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Message Notes
“And he said, ‘Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.’” —Mark 14:36
What Did Jesus Endure Before the Cross?
- Jesus was Betrayed by Judas.
“And immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, ‘The one I will kiss is the man. Seize him and lead him away under guard.’ And when he came, he went up to him at once and said, ‘Rabbi!’ And he kissed him. ” —Mark 14:43-45
“Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.” —Proverbs 27:6
“In other words, a treacherous person maintains a loving façade while harboring ill will or evil intentions. This deceitful kiss, whether literal or figurative, is the lowest, most cowardly form of betrayal. It is the absolute antithesis of love.” —Chuck Swindoll
- Jesus was Abandoned by His Friends.
“And they laid hands on him and seized him. But one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear.” —Mark 14:46-47
“And Jesus said to them, ‘Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But let the Scriptures be fulfilled.’” —Mark 14:48-49
“And they all left him and fled. And a young man followed him, with nothing but a linen cloth about his body. And they seized him, but he left the linen cloth and ran away naked.” —Mark 14:50-51
Judas abandoned Jesus out of selfish greed.
The disciples abandoned Jesus out of fear and uncertainty.
Jesus was falsely accused and condemned by many.
“And they led Jesus to the high priest. And all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes came together. And Peter had followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he was sitting with the guards and warming himself at the fire.” —Mark 14:53-54
“Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they found none. For many bore false witness against him, but their testimony did not agree. And some stood up and bore false witness against him, saying, ‘We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.’’Yet even about this their testimony did not agree.” —Mark 14:55-59
“And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, ‘Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?’ But he remained silent and made no answer.” —Mark 14:60-61
“He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shears is silent, so he did not open his mouth.” —Isaiah 53:7
“Again the high priest asked him, ‘Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?’ And Jesus said, ‘I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.’” —Mark 14:61-62
“And the high priest tore his garments and said, ‘What further witnesses do we need? You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?’ And they all condemned him as deserving death. And some began to spit on him and to cover his face and to strike him, saying to him, ‘Prophesy!” And the guards received him with blows.’” —Mark 14:63-65
What Can We Learn from Jesus, the One Who Was Betrayed, Abandoned, Falsely Accused, and Condemned?
- For all the times we have been unfaithful to Jesus, He has never once been unfaithful to us.
“If we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.” —2 Timothy 2:13
- For all the times we have abandoned Jesus, He has never once abandoned us.
“We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God.” —2 Corinthians 4:8-9
- For all the times we have accused Jesus, He has never once accused us.
“My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.” —1 John 2:1
“This advocate doesn’t share your sin problem; he’s the only righteous one. He paid your debt on the cross, and his shed blood continues to cleanse you today.” —Tony Evans
- Jesus endured a wrongful condemnation to take the place of our deserving condemnation.
Condemn – declared guilty or deserving of punishment for wrongdoing.
“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” —John 3:17
“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation.” —Romans 5:8-9
“So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.” —Romans 8:1-2