Close to the Kingdom : Taking the Last Steps

Hello, and welcome to the Westside churches special Monday Morning Coffee podcast on this podcast, our preacher Mark Roberts will help you get your week started right. With look back at yesterday's sermon so that we can think through it further and better work the applications into our daily lives . Mark will then look forward into this week's Bible reading so that we can know what to expect and watch for. And, he may have some extra bonus thoughts from time to time. So grab a cup of coffee as we start the week together on Monday Morning Coffee with Mark.

Good morning. Good morning. Welcome to the Monday Morning Coffee podcast for Monday, March the 18th. I'm Mark , and I'm telling you you'd better buckle up for the Monday Morning Coffee podcast today because I have a ton of stuff for you this morning that will really help you get your Monday going with a big dose of the energy from yesterday's worship service and a big look forward into our daily Bible reading. Reading one of the most important chapters of the Bible. And I'm saying that because it's dealing with one of the most important events in human history, all of that and a great cup of coffee. I'm working some of this coffee that I've been roasting, kind of getting into coffee roasting and I like that a lot, getting some good help with that. In fact, made some coffee today with a pour over and I've got a friend who 3D printed me some stuff that helps me with that. So got lots of people helping me have better coffee. I hope you're ready for a great week. I hope you're ready to think about the sermon yesterday. I hope you're ready to think about Mark 14. Let's get started. Yesterday I preached on the threshold of the kingdom taking the last steps, and this is, this was a very first principle kind of sermon, trying to lay down some of the very basics of the gospel. Get people to think about baptism, get people to think about making that commitment to Jesus Christ and become a disciple. Really excited to have the chance to do that. I really appreciate our elders want me to do that kind of preaching. It helps all of us, even if you are a disciple, even if you are a Christian, you've been baptized, helps us to revisit those ideas, helps those who are visiting, who are just kind of sticking a toe in the water and testing it a little bit, helps our kids as they grow up want to think about these vital concepts. And I just wanna come back and say one more time how important it is that we think about personal sinfulness. That's the first point yesterday. I need to acknowledge my sin. We need to think about the Bible standard of conduct and that I am a sinner more and more. That concept is losing ground in our culture today. And that can affect us even as disciples. And I would ping you back to that business I that I worked on yesterday. About 30% of Americans are religiously unaffiliated. Now, those people, that segment is being called the nuns, N-O-N-E-S, they have no faith, no religious practice. They, they check none of the above when they are asked about faith matters. And so that group of people form a substantial challenge to New Testament Christianity because they just kind of shrug their shoulders and say, meh , you believe what you wanna believe in . I , I , I , you know, it's okay with me, but I don't really, I , yeah , I'll have none of that. And that is a huge challenge to work with. And you can be certain that you'll be hearing that in one of those challenges to Christianity. Theme sermons this year, not this month, need to talk about the resurrection this month. But we will be talking about those nuns as the year goes along. Lord willing, now it's time for us to talk about the most important event in human history. That's the death barrel and resurrection of Jesus, the Christ. And the discussion of that begins in Mark chapter 14 for us in our daily Bible reading this week. Let's do some daily Bible reading

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This is Monday and today's reading is Mark chapter 14, verses one to nine. This is the last week of Jesus' life and all things are coming to a head. There's a couple of challenges here. One for the writer of the Gospel of Mark , mark, and one for you and me today. Really when we think about this, and we want to think about this in terms of Mark's writing and where it sits in the New Testament timeframe and in its original context, the challenge here for Mark is to take one of the most embarrassing parts of Christianity. Jesus, our Messiah, our leader was executed by the state as a rebellious criminal. And you have to make that into Christianity strength. That is tough. That's tough. How do you take the cross, which is just in the New Testament world, the absolute most degrading and awful way to die, reserved for the very most terrible of criminals and say, Hey, we're really excited about this. This is a great thing. That's the challenge for Mark. And I wanna say again, we never understand what the Bible means today until we understand what the Bible meant then. So that's where Mark is, that's what Mark is working with. That's a heavy load right there. That is a heavy load. Now the challenge for you and me is very, very different. We are in a society and a culture that talks about the cross. We're coming up on Easter, all the things that go with that. And we are super comfortable with it. None of us have ever seen anybody crucified. The state does not execute people in that kind of fashion anymore. We are really good with it. So the challenge for us is to see how difficult this was for Jesus. We don't want to get lost here and decide. Jesus came to die, knew he was gonna die. He is been telling everybody and the gospel of Mark , he was gonna die. So it's just all good we're oh, wonderful, Jesus, just wonderful. I know you've been looking forward to this that will mess up your reading here in Mark's gospel. We need to see how terribly difficult this was for Jesus. And as we turn to Mark 14 and we get ready to do our reading today, watch how Jesus is in complete control. This doesn't sneak up on Jesus in any shape, form, or fashion. And watch how Peter just makes a huge mess out of everything, which should really surprise us because Mark probably got his gospel from from the apostle Peter. And we wouldn't think that one of the big heroes of New Testament Christianity, the first half of the Book of Acts is all about Peter is gonna be telling folks, Hey, I blew it. I absolutely blew it. Boy, the Bible's just not like any other book, is it? This is not a book of human origin. This is not how humans write. So as we begin our reading, mark 14, one and two, the chief priest inscribes say, we're not doing this. Verse two, too many extra people in Jerusalem, some accounts say maybe as many as 85 to 300,000 pilgrims would be in the city. Its population somewhere in the neighborhood of maybe a hundred to 120,000. So the city's just jammed with people, a lot of nationalistic fervor as they celebrate the Passover and all the things that go with that. Josephus has bigger numbers than that, by the way, but he's probably exaggerating. But this is not the time to do anything controversial or difficult. Kind of think about how sometimes if a college has to announce something difficult or if there's a difficult political announcement, it gets done on Friday night at about five 30 and he just gets lost in the weekend. Well that's what they're saying here. We're not doing this right now, but Jesus has said, we're gonna do this. This is going to happen. He said it three times in the gospel of Mark . So who's gonna be right? Is it gonna be the chief priests and scribes or is it gonna be Jesus? And now we have this seen in Bethany, the house of Simon the leper, mark 14 in verse three. And this is where Jesus is anointed with oil. And there's a couple of things here that we would wanna make sure that we have in place. One, this is not the anointing that occurs in Luke chapter seven, and that's a great thing to write out in the margin. This is not Luke Seven's anointing and this is the anointing of John chapter 12. And John tells us that it is Mary who is doing the anointing, but that is not here. And it's very easy to merge these accounts and start making points. That's what us preachers do. We we, we make points out of the text and there's a lot of great points to be made, but most of those points come when I'm preaching outta John 12. It's hard to make a lot of points outta Mark 14 because the account is very sparse, it's very, very concise. And I think the key here is Mark 14 eight. She has anointed my body beforehand for burial. Nobody's talking about Jesus dying except Jesus. And what that would say is Mary got it. Mary understood what was going to happen to Jesus. She's the one that listens to him. Don't forget in Luke chapter 10, she's listening or maybe she didn't get it, but Jesus just says unintentionally, she's doing the very right thing here, but the focus is Jesus will die before this sweet smell from this amazing and expensive perfume is gone. I'll need it because I will have been killed. That is the emphasis here in Mark's gospel today. Tomorrow we journey further in Mark 14. Welcome to Tuesday. Today's reading is Mark chapter 14, verses 10 to 21. Couple of pieces to this. First Juda is carried as identified as the one who will betray him and he goes and makes arrangements to do exactly that. That's pretty shocking. We would never expect that turn of events, one of Jesus's inner circle, part of the apostles to turn against Jesus. There is so much speculation about why Judas did that. What's going on? Mark doesn't speculate. We will not speculate. What Mark is showing us is that this is what changes the game in verse two describes in Pharisees and religious leaders say, we're not doing this. Now they can do this verses 10 and 11, identify why things have adjusted, what's made the big shift. And that's Judas the Sct . Then Jesus makes some heavy duty reservations here for the last Supper. And that really presses again that emphasis of Jesus being in control. Lemme get a little sip of coffee here that really emphasizes Jesus being in control. Judas is not going to be able to betray him at some known spot. They're not gonna be able to come and arrest him. Jesus has a lot to do before he is arrested. And Jesus will make certain he is able to do that. He sent verse 13, two of his disciples, Luke tells us, that's our guys . That is Peter and John. They're the ones who make these arrangements. And when it was evening verse 17, then Jesus comes to the 12 and notice verse 18, they're reclining at table. We sit in chairs. Nobody's sitting in a chair here they are reclining at table. You eat with your right hand and you lean against your elbow in your left arm. So they're reclining at table. And then Jesus says, oh , you want shocking somebody here is going to betray me. And the expression is that I, in verse 19 in the Greek, can be asked in such a way that anticipates a negative response. Surely not me. Oh, it just can't be me. And I would add here that this is a very stunning turn of events because eating together is so important in this culture. And this is a very intimate setting with Jesus and the Apostles and a few others who are very, very close to Jesus, who have been with Jesus. These are his closest followers, his disciples. Nobody here would turn against Jesus. That's impossible. Jesus. Oh, surely not, surely not. And to do that, we just be a breach of every kind of culturally accepted custom and manners and behavior or way to do. If you hate Jesus, you're gonna turn him into the authorities. You can't eat with him. That's just not even possible. So Judas must have just been thunderstruck. Jesus knows, Jesus knows. And of course Jesus gives him every chance here to back off. Jesus must go to the cross. But Judas does not have to do this. The message is clear what is inevitable for Jesus. He is not inevitable for Judas. There is no alternative to the cross for Christ. But Judas does not have to be the betrayer. Divine sovereignty and human freedom are held in tension in this moment. And while God certainly knows what Judas is going to do, that act is not foreordained. He does not have to do this. And that's why Jesus says in verse 21, for the son of man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the son of man is betrayed. It would've been better for that man if he had not been born. What a powerful text. What a great place to sit beside Peter and John. So often when I read the gospels, I sit beside Jesus. I'm staring over Jesus's shoulder, looking at the crowd, watching the reaction. I'm standing beside Jesus. Let's sit beside Peter and John at the Last Supper and see where they, what they are, seeing what they are thinking. And we'll do that tonight West side folks in our zoom prayer and Bible study. We've been off two weeks here, spring break and some of the things going on. Zoom tonight at seven o'clock. See you on Zoom. We'll talk about the last supper and what Peter and John saw there for the rest of you and yeah, for the west side people too. See you tomorrow. We'll keep reading in Mark 14 on Wednesday. Welcome to Wednesday. Today our reading is Mark 1422 to 31 . This is the institution of the Lord's Supper. And then Jesus saying some very hard things to Peter and the rest of the apostles. Let's focus on verses 22 to 25 where Jesus institutes the Lord's supper. Of course, that's not really the focus here. Jesus does not sit down and say, Hey , once the church begins, we'll need to have worship services. There'll be five acts of worship and lemme tell you about this act of worship. That's not really where this is. This is much more Jesus taking the Passover, which is that celebration of Israel's deliverance from the of Egypt and just moving that to the higher level, saying that this is going to be something that we use to remember freedom from the of sin. And it's really wrapped up in covenant language. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for the many . Verse 24, Jesus says that He's going to die in a violent and terrible way. Blood poured out for many. One scholar said Jesus's statements here, this is my body, this is my blood. What do they imply? The blood of sacrificed animals were , was poured out by the priest on the altar as a sin offering to atone for the sins of the people. Leviticus chapter four, when Jesus makes these statements, then he is saying that his death is a new sacrifice offered unto God. No more sacrificial victims need to be killed and further blood sealed or inaugurated the covenant. In Exodus chapter 24, verses three to eight, Moses took the blood and sprinkled it over the people saying, this is the blood of the covenant the Lord has made with you. So Jesus's sacrificial death is a covenant making event. It marks a new act of redemption and begins a new relationship between God and his people. One that supersedes the old, it creates a new community gathered around his table. I love that and think that's very, very helpful to see in this the covenant making event. We are freed from sin by Jesus's sacrifice. And so they sing a hymn. Verse 26, that's probably virtually certain that that is Psalm 118. There's a section of hymns called the Egyptian Hillel that is sung at the Passover and that goes way, way back. That tradition is very, very strong. And so the last one of those is Psalm one 18. Good idea. Go read Psalm one 18 and see what Jesus was singing as they ended the Passover. And then Jesus makes a shocking statement. How much shocking stuff have we had in this chapter? Just over and over again. Verse two. Uh , we're not gonna do this during the feast. That's pretty shocking because Jesus said it will happen during the feast. And then Jesus defends this woman. Judas kind of puts his foot in his mouth. That's pretty shocking. And then Judas betrays Jesus verses 10 and 11. That's shocking. And then Jesus says, sitting here at the table is somebody who will betray me. That's verse 18. And that is shocking. And now Jesus says, you are all gonna fall away. Verse 27. And of course everybody says, no, we're not going to do that. We're not doing that. I love that. Jesus says, after I'm raised up, verse 28, I will go before you to Galilee. How many people make an appointment after death? I'm gonna die and then I'll see you in Galilee. Only Jesus can do that. And I don't like Peter's pride here in verse 29. Get a little of that. Hey, they will, but not me. Certainly not me. Jesus don't like that at all. And now the Passover is over and they are headed to Gethsemane where Jesus will pray tomorrow praying in Gethsemane. See you then. It is Thursday and today we read Mark 1432 to 42. For me, this is some of the most difficult texts to read. In fact, if you think about it, Jesus at Gethsemane is where the BA battle is really fought on the cross, all the things that happen there. Jesus is very composed, very collected, taking care of his mom, taking care of the thief. Jesus is praying for the people who are killing him. It's in the garden where the struggle is the keenest, and that's what we are reading today. Mark 1432 to 42, they come to Gethsemane and Jesus says, sit here while I pray. Notice verse 34, my soul is very sorrowful. Even unto death. We should not back away from the horror of what Jesus is facing here. This was hard for Jesus. This was hard for Jesus, and we need to let go of these ideas that nothing is hard for Jesus. This was hard for Jesus. You ever been so sorry that you thought you were going to die? That's verse 34. It's just terrible. And it's so terrible in verse 36 that Jesus prays, I don't want to do this. Father, can you take this cup away yet? Not what I will, but what you will. What an incredible prayer. But if Jesus is recoiling from this, it must be incredibly difficult. One writer said when Jesus contemplated the cup, he saw that it was a cup full of sin. He saw all the whoring of earthly civilization, blasphemy and profanity, a cup brimming with jealousy and hatred and covetousness, which he must drink. Secondly, he saw that it was a cup full of wrath. As the sin bearer, he became the object of the father's holy wrath against sin. God who made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Paul tells us second Corinthians five in verse 21, how hard this must have been. And then Jesus arises from praying and the disciples are failing. They are failing yet again. And verse 37, Jesus singles out Peter, but this time he is not Peter. He is Simon. Is there something in Jesus' use of that original name? He's not the rock that Jesus talked about before. He had too much confidence in himself and not nearly enough prayer and the hour has come, the son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Jesus in his time in Gethsemane, spending time in prayer, girds himself for what he must face. And in verse 41 and 42, he's ready, isn't he? He's ready. This is not the Jesus of verse 34 and verse 35, this Jesus is fully prepared to go to the cross. That is the battle fought at Gethsemane. That's the battle that Jesus won. Tomorrow we read further in Mark 14, It is Friday. We've come to the end of the week and today we read Mark 14 verses 43 to 52. Jesus is betrayed and arrested, verse 43, and notice how Jesus is completely in control. Everybody else is running off into the darkness like frightened rabbits. But Jesus is completely in control and he tells us why. So that the scripture verse 49 would be fulfilled. The scripture is being fulfilled here. That's what Jesus is about. Jesus is doing the will of God. Then we get these odd two verses. 51 and 52. Young man followed him with nothing but a linen cloth about his body. They seized him. He left a linen cloth and ran away naked. Whoa, what just happened there? Probably the best explanation for this is that this is John Mark, the author of this gospel. He grabbed a linen garment to go out after Jesus, after the Passover. He's not wearing the customary two tunics, and so when he just shed his coat into the arms of those who are grabbing everybody they can grab, he doesn't have on anything. He's running away naked and I think 51 and 52 is a little bit of that eyewitness business. That's Mark's signature Wright there, And that concludes the podcast for the week. Thank you so much for listening. If the podcast helps you tell somebody about it, leave us a rating or review so more people will find the podcast and I do hope that you are automatically downloading that into your device. If you need some help with that, please gimme a shout and we've got folks at West Side who can help you get it, where it will just, it just appears. It just appears. We've got amazing people. Brother John's our engineer and he makes all of that happen. Sister Anisa does all the audio stuff that we need with the audio files. These folks really help us to get this podcast to you each and every week. Well, until next week then, when we'll open our Bibles together. Again, I'm Mark Roberts and I want to go to heaven and I want you to come to I'll see you on Monday with a cup of coffee.

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