Today, we return to our study of Mark 14. The setting was Thursday night in the upper room where the Lord Jesus was celebrating the last Passover with His disciples. It was the day before He was to be crucified. In that day, when they ate a meal with others, they reclined on one elbow and laid on their side at a table that had three sides. They laid diagonal from the center of the table with their feet toward the side and the back. For 1,500 years, since the Exodus, the Passover had been celebrated at that time of year, by the Jews, without a break. This would be the last Passover, because the Lord Jesus would fulfill all the righteous requirements of the Law. This final Passover marked the end of the Old Covenant and the beginning of the New.
Friday, September 23, 2022
Mark 14:17-21
Today, we return to our study of Mark 14. The setting was Thursday night in the upper room where the Lord Jesus was celebrating the last Passover with His disciples. It was the day before He was to be crucified. In that day, when they ate a meal with others, they reclined on one elbow and laid on their side at a table that had three sides. They laid diagonal from the center of the table with their feet toward the side and the back. For 1,500 years, since the Exodus, the Passover had been celebrated at that time of year, by the Jews, without a break. This would be the last Passover, because the Lord Jesus would fulfill all the righteous requirements of the Law. This final Passover marked the end of the Old Covenant and the beginning of the New.
Thursday, September 22, 2022
Mark 14:12-16
Today, we continue our study of Mark 14 where a clear contrast
Wednesday, September 21, 2022
Mark 14:10-11
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10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. 11 They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over. ~ Mark 14:10-11
Today, we continue our study of Mark 14 where we have been studying lessons about worship from Mary of Bethany, the sister of Lazarus and Martha. True worship is defined by that which defines us most. The type of worship that Mary displayed at Simon's house was the result of a heart transformed by entering into a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
In v.10 of today's passage we read, "Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them."
In just one verse the scene makes a dramatic shift from an incredible display of adoration and worship back to the religious leaders and Judas who were plotting to kill the Lord Jesus. Unbeknown to the religious leaders, they were playing right into a plan that was devised by the Godhead before this world was created.
We are told in Revelation 13:8 that it was from the foundation of the world that it was determined that the Lord Jesus would pay the penalty for man's sin. God is omniscient which means He knows everything. That does not mean He makes all things happen as they do. He allowed man to sin. Could He have prevented it? Absolutely, but if He had, we would all be robots with no will of our own. And, without a will, there is no choice. And, without choice, there is no love.
Before God laid the foundations of the world, He already knew that man would rebel against Him and inaugurate sin. Sin is the suspicion that God is not good. As a result man was condemned in his sinfulness. There was no hope to be found. God had to do something. So, He prepared a plan of salvation, a way for us to be reconciled back to Him through someone in His inner circle.
Shockingly, someone from another inner circle offered his services to betray the Lord Jesus. In context, Mark contrasts Mary’s devotion with the desire of Judas to make a little money. This was prophesied in Zechariah 11:12-13. It was not determined that Judas would do it, but we were told that the Lord Jesus would be betrayed for the amount of a common slave.
What a contrast. Mary used her money to honor the Lord Jesus while Judas used the Lord Jesus to get some money. Mary anointed the Lord Jesus for His burial while the religious leaders and Judas arranged for His burial. The Lord Jesus recognized Mary for favoring Him over the poor while Judas seemed to favor the poor over the anointing of the Lord Jesus. Again, what a contrast.
In v.11 of today's passage we read, "They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over."
The religious leaders were delighted to learn of that which motivated Judas to betray God: greed. Interestingly, the name "Judas" is a form of Judah which means "thank you." He didn't live up to His name did he? Judas' family name was Iscariot which reveals he was from the village of Kerioth, 23 miles south of Jerusalem. Judas was the only non-Galilean among the twelve apostles.
After Judas learned that the Lord Jesus was not going to set up His Millennial kingdom on earth, he was quick to look for the best way to hand over the Lamb of God to the religious leaders for money. According to Matthew 26:15, Judas agreed to betray the Lord for 30 pieces of silver. According to Exodus 21:32, 30 pieces of silver was the price of a slave.
I find it interesting that Judas Iscariot is always mentioned last whenever there's a listing of the twelve disciples in the New Testament. When Judas bargained with the leaders of Israel for the betrayal of the Lord Jesus, they considered the cost of the death of the Lord Jesus to be that of a slave. The Lord Jesus became the slave of God in order to free slaves from sin.
When considering the real price that was placed on the Lord Jesus, it is helpful to consider Philippians 2:5-11 which reads, "Have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
The Lord Jesus took on the form of a slave. The Greek word “doulos” was utilized by the Apostle Paul and it literally means "slave." The significance of the 30 pieces of silver not only ties the Old Testament to the New Testament but also reveals how the Lord Jesus was willing to humble Himself and offer Himself up upon the cross, to purchase what we could never afford. He was the only who could pay the worthy price for our forgiveness in the eyes of God. For that we worship Him.
Tuesday, September 20, 2022
Mark 14:6-9
Today, we return to our study of the day when Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus anointed the Lord Jesus six days before His crucifixion. Previous to this, the Lord Jesus had told the disciples three times that He was going to Jerusalem to die, but, they didn't believe Him. In today's text, we learn that Mary of Bethany believed Him. For Mary, it made sense that the Lord Jesus was heading to Jerusalem to die. So, she anointed Him with the most expensive perfume, similar to the way the sacrificial lamb's were anointed six days before they were to be sacrificed in the Old Testament.
The Lord Jesus equated Mary's worship with preparation for His burial. The recording of this act of worship was not shared by Mark in its chronological order. Due to that many miss the fact that it happened six days before the Lord Jesus was crucified. In John 12:1 we learn this incident happened six days before the Passover. This anointing happened on the Saturday before the following Friday when the Lord Jesus was crucified.
Our pain always speaks, and sometimes, the message doesn't make sense to us in the moment. Whatever our beliefs are, they are best recognized as we deal with our pain. It was at that point of greatest pain and confusion that the Lord Jesus came to Lazarus' tomb and asked that the stone covering the tomb be removed. When they removed the stone and the Lord Jesus called Lazarus to come forth, it was at that moment that it all began to make sense to Mary. It was on the heels of that most horrific experience that Mary began to truly worship the Lord Jesus. This led to Mary expending all she had to anoint the Lord Jesus with this most expensive spikenard perfume.
Locating and listening to God through the pain in our heart is a major step to getting to the place of worship. Instinctively, we avoid pain. To get to reality, we must visit our pain and let it do its work deep within us. It's design is to prepare our heart to experience God. We ordinarily do not do this because it hurts too much. So often we run from our pain, not realizing that it aids us in our pursuit of our Heavenly Father. It is through our brokenness that we see God’s true strength as He meets us right where we are in the moment. God uses our hurts so that He can clearly write the lessons of His grace on our hearts and set our affections on Him.
Once we locate the pain, we must visit it. We must feel it again and again, and, allow God to do His deepest work in us. Then through that pain, we must run to Him over and over and over. There is never a cry that the Lord ignores. Our pain aids us at anticipating and recognizing and hearing His voice. Our pain helps us feel, it helps us to be human, it helps us meet God, it helps us to know God more deeply. Pain unlocks our hearts to be embraced by God.
Monday, September 19, 2022
Mark 14:1-5
Friday, September 16, 2022
Mark 13:32-37
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32 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. 34 It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch. 35 “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. 36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’” ~ Mark 13:32-37
Today, we conclude our study of Mark 13 which is a short study given by the Lord Jesus on the Mount of Olives to His disciples on the end times.
In v.32-33 of today's passage we read, "32 But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come."
When the Lord Jesus spoke these words, He did not know when His second coming would take place. Now, that He has ascended to the Father in heaven, I believe, He now knows that day and hour. For those who will find themselves in the Tribulation, and they have seen the abomination of desolation, as spelled out in the the books of Daniel and Revelation, they will be able to count three and a half years and know when the second coming will happen. They will be able to do this because in the middle of the 70th seven in Daniel 9:27 the abomination of desolation will occur in the newly built temple in Jerusalem.
Before His ascension, the Lord Jesus said "no one knows" when these events will happen, but for those who will be living on earth during the tribulation period, they will be able to count 1260 days beyond the abomination of desolation, and know for certain when the end will happen.
When the Tribulation begins, the first half of that seven year period of time will be more peaceful than the second half. The Seventieth Seven of Daniel 9 will begin right after the rapture of the church. Nobody knows when the rapture will happen, it could be today.
In v.33, the Lord Jesus tells us to "Be on guard!" and "Be alert!" which means to be about the Father's business and engaging in the battle for souls that we are waging right now. From our vantage point right now no one knows when the second coming will happen or even the Rapture. But, for those who live during the tribulation, they will be able to calculate the second coming of the Lord Jesus to the day.
In v.34-36 of today's passage we read, "34 It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch. 35 “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. 36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping."
There are few topics that elicit as much interest, discussion and debate in Christians circles as the study of the end times. Trying to understand all the ins and outs of end time theology is quite a task. Today's passage is set during the time after the rapture of the church. The emphasis here is for those left on the earth after the Rapture. The clarion call of the Lord to them is to "watch."
The Lord Jesus used an illustration taken from the Romans who in those days split twelve hours of the day into what they referred to as "watches." Four three-hour watches were appointed during which a soldier would watch for intrusion or attacks by the enemy while the others slept. The purpose for the doorkeeper was to keep watch for thieves and other criminals to protect their master’s property. The twelve-hour watch began with the first watch which was from six to nine in the evening; then, from nine to midnight was the second; then, from midnight until three in the morning was the third, and then, three until six am was the fourth watch.
Since no one knew when the Master was to return whether during the evening or at midnight or in the morning, the servants were to remain vigilant throughout that time period. I find it interesting that these "watches" are also mentioned in Mark 14-15, in the account that is given of the crucifixion and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.
In v.37 of today's passage we read, "What I say to you, I say to everyone: Watch!"
Obviously, the key word in this passage is "watch." Four times in today's text, the Lord Jesus instructs believers to stay alert. The final generation who will see all of these things come to fruition will need to be alert. And, for us who will not be on the earth during the Tribulation, we must engage, now, in the "snatching of the unsaved from the fires of Hell" as we are told in the letter written by the half-brother of the Lord Jesus, Jude.
The word "snatching" means "to take by force." Not the force of this world, the force of another world that responds to prayer given on the behalf of the unsaved. This is the same word the Apostle Paul uses to describe the Rapture in 1 Thessalonians 4. When we meet somebody who is not believing in the Lord Jesus, we must go after them as if we were engaged in a very serious rescue operation because they are damned by their sin if they have not trusted in the finished work of the Lord Jesus on the cross for the forgiveness of their sin. And, the best way to reach them is by being committed to praying for them, first. And then, by patiently bringing the truth to them. We bring the truth to them best by being defined by God's truth, by allowing our choices to be hemmed in by His truth.
Having said all of this, we must remember that in order to recognize the false, we, must be well-trained in the truth which sensitizes our souls to the needs of the struggling and the unsaved.
Thursday, September 15, 2022
Mark 13:28-31
Today, we continue our study of Mark 13 where in context the disciples have asked the Lord Jesus how they would know that the end had come. Of course, the disciples had no idea that they would not be on the earth when the end arrived, but the Lord Jesus, nevertheless, answered their question. He answered their question for the benefit of those who will be on the earth during the Tribulation and the end comes.
Wednesday, September 14, 2022
Mark 13:21-27
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21 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. 22 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 23 So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time. 24 “But in those days, following that distress, “‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; 25 the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’ 26 “At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens." ~ Mark 13:21-27
Today, we continue our study of Mark 13 where the Lord Jesus had been responding to the question of the disciples about the end times. It was Wednesday evening of the passion week before Friday when the Lord Jesus would be crucified. The answer the Lord Jesus gave was threefold. Having considered the first two of His threefold response, today, we will consider His third response, it will be a time of religious deceit.
In v.21-22 of today's passage we read, "21 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. 22 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.'"
The emphasis in today's passage is on seeing. In Hebrews 11:3 we read, "By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not brought into being from anything observable."
During the Tribulation it will be a time of world-wide religious deceit. The false messiahs and the false prophets will be the agents of the anti-christ who will openly rule and reign in that day. These will be people who will appear and perform signs and wonders. Those not defined by God's word will be taken in and deceived.
In v.23 of today's passage we read, "So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time."
With the emphasis on what we see, the Lord encourages His hearers to evaluate out of the posture that is informed by the word of God. This is why we must be in the word daily, allowing it to frame up life for us. Even though there was clear application of these words for the first disciples, these words will be most applicable to those who will be on the earth at the end of time. We have not yet entered into the time of tribulation, but the birth pains have come. Wars, rumors of wars, disease, disasters, and famines abound. And, the persecution of God's people is on the rise. Therefore, we must take notice of the signs that are before us, and, we must be about the Father's business, looking for those areas He is working and being useful to Him in leading others to the Lord Jesus.
In v.24-25 of today's passage we read, "24 But in those days, following that distress, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; 25 the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken."
Most theologians believe that the anti-christ, in the middle of the Tribulation, will do something awful in the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem, causing those who will be in the habit daily of being there, to leave. Thus, the abomination that causes desolation will be realized. This is why most have always watched with great interest the possibility of the reconstruction of the temple in Jerusalem.
At the end of time, as we know it, the Lord Jesus Christ will appear in the heavens with great power and glory. Previous to His appearing, volcanoes will erupt and tidal waves arise. The havoc on the earth at that time will be the result of the heavens being shaken and the lights will be turned off. The Lord Jesus will appear in the sky for all on earth to see. This will be the second coming of the Lord Jesus. The main difference between the rapture of the church and the second coming of the Lord Jesus will be the fact that His feet will touch the earth at the second coming. At the rapture of the church, we will be raised to meet the Lord in the air.
In v.26-27 of today's passage we read, "26 At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens."
The climax of all of human history will be the appearing of Jesus Christ as Lord, with great power and great glory. At the second coming, the angels will be engaged in the gathering of God's people to Himself. The sign of the end will be return of the Son, in full power and full glory. According to Revelation 6 the people of the earth at that time will say to the mountains, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb." This, of course, will be unnecessary because they could have avoided having to suffer the wrath of God for themselves.
All of this underscores the fact that salvation is a free gift for the taking. Of course, it came at a great cost for the Lord Jesus. He laid down His life for anyone willing and humble enough to receive the free gift. When man yielded to the sinful desires of this fallen world, it resulted in the disordering of our loves. When we trust the Lord Jesus, we are enabled to see love anew, and, our loves are rendered to what God intended them to be. For all of eternity, it will be His love for us that will capture our hearts in such a way that we will fully exist for His glory.
Tuesday, September 13, 2022
Mark 13:14-20
14 "When you see ‘the abomination that causes desolation’ standing where it does not belong—let the reader understand—then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 15 Let no one on the housetop go down or enter the house to take anything out. 16 Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. 17 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers!
18 Pray that this will not take place in winter, 19 because those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now—and never to be equaled again. 20 If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them." ~ Mark 13:14-20
Today, we return to our study of Mark 13 where the main theme is the end times and when the Lord Jesus will return to the earth for a second time. According to Matthew's Gospel, today's passage is predicated upon the prophecy given in Daniel 9:24-27. In order to understand today's passage, we must have a working knowledge of Daniel 9:24-27 which reads...
"24 “Seventy ‘sevens’ are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy Place. 25 “Know and understand this: From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven ‘sevens,’ and sixty-two ‘sevens.’ It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble. 26 After the sixty-two ‘sevens,’ the Anointed One will be put to death and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed. 27 He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him." ~ Daniel 9:24-27
This was a prophecy specifically about the nation of Israel. In that prophecy there were decreed 70 sevens which covers a 490 year period of time. When we multiply 70 x 7 we have 490, which is speaking of a prophecy which describes a 490 year period of time, specifically for the nation of Israel. As we read in Daniel 9:25-27, this prophecy is divided into three segments: 7 sevens = 49 years (Daniel 9:25), 62 sevens = 434 years (Daniel 9:25-26), and 1 seven = 7 years (Daniel 9:27). When we add the totals, we have 490 years.
The first two segments (the 7 sevens and the 62 sevens) of time have already been fulfilled. The last seven which is a seven year period is yet to be fulfilled but the last seven is yet to be fulfilled. Most theologians refer to this 70th seven as the "Tribulation", although it is never described as such in the New Testament. The Lord Jesus does refer to the second half of this seven year period as "a time of great tribulation." In Jeremiah 30:7 it is referred to as "a time of Jacob's trouble." Of course, Jacob was Israel as an unbeliever and Israel is Jacob as a believer. So, the design of the Tribulation is to bring Israel to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
According to Daniel 9:25, from the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild the temple (the issuing of the decree to restore occurred in Nehemiah 2:1-8 which was 444 BC and it was completed in 395 BC) until the messiah there will be 7 sevens (Jerusalem was completed in 395 BC which took 49 years or seven sevens) and 62 sevens which is 434 years (444 BC to the day the Lord Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the donkey = 483 yrs). And, then there is the final seven.
According to Daniel 9:26, after the 62 sevens the messiah will be cut off March 30, 33 AD. And then, the prince is one who will destroy the city and the sanctuary (this occurred in A.D. 70 under the leadership of Titus). According to Daniel 9:27 the one seven is a 7 year period of time (this is a time of tribulation on earth as described by the Lord Jesus in Matthew 24.)
According to Daniel 9:26-27, the ruler or the prince will make a covenant with the many including Israel for one seven. This prince will be the anti-christ who is mentioned in Daniel 11:21. In the middle of this seven the anti-christ will discontinue sacrifice and worship and he will break his covenant with Israel. This 70th seven or the tribulation period is also described in Revelation 6:1-8:2 (7 seals) 8:3-10:11 (7 trumpets) 16:1-16 (7 bowls).
Monday, September 12, 2022
Mark 13:6-13
Today, we return to our study of Mark 13 where the main subject is the End Times. The Lord Jesus and His Jewish disciples had just departed from the Temple in Jerusalem and now they are on the Mount of Olives where He is teaching them.
The first sign that the Lord Jesus gave to His disciples that end is near is that of false Christs. Since the time of the Lord Jesus, at least 64 different individuals have come claiming to be the Messiah. His word of warning to His disciples: "... do not be alarmed." We must be careful that it is the Jesus Christ of the Bible that we are following, or, we will end up following the wrong leader.
The second threat leading up to the end is given in v.7-8, disasters like wars, famines, earthquakes, natural disasters, will occur. There have been wars and rumors of wars right from the very beginning. There are going to be famines and earthquakes in various places in the future, but, at the end of time, the escalation of these things will be a tip that we are near the end.
Right from the very first century these words were fulfilled. The book of Acts tells us how the Apostle Paul, and the other apostles, and the early Christians, were often beaten in the synagogues, dragged before governors and kings, and gave testimony before them, as was predicted by Jesus here in this passage.
In the middle of this statement about being brought before governors and kings, He says the gospel is to be preached, indicating that there is some tie between the two. This suggests when the gospel has penetrated a culture, those in positions of authority will be threatened. But this is not a sign of the end, because it has been going on through the whole course of the age, and will characterize the age until its end.
Superficial faith collapses under persecution. Authentic, God-given faith will endure, because the Holy Spirit will provide strength and grace to endure in the faith. "The end" here is talking about the end of a person's life. As followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, we are called to be faithful to death.
"The one who stands firm to the end will be saved" means genuine faith in the God of the Bible will survive the test of the age. This does not mean we earn our salvation. Think of the slap in the face of the Lord Jesus this would be. If it meant that we earn our salvation, it would be saying that the work of Christ to earn our salvation was not enough. It is like saying, "Christ plus our good works equals salvation." If anyone believes that, well, you are not following the Jesus Christ of the Bible. The genuineness of our faith is not a product of none other than the presence of God in our lives. Anything is holy because God is there. God makes us holy, righteous and acceptable before Him.