Category Archives: Bible Study

MARK’S GOSPEL…THE TALE OF YWO SONS – 40

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Mark‬ ‭15‬:‭6‬-‭12‬, ‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Now it was the custom at the festival to release a prisoner whom the people requested. A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did. “Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate, knowing it was out of self-interest that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead. “What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them. “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!” Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.”

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A twist in the tale! Pilate knew that Jesus was innocent of the charges brought against Him. Mark even diagnosed the motive of the religious leaders for the abominable travesty of justice…

“fthonos”, meaning “envy”. 

Envy is more than jealousy. Envy includes the desire to do away with the person whose goods or attributes are desirable. It has in it the thought of corruption, to defile or destroy. 

So, Pilate was at war with himself. Should he risk antagonising the Jewish leaders by releasing Jesus, or does he violate his conscience by condemning an innocent man? Then a lightbulb moment! He’d throw the choice back on them! A strange custom came to mind…to release a condemned criminal of the people’s choice at Pentecost. 

Jesus or Barabbas? For Pilate, the choice was obvious. Barabbas was a murderer. Would they really want a murderer on the loose among them again?

Let’s examine the credentials of these two men. They were both “sons of the father” as Jesus claimed and Barabbas’ name meant. 

Was Jesus “Son of the Father”? Apparently “yes”, since He was on trial for this claim. He, according to the witness of Scripture, is…

“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word…”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬a NIV‬‬

What of Barabbas? His name, Bar-Abbas” means “son of the father”. Was he the son of his father? We know nothing about his father except that he inherited the nature of his “father” – Adam. In Adam’s nature was the lawlessness and wickedness of rebellion against God, confirmed by Barabbas’ evil deeds and inherited by all mankind. Barabbas, the murderer, was a true son of his father!

So, for Pilate, this was the way out of his dilemma. He no longer had responsibility for Jesus’ death if the people chose Barabbas. 

Despite the terrible evil of the people’s choice, and despite Pilate’s guilt no matter how much he tried to shrug it off, the tale of two sons is a strange twist in this story but the heart of the gospel…the Son of God died in the place of “the son of the father”. 

Did Barabbas stand at a distance, watching the lifeblood of his substitute dripping on the ground? Did he see the head of Jesus hanging lifeless on His chest? Did he think, at that moment? …”He died for me!”

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MARK’S GOSPEL…THE TRIAL – 39

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Mark‬ ‭14‬:‭53‬, ‭55‬-‭59‬, ‭61‬-‭62‬, ‭64‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders and the teachers of the law came together…The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree. Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.’ ” Yet even then their testimony did not agree. But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer…Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” ….“You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?” They all condemned him as worthy of death.”

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In a court of law, “A person is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.” This is the way justice is supposed to work. A justice system is responsible to examine the evidence objectively and make its judgment by determining the guilt or innocence of the accused based on the reliability of the evidence and the truthfulness of the witnesses. 

However, in Jesus’ trial, every rule of law and justice was overturned in favour of a predetermined verdict of “guilty as charged.” The judge and jury were determined to kill Him, so their “evidence” was contrived to confirm their verdict!

The legal team was made up of, supposedly, the most respected, most trusted, most honest men of integrity in the land of Israel, the representatives of divine justice which they were tasked to represent by dispensing the law of God truthfully and accurately.

So, they found Jesus guilty of all charges and condemned Him to death! First, the charges…blasphemy against God according to their law… , second, treason against Rome according to Roman law. 

Was Jesus guilty of blasphemy? No! Was He the Son of God? Yes! Why then, was He found guilty? The verdict depended on the perspective of the court. Jesus backed up His claim to be the Son of God by His words and works. His miracles were, primarily, evidence that He was who He said He was.

For example…

To His disciples, He said…

“Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.”

‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

His authority to forgive was backed up by a miracle. 

“Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!”

“Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?”

‭”But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” Then the man got up and went home.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭9‬:‭2‬-‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

However, the religious leaders refused to believe the evidence.

Was Jesus guilty of treason? This charge was for Pilate’a benefit and for Pilate to decide as the representative of the Roman government. Did Jesus claim to be a king in rebellion against Rome?

“Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?” “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?” Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.” “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

“What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him.”

‭‭John‬ ‭18‬:‭33‬-‭38 NIV‬‬

Pilate was both mystified and convinced, by Jesus’ answer, that He was no threat to Rome. He released Him to be crucified only on the insistence of the Jews that He was guilty of blasphemy by the standards of their law. 

So, by the grossest miscarriage of justice in history, in the face of all the overwhelming evidence that Jesus was the Son of God, they condemned Him to death and crucified Him. 

Who was right? The Jews or Jesus?

Although Jesus was forced into this situation by the Jewish authorities, He went willingly because it was according to His Father’s will. He submitted, not to His accusers but to His Father because this was the only way to redeem His people from sin. 

Peter said…

“This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭23‬-‭24‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Paul said…

“…and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭1‬:‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The war between darkness and light raged in the courtroom that day, and darkness won…or did it?

MARK’S GOSPEL…THE KISS – 38

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Mark‬ ‭14‬:‭43‬-‭46‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Just as he was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. The men seized Jesus and arrested him.”

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Who doesn’t remember Judas Iscariot for his betrayal of Jesus with a kiss? Why a kiss and what was the deeper significance of this act?

Google explains…

“The kiss was a common cultural greeting that expressed deep respect and friendship, but in this case, it was a deceitful act by Judas, who was a traitor feigning affection to betray his master and lead to Jesus’ arrest.”

How low did Judas sink to betray the one with whom he had lived in intimate friendship for several years…heard His teaching, witnessed His compassion, and participated in His ministry! 

Judas needed to get as close to Jesus as possible without arousing suspicion and indicating his intention, so that the arresting mob would know whom to grab. What better way than to greet his Master with that friendly, intimate and perfectly acceptable gesture?

Now let’s unpack Judas’ hypocrisy, wearing a mask to hide his real self. In all of Jesus’ dealings with people during His earthly life, He loathed hypocrisy, and He never held back from exposing this abominable attitude in the religious leaders who fooled the people with their feigned obedience to “the Law”. 

Hence the Pharisees hated Him because, secretly, they knew Jesus was right, but they refused to admit their guilt.  Jesus accurately diagnosed their problem. Even some of their fellow Pharisees who followed Jesus would not acknowledge Him because, like their colleagues…

“…they loved human praise more than praise from God.”

‭‭John‬ ‭12‬:‭43‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus was never afraid, publicly to shame them, to tell them the truth, and to warn His disciples not to follow their example. For example…

““And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Judas’ act of betrayal was the pinnacle of hypocrisy, his gesture of respect, honour, and friendship the exact opposite of his purpose and motive, to hand Jesus over to His enemies. 

“What really stands out in the mode of Judas’s betrayal is that Judas used such an intimate expression of love and respect to betray Jesus. Judas’s actions were hypocritical in the extreme—his actions said, “I respect and honor you,” at the exact time he was betraying Jesus to be murdered. Judas’s actions illustrate Proverbs 27:6, “Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.” Often, foes disguise themselves as friends. Evil often wears a mask to conceal its true purpose.”

(www.gotquestions.org – article “What is the significance of Judas betraying Jesus with a kiss?”)

It’s no wonder, then that, when the significance of his action hit him, there was no place in his heart for repentance. What he had done could never be undone. Did he watch while the soldiers drove nails through his erstwhile Master’s wrists and feet? Did he stop long enough to see the blood dripping from the dead body of Jesus? Did he realise that he could never make amends for what he had done?

Judas’ suicide was the terrible and final end to a life of pretense. For him, no hope of a “Well done, good and faithful servant!”, Judas, the only person ever born, the only man ever to have lived on planet earth, to bear this memorial…”the man who betrayed Jesus!”

With all his opportunities, Judas never repented of his unbelief, never received the grace of forgiveness, never felt the embrace of Jesus’ love. His heart was as hard as granite rock, as empty of life as a cold corpse, as lonely as a prisoner in solitary confinement. In the company of eleven of the most privileged men on earth, he carried his secret alone but carried it out before their eyes!

To the rest of humanity, Judas is known as, in the words of Jesus Himself…

“While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.”

‭‭John‬ ‭17‬:‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

However, not only did Jesus give Judas his correct title, “the one doomed to destruction”, but He also put him, surprisingly enough, in the centre of the Father’s will, naming him as the one who would fulfil prophecy according to God’s plan prepared before time began.

So, as much as we pity Judas, and hate what he did, we marvel at the wisdom of God who chose Judas but, at the same time, gave him every opportunity to dodge his destiny. This is the mystery of God’s sovereignty. Only God knows how the intricacies of His sovereignty work!

MARK’S GOSPEL…GETHSEMANE – 37

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Mark‬ ‭14‬:‭32‬-‭36‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.””

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Gethsemane…”the press”. For believers, Gethsemane arouses feelings of sadness, foreboding, impending horror, but…Gethsemane was just an olive grove outside Jerusalem, a garden of trees that bore an abundance of olives. Who owned Gethsemane? No on knows but…Gethsemane was the place Jesus chose for His final and greatest battle. 

The name of the garden, Gethsemane, means “press”, an apt title for the processing of olives, and an even more apt symbol of Jesus’ next few hours. As the flesh of the olive fruit was bruised, broken, and severely pressed to extract the precious oil, so the “flesh” of our Saviour, His vulnerable human nature, was pressed beyond human limit to extract…what? To press every other consideration to protect and preserve Himself except His commitment to do the will of the Father. 

Said Isaiah…

“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭53‬:‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The piercing, the crushing, the wounding He anticipated was not against but in complete harmony with the Father’s will. In His battle in the garden, He must, once again, as He did throughout His life, surrender His will to the will of the Father. 

“Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭53‬:‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

For Jesus, the issue of suffering and death was far more than the way He would leave earth and returned to heaven. It was how He made the transition from Gethsemane to Calvary, and Calvary to the tomb that would be the difference between life and death. 

Let’s consider one statement the writer to the Hebrews made that gives us a glimpse of the real nature of the battle.

“During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭5‬:‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

How profound is this insight into the relentless war Jesus waged, a war which reached its climax in Gethsemane! Death would be, if He failed to submit to the Father, not just the end of His earthly life but also the end of His eternal position in heaven and the destiny of all mankind. He would suffer the same fate as all fallen humanity, and be separated from the Father forever. 

From the eternal “now” of eternity, when Jesus embraced the Father’s will to be the atoning sacrifice for the sin of the world, to the moment of His conception in the womb of Mary and to this moment, Jesus had one all-consuming objective…to do the Father’s will.

“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire— but my ears you have opened— burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require. Then I said, “Here I am, I have come— it is written about me in the scroll. I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.””

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭40‬:‭6‬-‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus submitted to Him in every thought, word, and deed during His life on earth. What, then, was the battle that He fought, that caused Him to suffer, and to learn obedience through His suffering? Was it the relentless temptation to choose self-will over the Father’s will?

Again, Hebrews answers the question for us. 

“For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭2‬:‭17‬-‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Please note these Scriptures because in them is the heart of what Jesus came to do!

  1. Jesus was as fully human as we are…flesh and spirit. 
  2. Like the first Adam before he sinned, Jesus, the last Adam, was able to sin and able not to sin, able to obey or not to obey the Father. 
  3. To be a perfect high priest and atoning sacrifice, He had to do the Father’s will perfectly. 
  4. He had to endure and overcome the same temptations we suffer, to obey the father, no matter what. 

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4‬:‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

In what way did Jesus suffer being tempted?

Here, Peter answers the question for us.

“But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The crux of the issue was…how would Jesus react to unjust suffering, His way  as a man or God’s way as His Son? Suffering unjustly is the expression of what Jesus’ people did to Him…rejection…and produces one of two reactions…of the flesh or of the spirit? The flesh retaliates to protect self, the spirit responds to glorify and trust the Father. 

Again, Peter explains…

“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭22‬-‭23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The way Jesus responded to unjust suffering was the greatest evidence of His commitment to doing the Father’s will. In those final moments, in the heat of the fire that lay before Him, before His arrest and trial, He had to settle the issue once and for all, His will or the Father’s will?

For Jesus, this was “the press”, so intense that the sweat poured from Him like the flow of blood from a fatal wound. With His choice came the peace that carried Him through to His final breath. Compassion for His tormentors and His killers spoke forgiveness from His parched lips, and assurance to a lost soul hanging on a cross beside Him of a place in paradise with Him.

So, as for Jesus, so for us, His followers, our suffering in temptation and our victory over temptation is to choose Him over ourselves and His way over our way. The way of non-retaliation defeats every demand of the flesh for vindication. 

“Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭19‬ ‭NIV‬

Then we will be in the safest place on earth, in the will of God. 

MARK’S GOSPEL…EXPOSED – 36

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Mark 14:27-31 NIV

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

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Oh, the cockiness of the flesh! So arrogant…and so weak!

In a matter-of-fact, almost “by-the-way” manner, Jesus foretold the disciples about their desertion and Peter about his denial. He spoke as though the cowardly abandonment of their Master  was a foregone conclusion. For Him, it was done, so He brushed aside their failure with an instruction…

“But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”

Isn’t that strange? It’s almost as though Jesus were replaying everything that was yet to happen as if it had already happened…yet what they did to Him didn’t faze Him. It was part of a process, and He knew the conclusion. 

For Peter, though, this prediction heralded an unforgettable moment…a terrible humiliation that would unlock his understanding to the real Peter, open his eyes to the real Jesus, and change his life forever. 

Until the moment when the cock crowed, Peter was in charge of his own life. He was cocksure of his abilities, his strengths, his ways. He could cope with every eventuality on his own, thank you very much. 

Peter brushed aside Jesus’ warning with a self-confident  retort… “Me, Jesus! No, never me! All the others may fail you but not me!” …implying, of course, “I can do it, all by myself.”

Little did Peter know how far he would fall. He didn’t just run away like the  others. He denied any knowledge of Jesus with oaths and curses…just as if he were a known criminal denying his guilt! From self-proclaimed head disciple to coward and liar, Peter crashed…and he only woke up to the truth when he heard the rooster crowing in the distance. 

Imagine that! Peter was so self-assured that he thought the bystanders would believe him until…the truth hit him. He had done exactly what Jesus said he would do! How he hated the sound of the rooster at that moment. It was as if it were announcing his guilt to the world.

Peter was devastated, humiliated, destroyed. That look…that compassion so palpable he could feel it…those eyes boring into his soul, unpacking every thought, every motive, every intention…not anger, not judgment, not “I told you so”…just sorrow, grief, and pure love. 

Peter couldn’t handle it. He turned and ran…away from the people who had witnessed his shame…away from the glowing fire where he had warmed his hands…into the cold, dark night where he could weep alone. He was broken, all his bluster and self-confidence gone. He could never look Jesus in the eyes again, the words of his denial replaying inside his brain like a stuck record. 

We would be left hanging if it were not for John’s story of reconciliation and restoration, but that is for another time. 

It had to be. For Peter, at that moment, it was death to his ego as real as the death of his Master. How often did the recollection of his failure return when his old natural self threatened to destroy him again? 

Was it a lesson well learned or just another bump in the road? Only time and experience would tell.