14:27

‘You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written:” ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.”

Have you ever had a meeting with someone and all they do is quote Scripture within their conversation?

How did it make you feel?

Did it make you relieved you had learnt John 3:16 a long time ago?

Did it make you want to punch the said person on the nose?!

Jesus had not only read but memorised the Old Testament Scriptures and he would apply those passages to his context.

He actually quoted from:

Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Psalms (10 different ones), Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Hosea, Micah, Zechariah and Malachi. That’s 13 different books and by my count 37 different quotes. He did all this without a cross-referenced Bible or google.

Why did he quote so much?

The foundation of the people he lived with were the first five Books of Moses, the Prophets and the Writings, our Old Testament. They based their values, standards and expectations from those books. Jesus did this also. Whether he was being tempted or teaching or going through his trials like the one walking to the garden of Gethsemane where he quotes Zechariah, his thoughts were, ‘what has been written about this?’ He was a Jew and the Scriptures were life itself. Not to be quoted at people to impress though that has always been the case to the present day, but to be used for guidance, for help and understanding.

If you live amongst Muslims, where should you quote from?

If working with young people, where should you quote from?

What is foundational to the people you are trying to reach, love and serve?

Of course for us, we have the New Testament to also memorise and quote from.

I think we should:

Read and quote more from the Bible than we do into the context of our lives.

Read more widely and be able to quote from other sources depending on who we reaching.

When the shepherd is struck

Mark 14:27-31

27 “You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written:” ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ 28 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” 29 Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.” 30 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “today-yes, tonight-before the cock crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.” 31 But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the others said the same.

Jesus didn’t go into his darkest time unaware of His Father’s will. He had studied the Old Testament. He knew the prophecies of the Messiah, of himself. He had read Zechariah’s prophecy many times and quotes it here as they walk to the garden of Gethsemane.

The striking of the shepherd in Zechariah 13 is used by Jesus as he is only hours away from the cross.

What does it reveal:

1. Jesus knows that though he would be handed over to men he is actually in his Father’s hands, that the striking would be God. When struck, knowing there is a God-plan behind it will strengthen you.

2. Jesus knows that his disciples will desert him. Zechariah says there will be a purging. Everyone believes they are stronger than they really are. All sin and fall short. We all turn back at some point. But the purging is to bring us home again. You may know some today who have scattered because of the falling of a shepherd, we must believe they will return. Zechariah says they will.

3. Jesus never speaks of being struck without also referring to the resurrection. He tells them he will go ahead and presumably wait for them in Galilee, the place of ministry, the Galilee of the Gentiles. Today some may not have returned, they may have still fled, but Jesus is waiting for them, he has a plan for their lives.

Have you been struck today?

Are you running away?

He is alive and waiting for you.

Will you take the cup?

Mark 14: 22-26

22 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.” 23 Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them. 25 “I tell you the truth, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God.” 26 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

I am becoming more energised with the Gospel as I see that the amazing love story of God and mankind mirrors the Jewish wedding.

Here at the Passover meal as they celebrated Gods redemption of His people from Egypt entwined within the event is the wedding ritual.

Others will write more eloquently and with far greater detail but let me explain something so that today you will pause to marvel at the invitation God gives through Jesus.

The Wedding

1. The dowry is presented at a meal of the 2 families who come together to formalise the plans for the agreed marriage.

2. This agreement is copied onto 2 small pieces of identical pottery, one for each family. This is more than an agreement or a promise. It is a covenant which spiritually forges the blood of the bride and groom together, it could not be broken.

3. The bride and groom do not see each other until the ceremony. Instead they go through a water cleansing ritual to spiritually cleanse them.

4. The family and friends gather with loud music and singing in the town under a shelter erected for what is called the betrothal. This legalises the marriage but does not consummate it. Here the marriage covenant is read out by the groom’s father and the father of the bride holding his piece of pottery reads out the dowry and the dowry is then exchanged.

5. The groom hands his bride a gift. He then takes a jug and pours her a cup of wine and offers it to her. This is her opportunity to stop it all. She could reject the cup or drink from it signalling her willingness to marry. Once she drinks from the cup, he also drinks. Then the groom will say these words:

I WILL NOT DRINK THIS CUP AGAIN UNTIL I DRINK IT ANEW WITH YOU IN MY FATHER’S HOUSE.

Sat around the table that night there are so many things happening. The Judas story, the exodus, the sacrificial lamb. But in the mind of Christ when he picks up the cup of wine there is this thought, “this is all worth it”, for there is coming a day when the wedding will take place and this love story will be fully consummated and God will be with His people and they will know Him.

So the next time you take communion or whatever you call it and are handed the cup of wine have the image of your groom, Jesus, offering you relationship, a marriage that is coming very soon.

Judas warned

Mark 14:20-21

20 “It is one of the Twelve,” he replied, “one who dips bread into the bowl with me. 21 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”

If you hate Judas and believe he is rotting in hell then you will read this verse as Jesus condemning him to that fate.

But I don’t hate Judas and I don’t believe he is rotting in hell neither do I think Jesus condemns him there.

There are no doubt arguments for both sides. Some say that because of the translation it looks like Jesus is speaking of the one person, Judas. When others say in the original It can show that Jesus was speaking of 2 men, him and Judas. “It would be better for him (Jesus) if he (Judas) had not been born.”

What do I think this morning?

There are many people who have made such a mess of their life, the decisions they have made have been momentously destructive and have sentenced them to a life in prison (whether they are there literally or not). They have wasted their life. It would seem to them that it would be better if they had not been born. That is the powerful woe on whatever is left of their life.

Why did Jesus say this? Even this is harsh isn’t it?

It is harsh, without the help of Matthew, “Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?” Jesus answered, “You have said so.” (26:25)

Matthew shows us that the conversation between him and Judas must have been whispered because if the others had heard they would have set upon Judas there and then that is for sure.

Therefore, Jesus in a last hour effort gives Judas the opportunity to repent and stop doing what he had planned to do.

It is like Jesus purposely says to Judas “what you are about to do will bring such sorrow and distress you will wish you had never been born.”

That’s how Judas ended prior to his suicide.

Maybe the Church should warn others not of eternal damnation (we seem good at that) but that there is no depth a man can plummet but it will only bring great sorrow into his life and that today is the day to opt out of that destructive path. There is a way that seems right to man but in the end it leads to death (Proverbs 14:12). It is only a life with Jesus that brings the true purpose for our existence. He makes sense of it all.

Judas

Mark 14:17-19

17 When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. 18 While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me-one who is eating with me.” 19 They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, “Surely not I?”

One by one, so that’s all of them: “surely not I?’ All 12 of them said to Jesus it wouldn’t be them.

• it is hard to accept you are capable of doing the worst of sins.

The truth is they would all desert Jesus, one would deny and of course one would betray.

• It is possible to say you wouldn’t be the one to commit the sin and at the same time be planning to be the one.

Judas looked at the others and at Jesus and was adamant he wasn’t the one when in fact he knew he was.

• Just because Jesus knows doesn’t stop a person committing the sin of betrayal.

You would have thought this was Judas’ opportunity to stop his plan, he didn’t take it.

• Jesus doesn’t expose the betrayer, he arrives with him in the group.

Every one needs to take the journey with you, even the ones who may stab you in your back.

• Jesus shows incredible grace by having the closest of fellowship with the betrayer by eating with him.

Eat with those who don’t follow your plan and path, they will need this grace later.

The Upper room

Mark 14: 13-16

13 So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. 14 Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 15 He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there. 16 The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.

The Message says it was a spacious second-storey room which had been swept and made ready. TPT says the table was set. The Amplified says dining couches and carpets laid.

We can see the picture. The owner of the house was ready.

He wouldn’t get a place at the table. He wouldn’t even be known by his name.

But he had the vital role of hosting the presence of the real Passover Lamb.

We need to become better hosts of His presence.

The Upper room is where Jesus washed the disciples’ feet demonstrating love.

It is where we see the power and beauty of Jesus’ prayer life (John 17).

It is where the disciples gathered in fear after the death of Jesus.

It is where Jesus appeared to them showing the nail prints.

It is where Jesus breathed on the disciples to receive the Holy Spirit.

The Upper room is where tongues of fire came on their first Pentecost.

But none of this would have happened if the spacious room hadn’t been cleaned and given.

Are we expecting Him coming? Are we getting ready?

Have we created space, our own upper room in our hearts, free of clutter so that we can host Him?

Have we swept out the old habits and cleaned our lives from destructive thoughts and emotions?

I believe churches can still be ideally placed for hosting His presence.

We certainly need a visitation from God.

Let’s get hosting!

Water-carriers are included.

Mark 14:13-15

13 So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. 14 Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 15 He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.”

How did Jesus know there would be a man carrying a jar of water waiting to meet Peter and John (it is Luke who lets us know the names of the disciples he sent)?

Was Peter and John that well known the man knew who they were and was waiting for them?

Had Jesus met this man beforehand and told him to expect them? Had he organised beforehand with the owner of the house and it was him who sent the water-carrier to meet them?

We don’t know these answers.

What we do know is that on this special day when the Passover lamb was sacrificed a man did something that we might think is just so ordinary that we read right past it. But this man was sticking out like a sore thumb! For this was a woman’s job and this man was humiliated to do such a task!

We don’t know why. But his humiliation caused him to lead the disciples to his owners house in order to prepare the Passover meal. He is humiliated but he makes it into the Passover story.

You may wake today to a life or a work that marginalises you. People may make you feel humiliated. You do your best but it isn’t good enough.

You may wish you didn’t have to do what you do.

But you can be used by Jesus, just like this man did.

Even water-carriers who are breaking cultural norms can be part of the gospel story.

Where? Not there!

Mark 14:12-16

‘12 On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?” 13 So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. 14 Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 15 He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.” 16 The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.”

Where do you want to have dinner?

A question we all ask at some point of our lives to friends we want to celebrate with.

This was probably the 3rd year of the team being together and the same question is asked.

They know they should make preparations for the dinner, this is customary, but they don’t know where. Or do they?

Some things are obvious, they are unquestionable, they don’t need thinking about. They will celebrate the Passover meal. The problem is there seems to be a dark shadow over the city in front of them. They are carrying all that Jesus has said about what is going to happen to him, they are confused, they don’t properly understand. Here they are staying outside the city and the last place they would think about going into is the one place they are dreading him suggesting. Simply because whenever he has talked about the city it is in the context of danger and destruction.

To have the dinner outside the city was a good thought!

Is there a place you are afraid to go into today?

Uncertainty clouds the path and it is the last place you want to go.

You may need to have conversations and decisions are needing to be made. You may be doing things that are second nature to you, you will be doing the work that is not difficult for you.

However, where is what makes you feel slightly anxious. Anywhere but there!

They are waiting with bated breath.

‘There’, Jesus points, ‘In the city’.

There in your family.

There in your marriage.

There in your workplace.

There in your church.

There where you live.

There across the oceans.

There in a foreign land.

There where you would rather not be or go.

There, make preparations for the celebration of the sacrificial lamb.

There, get ready for our time of reflecting on surrender and submission to the plan of God for your life and for others.

From brokenness to betrayal

Mark 14: 10-11

“Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over.”

He was in charge of the finances and what he saw just happen pushed him over the edge. A woman had entered the house where they were eating and broke her life savings over Jesus. Worse than that, Jesus seemed to welcome this. Things were getting out of hand and Judas felt convicted to slow the ministry down in fact to end it.

From brokenness to betrayal.

Here is one of the Twelve disciples, a follower, who had seen miracles and transformations of people and was even given authority to be used in this way.

He goes to the chief priests, those appointed to serve around the Most Holy Place in the Temple. In fact one of them, the High Priest, was the only one permitted to enter that sacred space and only one day a year on the Day of Atonement.

Here they are negotiating a deal to betray Jesus who would atone for the sin of the whole world. The irony and sheer blindness.

The chief priests welcome him with open arms. Judas has pleased these holy ministers. They in turn promise him money. He will gain more than he thought.

So Judas from that moment is watching, not now for learning, but for an opportunity to hand Jesus to them quietly. There were scores of people in the city and they wanted this done as quietly as possible.

Lessons from betrayers:

1. They are totally blind to the hypocrisy of their life. But they are also blind to the fact that God holds the bigger picture, they cannot fool Him.
2. They will always find people who agree with their betrayal. They may even gain more than they had thought at first. They may thus feel justified.
3. They plan. Betrayals don’t just happen, they are planned and organised. So careful attention, detail and observation from a follower may actually be a death plan for the mission by a betrayer.

And of course everyone remembers a betrayer!

Look at this again …

v 9-10 “Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her. Then Judas Iscariot …”

So this woman with her broken alabaster jar is continually preached around the world even 2,000 years later, just as Jesus said.

But so is the betrayer. In fact his name is the most hated name in the world. No one likes a Judas.

He will appear again in our readings over the next few days but it is the other gospel writers that speak of him the most. Matthew writes how Jesus said “My friend, do what you are here for” (26:50) when Judas kisses him. John says that Jesus said “do it quickly” (13:28). This isn’t to defend Judas in the slightest but it doesn’t seem to be condemning him either.

What we all know is that the gospel message is for betrayers, the Judas people of this world, for you and me. When the betrayers become soaked with the gospel message they can become alabaster followers.

From brokenness to betrayal and from betrayers to the broken worshippers of Jesus.

The power of the gospel of Jesus.