Gospel: Part 4
You’ve read about Jesus’ birth, ministry, and miracles. To me those are the more “fun” parts of the Gospel. Those show us the miraculous birth and the ways in which Jesus was fully God and fully human while on earth. Those are the stories that we want to share with children. But if that’s all we know and believe about Jesus, we are sorely missing out. Today we will talk about the less “fun” part of Jesus’ life on earth. If you’ve been to church around Easter time, you may already know this part of the story. If this is all new to you, I would encourage you to go read it for yourself.
The Plot
It was two days before the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a cunning way to arrest Jesus and kill him. (Mark 14:1 CSB)
Jesus had been all around the countryside teaching and healing people. The Jewish leaders chose to believe that Jesus was a fraud. No doubt they felt threatened by Jesus as more and more people chose to follow Jesus instead of the Jewish leaders. Their response to their own jealousy was a desire to arrest and kill Jesus. From a 2024 lens, this sounds insane- Jesus was not harming anyone or committing heinous acts, yet the leaders wanted him dead.
While Jesus was visiting at a friend’s home in Bethany, one of his disciples made a monumental decision.
Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. And when they heard this, they were glad and promised to give him money. So he started looking for a good opportunity to betray him. (Mark 14:10-11 CSB)
Judas was the treasurer of the group, so it’s possible he had a lust in his heart for money. (Heart check for us- would we be willing to betray our friend for a bag full of money?)
The disciples make their way to Jerusalem and follow Jesus’ instructions to find a room for the Passover meal.
While they were reclining and eating, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me.”
They began to be distressed and to say to him one by one, “Surely not I?”
He said to them, “It is one of the Twelve—the one who is dipping bread in the bowl with me. For the Son of Man will go just as it is written about him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for him if he had not been born.” (Mark 14:18-21 CSB)
Jesus, in all His God-ness and omniscience knew how the future would unfold and how Judas would betray Him. I find this scene so interesting. Jesus knew but the disciples didn’t. I wonder why Jesus felt the need to share this knowledge with the disciples. Did Judas blush or start acting strange when such harsh words were said about him? How could he have continued with a desire to betray his friend after knowing that Jesus knew it was going to happen?
It is in this room, during this meal that Jesus has the first Lord’s Supper. This is the scene we mimic even today to celebrate all Jesus has done for us in His first coming and all He will do in His second coming. Maybe we’ll have a separate post on the topic of the Lord’s Supper (also known as communion).
After the meal, Jesus took his disciples to a nearby garden. He left most of them with instructions to pray.
He took Peter, James, and John with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. He said to them, “I am deeply grieved to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake.” He went a little farther, fell to the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, “Abba, Father! All things are possible for you. Take this cup away from me. Nevertheless, not what I will, but what you will.” (Mark 14:33-36 CSB)
Note, his disciples did not stay awake and pray like He had commanded. They continued to fall asleep. Again, we may need another post to go deeper into all we see written in verses 33-36. Jesus knew what was going to take place and how his human body would be tortured. Jesus desired not to have to endure the suffering, yet He knew, in all His God-ness that it was necessary. How beautiful.
The Betrayal
While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, suddenly arrived. With him was a mob, with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. His betrayer had given them a signal. “The one I kiss,” he said, “he’s the one; arrest him and take him away under guard.” So when he came, immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. They took hold of him and arrested him. (Mark 14:43-46 CSB)
Judas knowingly handed Jesus over to the Jewish leaders who wanted him dead in exchange for a bag of money. Even worse, in my opinion, is that he used such an intimate, friendly act to betray Jesus- a kiss.
The Trials
The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they could not find any. (Mark 14:55 CSB)
Jesus was brought before the High Priest. All of the Jewish leaders worked together to condemn Jesus for something that He clearly hadn’t done. They tried relentlessly to get Jesus to admit to blasphemy (speaking against God). Jewish law said there had to be a witness to confirm Jesus’ sin, yet they couldn’t find one. After Jesus admitted to being the Messiah, the Jewish leaders condemned him to death and began their humiliation tactics by spitting on him, beating him, and slapping him.
The next morning Jesus was brought before Pilate, who was the Roman-approved authority in place over Jerusalem. During Pilate’s interrogation, Jesus remained silent. As was Pilate’s custom, he brought Jesus and a murderer before the people to allow them to decide which person to set free. Pilate assumed the people would request Jesus be free because He hadn’t committed any crimes like the other guy clearly had.
For he knew it was because of envy that the chief priests had handed him over. (Mark 15:10 CSB)
Pilate knew that Jesus didn’t deserve the punishment of death. But he fell into peer pressure and allowed the Jewish leaders to make the decision. (Heart check for us- do we stand up for what is right? Or do we allow peer pressure to sway our actions?)
The soldiers led him away into the palace (that is, the governor’s residence) and called the whole company together. They dressed him in a purple robe, twisted together a crown of thorns, and put it on him. And they began to salute him, “Hail, king of the Jews!” They were hitting him on the head with a stick and spitting on him. Getting down on their knees, they were paying him homage. After they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple robe and put his clothes on him. They led him out to crucify him. (Mark 15:16-20 CSB)
The Death
Now it was nine in the morning when they crucified him. The inscription of the charge written against him was: The King of the Jews. They crucified two criminals with him, one on his right and one on his left. (Mark 15:25-27 CSB)
I have no words for this part of the narrative. The humiliation of Jesus, who is so innocent and merciful, is beyond believable.
Jesus let out a loud cry and breathed his last. Then the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. When the centurion, who was standing opposite him, saw the way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” (Mark 15:37-39 CSB)
Had Jesus only been fully human. This is likely where the story would end. But, thank God, Jesus is also fully God and had a different plan.
The Shock
Jesus was taken from the cross, wrapped in cloth, and laid in a tomb cut from a rock. A few days later, some of the women who followed Jesus went to see his body and anoint him with perfumes. Once they arrived at the tomb, Jesus was not there.
When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side; they were alarmed. “Don’t be alarmed,” he told them. “You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they put him. (Mark 16:5-6 CSB)
Talk about a shocking event! This is almost like showing up to a funeral and there’s no dead body. Crazy! Except it wasn’t so crazy for Jesus. Because Jesus is fully God, He is able to do things that only God can do.
Each of the Gospel narratives tell of Jesus visiting people after His resurrection. There is no doubt that He was truly alive in a physical nature after the Romans crucified him. But Jesus didn’t just remain around, appearing to people randomly.
Now What
The eleven disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but some doubted. Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:16-20 CSB)
Jesus allowed the worship of the people, his followers and disciples. Then He gave this great command, which we also call the great commission. Jesus commanded the followers that day to go and make disciples, baptizing them, and teaching them. But, Jesus also gives us that command. We are supposed to make disciples, baptize them, and teach them about Jesus.
We know from the beginning of the book of Acts that after Jesus gave this final command, that he ascended into Heaven.
This part of the Gospel has many implications and much theological discussion has taken place about the ways these events impact our salvation. But as we are still in the Christmas season, how should we think about the betrayal, crucifixion, and resurrection of our Savior?
Of course we enjoy thinking of the tiny innocent baby born in a barn (we don’t know that it was a barn, but the Americanized version is definitely a barn) swaddled and held tight by his mother. We want to think and celebrate the Jesus who wandered about loving, teaching, and healing others. But are we willing to take time to think about the same Jesus who endured such humiliation and torture… for you. Who enduring suffering while hanging on a cross for hours… for you. And who willingly took the punishment for YOUR sin (and mine!) so that we can have a personal relationship with Him. This is no easy thing to think about. But I challenge you to sit with the discomfort that this part of the Gospel provides. And THANK GOD for this act of grace on your behalf.
