1 00:00:01,960 --> 00:00:08,160 Please meet me in the Gospel of Mark chapter 14 and in our time 2 00:00:08,160 --> 00:00:14,720 together we are going to be looking at verse 43 down to 3 00:00:14,720 --> 00:00:17,760 verse 52. I'll wait for you before we 4 00:00:17,760 --> 00:00:22,400 begin reading. Mark 1443 to 52. 5 00:00:30,440 --> 00:00:36,520 And immediately while he was still speaking, Judas came one 6 00:00:36,520 --> 00:00:40,640 of the 12, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs from the 7 00:00:40,640 --> 00:00:43,360 chief priests and the scribes and the elders. 8 00:00:44,400 --> 00:00:48,640 Now the betrayer had given them a sign saying, The one I will 9 00:00:48,640 --> 00:00:54,840 kiss is the man, seize him and lead him away under guard. 10 00:00:55,600 --> 00:01:00,000 And when he came, he went up to him at once, and said, Rabbi. 11 00:01:01,120 --> 00:01:05,720 And he kissed him, and they laid hands on him and seized him. 12 00:01:06,680 --> 00:01:10,280 One of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant 13 00:01:10,280 --> 00:01:13,640 of the high priest, and cut off his ear. 14 00:01:14,440 --> 00:01:18,800 And Jesus said to them, Have you come out as against a robber, 15 00:01:18,800 --> 00:01:21,280 with swords and clubs to capture me? 16 00:01:22,160 --> 00:01:25,400 Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did 17 00:01:25,400 --> 00:01:29,920 not seize me, but let the Scriptures be fulfilled. 18 00:01:30,960 --> 00:01:35,600 And they all left him and fled. And a young man followed him 19 00:01:35,920 --> 00:01:38,800 with nothing but a linen cloth about his body. 20 00:01:39,280 --> 00:01:43,920 And they seized him, but he left the linen cloth and ran away 21 00:01:44,320 --> 00:01:48,040 naked. Lord, in the same way that you 22 00:01:48,040 --> 00:01:50,920 opened the minds of your disciples that they might 23 00:01:50,920 --> 00:01:54,720 understand the Scriptures, we pray for that same mercy to be 24 00:01:54,720 --> 00:01:57,720 granted to us. We trust, Lord, that you will 25 00:01:57,720 --> 00:02:01,440 speak and we pray, Lord, that these truths would translate 26 00:02:01,440 --> 00:02:04,320 into testimonies in our own lives. 27 00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:08,240 We ask these things in Jesus name, Amen. 28 00:02:09,639 --> 00:02:14,800 Before Us is one of the most captivating, appalling, 29 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:20,440 adrenaline pumping episodes in all of the gospel accounts. 30 00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:26,720 It is a scene that describes the heinous and unjustified arrests 31 00:02:26,720 --> 00:02:31,840 of the sinless Son of God. And though the apprehension of 32 00:02:31,840 --> 00:02:36,960 the Lord Jesus Christ is a staggering thought in itself to 33 00:02:36,960 --> 00:02:41,440 contemplate, there are other things related to this moment 34 00:02:41,480 --> 00:02:44,360 that make it even more incredible. 35 00:02:46,120 --> 00:02:51,600 This account appears in every gospel and each of them provide 36 00:02:51,640 --> 00:02:54,200 unique details that have been preserved for our reflection. 37 00:02:54,640 --> 00:02:58,080 But since we have been in the past months and even over a 38 00:02:58,080 --> 00:03:02,000 year, focus on Mark, Mark's account here, Mark's version, is 39 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:05,560 going to be the perspective that we will be holding to while 40 00:03:05,560 --> 00:03:08,920 referencing other writers in order to have a fuller 41 00:03:08,920 --> 00:03:10,920 understanding of this remarkable event. 42 00:03:12,160 --> 00:03:15,080 And so in this brief introduction, let me let you 43 00:03:15,080 --> 00:03:18,640 know where we're headed. I want us to consider from the 44 00:03:18,640 --> 00:03:24,240 scene 5 features that we cannot afford to overlook. 5 features 45 00:03:24,240 --> 00:03:29,760 and the first one deals with the crowd, the second one deals with 46 00:03:29,760 --> 00:03:35,480 the sword, the third here deals with rather the sword. 47 00:03:35,480 --> 00:03:39,360 The second being the kiss, the 4th being the scriptures and the 48 00:03:39,360 --> 00:03:41,920 5th being the cloth. So let me revisit those. 49 00:03:42,280 --> 00:03:43,960 First, we're dealing with the crowd. 50 00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:45,800 Second, we're dealing with the kiss. 51 00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:48,920 Third, we're looking at the sword. 4th, we're looking at the 52 00:03:48,920 --> 00:03:51,360 scriptures. And lastly, we're looking at the 53 00:03:51,360 --> 00:03:53,320 cloth. And I have a feeling that you 54 00:03:53,320 --> 00:03:56,560 are really looking forward to learning about this young man in 55 00:03:56,560 --> 00:03:59,360 the garden, leaving behind his linen cloth. 56 00:04:00,160 --> 00:04:04,200 We will get there. And I hope that you will never 57 00:04:04,280 --> 00:04:07,840 read this story the same way again. 58 00:04:07,880 --> 00:04:11,560 You'll never be able to explain it the same way again and that 59 00:04:11,560 --> 00:04:16,120 it will cause your heart to erupt in praise when you realize 60 00:04:16,560 --> 00:04:21,279 the brilliance and the genius of our God, namely through the 61 00:04:21,279 --> 00:04:26,800 authorship of the Holy Spirit. The crowd look again with me in 62 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:30,640 verse 43 and immediately while he was still speaking, Judas 63 00:04:30,640 --> 00:04:35,920 came one of the 12 that that's mentioned there to show us just 64 00:04:35,920 --> 00:04:40,920 how deplorable this is one of the 12 and with him a crowd with 65 00:04:40,920 --> 00:04:43,760 swords and clubs from the chief priests and the scribes and the 66 00:04:43,760 --> 00:04:46,720 elders. According to Matthew's account 67 00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:51,600 in chapter 26 verse 47, it wasn't just any crowd that 68 00:04:51,600 --> 00:04:56,120 surrounded Jesus Christ. He adds the word great crowd. 69 00:04:56,800 --> 00:05:00,480 It was a great crowd. John is more specific in telling 70 00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:02,720 us what this crowd was made-up of. 71 00:05:03,000 --> 00:05:07,080 Noting in John 18 verse three that it was a band of soldiers 72 00:05:07,560 --> 00:05:11,120 and with them some officers of the chief priests and Pharisees, 73 00:05:11,480 --> 00:05:14,480 a band of soldiers. Now, the Greek word for band 74 00:05:14,480 --> 00:05:20,240 there denotes a military cohort, and it consists of between, get 75 00:05:20,240 --> 00:05:26,840 this, 500 to 1000 soldiers. Now, right there we are already 76 00:05:26,840 --> 00:05:30,240 confronted with the popular imagination that when Jesus was 77 00:05:30,240 --> 00:05:33,160 surrounded by these soldiers, it was just like a handful of them. 78 00:05:35,960 --> 00:05:39,400 Though we're not given an exact number, we can be certain that 79 00:05:39,400 --> 00:05:41,360 we're not dealing with 5 or 10 here. 80 00:05:42,040 --> 00:05:48,960 Potentially hundreds, hundreds of men have come to ambush the 81 00:05:48,960 --> 00:05:52,280 Son of God. And what is also certain is that 82 00:05:52,280 --> 00:05:57,320 those who surrounded the Lord on this ominous night says 83 00:05:57,320 --> 00:06:00,360 something about what Judas was thinking. 84 00:06:02,200 --> 00:06:04,960 There might be different reasons to why he escorted this large 85 00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:08,040 group. Why have this heavily armed 86 00:06:08,560 --> 00:06:14,360 assembly chaperone him? It could be that Judas imagined 87 00:06:14,360 --> 00:06:15,960 the Lord Jesus would try to flee. 88 00:06:17,040 --> 00:06:19,960 It could be that in thinking that he would flee that there 89 00:06:19,960 --> 00:06:23,960 would be a need for a great search team and so he recruits a 90 00:06:23,960 --> 00:06:25,720 great amount of people to do that. 91 00:06:26,720 --> 00:06:29,520 It's also possible that he anticipated the disciples to try 92 00:06:29,520 --> 00:06:34,960 to defend the rabbi, and so he brings about a great crowd in 93 00:06:34,960 --> 00:06:38,720 order to intimidate them from even entertaining such an 94 00:06:38,720 --> 00:06:42,280 attempt. It could also be, alternatively, 95 00:06:42,280 --> 00:06:45,840 that he might have thought that Jesus could use his miraculous 96 00:06:45,840 --> 00:06:47,560 power. He's witnessed it with his own 97 00:06:47,560 --> 00:06:50,760 eyes. He's seen what Christ can do in 98 00:06:50,760 --> 00:06:54,760 the moment. And so, thinking perhaps that he 99 00:06:54,760 --> 00:06:59,480 might try to resist, he would bring a crowd to bring about 100 00:06:59,600 --> 00:07:03,920 somewhat of a fair fight. Whatever the reasons are, what 101 00:07:03,920 --> 00:07:08,200 are there one or many Judas? Being confident and bringing 102 00:07:08,200 --> 00:07:13,360 this crowd shows us that he did not understand who Christ was. 103 00:07:14,320 --> 00:07:16,600 He didn't understand who Christ was and his power. 104 00:07:16,800 --> 00:07:19,040 He didn't understand who Christ was and his purpose. 105 00:07:19,240 --> 00:07:22,200 He didn't even understand who Christ was and his person. 106 00:07:22,840 --> 00:07:28,280 To think that you can overpower the Lord Jesus Christ shows some 107 00:07:28,280 --> 00:07:32,680 severe ignorance and really the blindness of pride on Judas's 108 00:07:32,680 --> 00:07:36,400 part. And Jesus demonstrates that 109 00:07:36,400 --> 00:07:38,120 Judas didn't know what he was doing. 110 00:07:39,640 --> 00:07:43,360 Judas was going to learn very quickly with this great crowd of 111 00:07:43,360 --> 00:07:47,680 people who was really in control of this event. 112 00:07:48,160 --> 00:07:55,840 Turn with me to John 18 and look here at verse four with me, John 113 00:07:55,840 --> 00:08:02,080 18, verse 4. Then Jesus, knowing all that 114 00:08:02,080 --> 00:08:05,480 would happen to him, came forward. 115 00:08:05,480 --> 00:08:09,400 Don't you love that knowing all that would happen to him did not 116 00:08:09,400 --> 00:08:11,960 retreat, did not turn his back, He came forward. 117 00:08:12,200 --> 00:08:15,840 He came forward and said to them, Whom do you seek? 118 00:08:17,280 --> 00:08:19,600 All What calmness, what authority, what boldness, what 119 00:08:19,600 --> 00:08:23,040 courage, whom do you seek? They answer them. 120 00:08:23,080 --> 00:08:27,560 Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus said to them, I am He. 121 00:08:28,040 --> 00:08:30,520 Judas, who betrayed him was standing with them. 122 00:08:30,720 --> 00:08:34,600 When Jesus said to them, I am He, they drew back and fell to 123 00:08:34,679 --> 00:08:39,600 the ground. Now the significance of John's 124 00:08:39,600 --> 00:08:45,040 vantage points can easily be lost if we don't consider how 125 00:08:45,040 --> 00:08:49,360 sometimes our English translations limit us. 126 00:08:50,480 --> 00:08:52,480 If you have the King James Version, then you'll notice that 127 00:08:52,480 --> 00:08:55,840 the word He, when Jesus answered I am he, is italicized. 128 00:08:55,960 --> 00:08:58,560 I don't know how many people hold to the King James today, 129 00:08:58,560 --> 00:09:01,920 but some still do. And what the King James 130 00:09:01,920 --> 00:09:04,720 translators did is that when words did not appear in the 131 00:09:04,720 --> 00:09:07,400 original language, they would italicize them to let you know 132 00:09:07,400 --> 00:09:10,080 the reader that this is not found in the original text. 133 00:09:11,520 --> 00:09:15,680 And even if you have the ESV, depending on your version, you 134 00:09:15,680 --> 00:09:18,560 will see there beside I am he a footnote, the little number 135 00:09:18,560 --> 00:09:21,360 above the word to indicate to you, hey, we want to show you 136 00:09:21,360 --> 00:09:24,840 that the word he there is not found in the Greek. 137 00:09:25,960 --> 00:09:29,480 So more accurately, when they approached Jesus and Jesus asked 138 00:09:29,480 --> 00:09:31,480 whom do you seek? And they said Jesus of Nazareth. 139 00:09:31,640 --> 00:09:34,680 How did he actually respond? He didn't say I am he, he said I 140 00:09:34,680 --> 00:09:43,360 am I am a clear reference to the name that Yahweh gave to Moses 141 00:09:43,360 --> 00:09:47,680 in Exodus 314. And how fitting is it that John 142 00:09:47,680 --> 00:09:50,200 is the one who includes this detail exclusively? 143 00:09:50,360 --> 00:09:55,720 What is John's goal and bringing about his gospel account to 144 00:09:55,720 --> 00:09:58,520 display and demonstrate the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. 145 00:09:58,680 --> 00:10:02,360 And on many occasions, what do we have Jesus giving these I am 146 00:10:02,360 --> 00:10:05,040 statements, right? Several of them I am. 147 00:10:05,040 --> 00:10:07,440 I am. In some moments he just says I 148 00:10:07,440 --> 00:10:10,520 am, and this is one of them. I am the door. 149 00:10:10,520 --> 00:10:13,480 I am the way, I am the light. And here we find Christ now 150 00:10:13,760 --> 00:10:18,800 approaching his death before his enemies, and he says, I am. 151 00:10:21,120 --> 00:10:24,360 And not only is that proclamation in itself powerful, 152 00:10:25,880 --> 00:10:29,880 it came with power. Because the moment he said I am, 153 00:10:29,880 --> 00:10:33,560 there was this invisible force that lifted these enemies of 154 00:10:33,560 --> 00:10:37,120 Christ off their feet and put them on their rear ends. 155 00:10:40,040 --> 00:10:43,520 Jesus response is not only a fearless affirmation of His 156 00:10:43,520 --> 00:10:46,680 identity, He's not trying to hide. 157 00:10:46,680 --> 00:10:49,160 He's saying I am the one that you're looking for, but it also 158 00:10:49,160 --> 00:10:53,960 is a statement of his divinity as Yahweh in the flesh. 159 00:10:54,960 --> 00:10:59,040 And something incredible comes with that self-proclaimed 160 00:11:00,400 --> 00:11:04,560 deification. And we see here that when Jesus 161 00:11:04,560 --> 00:11:08,520 did this, it came with power for a reason, to show this evil 162 00:11:08,520 --> 00:11:12,200 bunch, the one who is really in control, the one who is really 163 00:11:12,240 --> 00:11:15,800 the master of this moment was him. 164 00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:20,640 So powerful is Christ. So in control was Christ that 165 00:11:20,640 --> 00:11:23,720 all he had to do was say the word and he could change the 166 00:11:23,720 --> 00:11:29,200 direction of this whole ambush so they fell backwards and he 167 00:11:29,200 --> 00:11:31,440 could overcome them with just the whisper if he chose. 168 00:11:31,440 --> 00:11:34,640 And let me tell you this, this is a preview of a power that the 169 00:11:34,640 --> 00:11:38,160 world is going to witness when the same Jesus comes back to 170 00:11:38,160 --> 00:11:42,760 rescue his bride, to judge the wicked and to establish his 171 00:11:42,760 --> 00:11:45,480 government. Do you remember what Paul tells 172 00:11:45,480 --> 00:11:48,480 us when Christ returns to deal with the Antichrist, how he was 173 00:11:48,480 --> 00:11:51,160 going to kill him? Let me remind you from Second 174 00:11:51,160 --> 00:11:54,960 Thessalonians 28, where Paul says, and then the lawless one 175 00:11:54,960 --> 00:11:59,240 will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with what? 176 00:11:59,720 --> 00:12:03,680 With the breath, with the breath of his mouth and bring to 177 00:12:03,680 --> 00:12:09,960 nothing by the appearance of His coming, just his breath, just 178 00:12:09,960 --> 00:12:15,160 his word, no weapon, no angels needed, no seraphim, no 179 00:12:15,160 --> 00:12:22,640 cherubim, just a whisper and he can render any of his enemies 180 00:12:22,640 --> 00:12:27,040 powerless. So what we learn about the crowd 181 00:12:27,080 --> 00:12:31,440 is that the evil one, who is the invisible Energizer and animator 182 00:12:31,440 --> 00:12:34,640 of all these things, the evil one with the range of his 183 00:12:34,640 --> 00:12:39,160 minions and the great weaponry that was here, was not in 184 00:12:39,160 --> 00:12:42,200 control. He was not determining anything. 185 00:12:42,200 --> 00:12:45,480 He was not dictating Jesus, arrest, trial, and ultimate 186 00:12:45,480 --> 00:12:47,200 death. Christ was. 187 00:12:49,520 --> 00:12:52,640 It's not the crowd that's in control, it's Christ. 188 00:12:53,760 --> 00:12:56,280 And he's still in control and he'll always be in control. 189 00:12:56,720 --> 00:12:58,520 And people who don't believe he's in control are going to 190 00:12:58,520 --> 00:13:02,080 find out that he is indeed. Now we move from the crowd to 191 00:13:02,080 --> 00:13:05,320 the kiss, and in verse 43 we read that there was this crowd 192 00:13:05,320 --> 00:13:08,960 who came, but the betrayer in verse 44 had given them a sign 193 00:13:08,960 --> 00:13:12,280 saying, the one I will kiss is the man sees him and lead him 194 00:13:12,280 --> 00:13:17,000 away under guard. In Middle Eastern culture, it 195 00:13:17,480 --> 00:13:20,640 was, and it still is a common gesture of greeting among 196 00:13:20,640 --> 00:13:23,520 friends, even among men, to kiss. 197 00:13:24,720 --> 00:13:26,840 And if you've been in this church long enough, you've 198 00:13:26,840 --> 00:13:31,200 probably seen it. Arabs in this church welcome 199 00:13:31,200 --> 00:13:33,000 each other in a very similar way. 200 00:13:33,000 --> 00:13:38,000 And so this affectionate act in itself is not strange. 201 00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:42,320 It's not something out of the ordinary, But it was a way for 202 00:13:42,520 --> 00:13:50,040 Judas to differentiate Christ from the other disciples in that 203 00:13:50,040 --> 00:13:53,120 dark scene. And so he says, I'm going to 204 00:13:53,120 --> 00:13:56,560 kiss one person, and that's the person that you need to find and 205 00:13:56,560 --> 00:13:58,720 arrest. This is the signal of choice 206 00:13:59,320 --> 00:14:01,760 that I made, and it was a despicable one. 207 00:14:03,680 --> 00:14:07,320 Despicable not just because it was grossly hypocritical to to 208 00:14:07,320 --> 00:14:14,160 utilize a gesture of affection and endearment and respect to 209 00:14:14,160 --> 00:14:17,400 actually highlight the one you want to see die. 210 00:14:18,200 --> 00:14:21,800 It's more than just the fact that it was deceitful. 211 00:14:21,800 --> 00:14:29,040 It is dripping with damning irony, and perhaps Jesus's 212 00:14:29,040 --> 00:14:32,760 answer in response to Judas as he's approaching him to embrace 213 00:14:32,760 --> 00:14:36,760 him in such a way reveals that there is a deeper significance 214 00:14:36,760 --> 00:14:40,560 to what this man is doing. Do you remember what Christ 215 00:14:40,560 --> 00:14:45,040 asked him in Luke 2248? Judas, would you betray the Son 216 00:14:45,040 --> 00:14:50,360 of Man with a kiss? You know where my mind went to 217 00:14:50,360 --> 00:14:54,640 when I was meditating on this? Another place in the Old 218 00:14:54,640 --> 00:14:58,760 Testament where we're told that the sun would be kissed. 219 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:05,120 Do you remember the Messianic Psalm in Psalm chapter 2, where 220 00:15:05,120 --> 00:15:08,320 we're told there about in a wonderful hymn, the nation's 221 00:15:08,320 --> 00:15:10,320 plotting against the Lord and His anointed? 222 00:15:12,000 --> 00:15:14,880 And you remember how the psalmist concludes, do you not? 223 00:15:15,720 --> 00:15:19,160 He admonishes the kings and the rulers of the nations in light 224 00:15:19,160 --> 00:15:22,320 of the coming establishment of God's global government ruled 225 00:15:22,320 --> 00:15:27,640 from Zion. Psalm 2, verse 12 kiss, kiss the 226 00:15:27,640 --> 00:15:34,040 son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath 227 00:15:34,040 --> 00:15:37,200 is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge 228 00:15:37,200 --> 00:15:41,520 in him. To kiss in this context is a 229 00:15:41,520 --> 00:15:45,200 Pledge of Allegiance. It's to say, I submit to you, I 230 00:15:45,200 --> 00:15:50,600 honor you, I respect you. And this was a well known song. 231 00:15:51,440 --> 00:15:54,960 This is a Psalm of hope for the nation of Israel, that the Lord 232 00:15:54,960 --> 00:15:59,480 and His anointed will come, rule and reign over the whole world. 233 00:16:00,200 --> 00:16:04,960 I wonder if Judas knew this Psalm, and I wonder, in knowing 234 00:16:04,960 --> 00:16:10,800 a conscience of it, depicting a victorious, kingly, strong, 235 00:16:10,800 --> 00:16:19,000 undefeated Messiah, he mockingly kisses Jesus. 236 00:16:20,960 --> 00:16:27,440 Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss? 237 00:16:30,640 --> 00:16:35,480 And he daringly does so. You know what else this Psalm 238 00:16:35,480 --> 00:16:39,800 teaches me in connection to Judas kissing him, kissing the 239 00:16:39,800 --> 00:16:43,200 Son. There is a wrong way to kiss the 240 00:16:43,200 --> 00:16:53,280 Son, the wrong ways exemplified in Judas, an insincere pledge of 241 00:16:53,280 --> 00:16:57,920 loyalty to him. And if there's a wrong way to 242 00:16:57,920 --> 00:17:01,520 kiss the sun, then there is a right way to kiss the sun. 243 00:17:02,280 --> 00:17:04,800 You want to know something fascinating and all of the 244 00:17:04,800 --> 00:17:07,319 gospel accounts. There are only two places where 245 00:17:07,319 --> 00:17:12,960 we read of human lips planting on the Son of God. 246 00:17:13,880 --> 00:17:18,319 The 1st is what you just read, Judas kissing the sun. 247 00:17:19,240 --> 00:17:25,359 The second is when Jesus was invited to a dinner and a woman, 248 00:17:25,359 --> 00:17:32,760 unnamed, interrupts that feast. She comes to his feet, wets 249 00:17:32,760 --> 00:17:39,440 those feet with her tears, dries them with her hair, kisses them 250 00:17:41,320 --> 00:17:47,040 and anoints them with oil. And this so moved the heart of 251 00:17:47,040 --> 00:17:48,840 Christ that he looks to his host. 252 00:17:48,840 --> 00:17:51,240 And he says in that chapter of Luke 7. 253 00:17:52,600 --> 00:17:55,200 When I came in, you did not kiss me. 254 00:17:56,360 --> 00:17:58,800 But she has not ceased to kiss me. 255 00:18:00,760 --> 00:18:03,760 And then she turns. He turns to this genuine woman 256 00:18:04,120 --> 00:18:07,800 from out of the overflow of her heart could not help but kiss 257 00:18:08,720 --> 00:18:12,880 the son. And he assures her, in Luke 7, 258 00:18:13,480 --> 00:18:20,440 48, your sins are forgiven. There are two ways to kiss the 259 00:18:20,440 --> 00:18:23,760 sun. The genuine, sincere, saving 260 00:18:23,760 --> 00:18:33,160 way, in a way that seems sincere but in fact is hollow, empty of 261 00:18:33,160 --> 00:18:36,120 true substance, not coming from the heart. 262 00:18:38,880 --> 00:18:44,760 How have you kissed the sun? You say you believe in him. 263 00:18:44,800 --> 00:18:47,960 Is it a true belief? You say you repented. 264 00:18:48,200 --> 00:18:55,280 Is it true repentance? And speaking about kissing, did 265 00:18:55,280 --> 00:18:59,120 you know that Christians are commanded to kiss not just the 266 00:18:59,120 --> 00:19:05,600 sun, but each other five times across the New Testament? 267 00:19:05,600 --> 00:19:10,400 Are we told that we are to greet each other with this kind of 268 00:19:10,400 --> 00:19:13,600 affection right now? That might be strange to some of 269 00:19:13,600 --> 00:19:17,640 us, but it's not strange to the Middle Easterners in here and 270 00:19:17,640 --> 00:19:21,800 other cultures, may I add. Here's one example of it in 271 00:19:22,080 --> 00:19:24,960 Romans 1616. A very easy reference, and it's 272 00:19:25,000 --> 00:19:28,000 repeated in different ways at the end of some epistles. 273 00:19:28,840 --> 00:19:31,760 Notice what the Spirit of God says through some of the 274 00:19:31,760 --> 00:19:33,400 apostles. And here's Paul, who writes 275 00:19:33,400 --> 00:19:35,400 greet one another with a holy kiss. 276 00:19:36,560 --> 00:19:38,640 All the churches of Christ greet you. 277 00:19:39,520 --> 00:19:40,960 So again, remember, this was normal. 278 00:19:40,960 --> 00:19:42,840 This was normal in the culture of the early church. 279 00:19:43,160 --> 00:19:45,520 But what's more important about determining whether we should 280 00:19:45,520 --> 00:19:50,840 kiss or handshake or hug is the characteristic, the quality of 281 00:19:51,160 --> 00:19:54,120 the reception or the welcome or the address. 282 00:19:54,880 --> 00:19:56,800 What did Paul say? And you'll find this in every 283 00:19:56,800 --> 00:20:00,120 instance about kissing one another, greeting one another. 284 00:20:00,120 --> 00:20:02,600 Did he just say greet one another with a kiss? 285 00:20:03,360 --> 00:20:05,080 What did he proceed the word kiss with? 286 00:20:06,000 --> 00:20:11,280 The word holy. Greet one another with a holy 287 00:20:11,280 --> 00:20:13,920 kiss. Now you know what some have done 288 00:20:13,920 --> 00:20:15,520 with this, OK? This means that we are to greet 289 00:20:15,520 --> 00:20:17,960 one another and if we choose the route of affection to make sure 290 00:20:17,960 --> 00:20:21,440 that it's appropriate and dignified and familial. 291 00:20:23,360 --> 00:20:25,600 Don't make it weird when you kiss each other and greet each 292 00:20:25,600 --> 00:20:29,000 other. I don't think that's what 293 00:20:29,080 --> 00:20:31,400 they're getting at here. I don't think that's the point. 294 00:20:32,200 --> 00:20:34,760 I think with these commands, to greet one another with a holy 295 00:20:34,760 --> 00:20:39,080 kiss has to be set against the backdrop of the most infamous an 296 00:20:39,080 --> 00:20:48,760 unholy kiss ever given Judas. So with that in view, here's 297 00:20:48,760 --> 00:20:52,480 what greeting one another with a holy kiss really means. 298 00:20:53,880 --> 00:21:01,000 Let your greeting be free from deceit, free from insincerity, 299 00:21:02,160 --> 00:21:13,720 free from hidden betrayal, free from a limiting love, a corrupt 300 00:21:13,880 --> 00:21:18,800 love. In other words, let's make sure 301 00:21:18,800 --> 00:21:26,870 that in none of our churches there are Judases who kissed. 302 00:21:27,470 --> 00:21:30,430 But in his heart contradicted what he demonstrated. 303 00:21:31,150 --> 00:21:34,430 What does it look like for us to not kiss with a holy kiss? 304 00:21:34,430 --> 00:21:35,430 Can I tell you what it looks like? 305 00:21:37,920 --> 00:21:40,920 Somebody gossiping about another member of the church throughout 306 00:21:40,920 --> 00:21:43,360 the week and then when they come in on Sunday and see that same 307 00:21:43,360 --> 00:21:46,840 person. Sister, how are you? 308 00:21:46,840 --> 00:21:50,720 Oh, I love you so much. I've been praying about you and 309 00:21:50,720 --> 00:21:55,440 praying for you. Well, Monday through Saturday, 310 00:21:55,440 --> 00:21:59,520 their reputation has been torn to shreds by those same lips. 311 00:22:01,480 --> 00:22:03,200 What does an unholy kiss look like? 312 00:22:03,200 --> 00:22:05,920 It looks like a brother greeting another brother and developing a 313 00:22:05,920 --> 00:22:10,920 relationship with them purely to manipulate them for whatever 314 00:22:10,920 --> 00:22:15,600 reason, to take advantage of them, to come off in a certain 315 00:22:15,600 --> 00:22:18,760 way for selfish gain. That's what an unholy kiss looks 316 00:22:18,760 --> 00:22:22,840 like. So greet one another with a holy 317 00:22:22,840 --> 00:22:24,320 kiss. There shouldn't be any doubt in 318 00:22:24,320 --> 00:22:26,880 our minds that when we look at each other, embrace one another, 319 00:22:26,880 --> 00:22:32,200 wave to each other, sit across a table downstairs, that we are 320 00:22:32,200 --> 00:22:35,360 committed and in love with one another. 321 00:22:37,800 --> 00:22:42,400 No unholy kisses. This is what they're saying, and 322 00:22:42,400 --> 00:22:43,640 this is what we have to understand. 323 00:22:43,960 --> 00:22:47,360 Be real with one another, be transparent. 324 00:22:48,360 --> 00:22:51,440 There should not have be any fear in this place that there is 325 00:22:52,960 --> 00:22:59,280 a Judas in the midst. So we go from the crowd to the 326 00:22:59,280 --> 00:23:03,560 kiss, but now we come to the sword. 327 00:23:04,400 --> 00:23:09,160 Come back with me to mark 14 in verse 46. 328 00:23:11,360 --> 00:23:13,880 And they laid hands on him and seized him. 329 00:23:13,880 --> 00:23:18,720 But one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the 330 00:23:18,720 --> 00:23:22,320 servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. 331 00:23:22,880 --> 00:23:28,560 John 1810 clarifies who the disciple was that attacked the 332 00:23:28,560 --> 00:23:30,000 servant. And we actually know the 333 00:23:30,000 --> 00:23:39,080 identity of the servant Peter. Are you surprised, Peter in the 334 00:23:39,080 --> 00:23:41,960 name of the high priest servant Malchus. 335 00:23:44,800 --> 00:23:47,080 But it's only Luke. And this isn't a surprise 336 00:23:47,080 --> 00:23:49,240 either. That adds a detail, a couple of 337 00:23:49,240 --> 00:23:52,160 details that would make sense from the beloved physician. 338 00:23:53,000 --> 00:24:00,960 Turn with me to Luke 22 verse 50 and see how specific Luke is and 339 00:24:00,960 --> 00:24:06,200 how Luke adds a note that makes the scene, Yes, heartbreaking 340 00:24:06,200 --> 00:24:08,000 betrayal, but there's beauty in it. 341 00:24:09,440 --> 00:24:13,840 And Luke 22 verse 50 And one of them struck the servant of the 342 00:24:13,840 --> 00:24:16,160 high priest and cut off his right ear. 343 00:24:16,560 --> 00:24:18,520 So he says exactly which ear it was. 344 00:24:18,680 --> 00:24:23,400 Doctors like details and cut off his right ear. 345 00:24:24,160 --> 00:24:28,600 But Jesus said no more of this. And here's here's what you're 346 00:24:28,600 --> 00:24:31,880 going to find in Luke's account. And he touched his ear and 347 00:24:31,880 --> 00:24:38,920 healed him. Behold the last healing miracle 348 00:24:38,920 --> 00:24:42,400 Jesus performs before he goes to his death. 349 00:24:45,520 --> 00:24:50,360 Who does he heal? This was a personal assistant to 350 00:24:50,360 --> 00:24:54,080 the high priest Malchus. This is not an innocent 351 00:24:54,080 --> 00:24:58,520 bystander who just happened to be in Gethsemane and got caught 352 00:24:58,520 --> 00:25:01,520 in the crossfire. It could very well be that Peter 353 00:25:01,520 --> 00:25:05,440 targeted Malchus knowing who he was. 354 00:25:05,440 --> 00:25:08,520 It could even be that Malchus stood there in some of those 355 00:25:08,520 --> 00:25:11,280 scenes in the Gospels where there was confrontation between 356 00:25:11,400 --> 00:25:15,840 the Pharisees and the Sadducees and the scribes being sent off 357 00:25:15,840 --> 00:25:17,840 by the high priest to observe and supervise. 358 00:25:17,840 --> 00:25:21,480 It could very well be that this is not the first time Malchus 359 00:25:22,320 --> 00:25:33,520 was made known to the disciples. Malchus, listen, was an enemy, a 360 00:25:33,520 --> 00:25:38,400 foe, part of this diabolical plot? 361 00:25:40,360 --> 00:25:43,000 And yet when his ear was removed, and don't get it 362 00:25:43,000 --> 00:25:50,240 twisted, Peter wasn't aiming for his ear, he just missed. 363 00:25:53,160 --> 00:26:01,240 Jesus halts his disciple. He looks at Malchus. 364 00:26:01,960 --> 00:26:06,240 I just wonder what that was like. 365 00:26:07,120 --> 00:26:12,760 What was that atmosphere like for Christ to take the time and 366 00:26:12,760 --> 00:26:19,600 to restore Malchus before he would die for Malchus? 367 00:26:21,960 --> 00:26:25,560 Do you know what you have here? You have a preview of a gospel 368 00:26:25,560 --> 00:26:32,000 truth, what we find in Romans 5 that while we were weak, while 369 00:26:32,000 --> 00:26:39,280 we were sinners, while we were enemies, Christ died for us. 370 00:26:40,520 --> 00:26:46,360 That's what you have here. You have a preview, just one 371 00:26:46,360 --> 00:26:50,120 testimony of many of Christ's healing, restoring, reconciling 372 00:26:50,160 --> 00:26:53,600 those who at once were enemies of him. 373 00:26:58,120 --> 00:27:01,840 Let me also say this, that Christ here in this moment also 374 00:27:01,840 --> 00:27:05,160 demonstrates that many times his disciples misrepresent him. 375 00:27:08,120 --> 00:27:10,840 And the best thing to do if you have been disappointed by his 376 00:27:10,840 --> 00:27:13,200 representatives is to look to Christ. 377 00:27:14,960 --> 00:27:16,960 Disciples of Jesus make a lot of mess. 378 00:27:16,960 --> 00:27:19,560 They have throughout history. And you're probably the 379 00:27:19,560 --> 00:27:23,400 recipient of pain and hurt from those who claim his name. 380 00:27:23,920 --> 00:27:30,360 So let me say this, be patient with Christians and never turn 381 00:27:30,360 --> 00:27:32,680 your back on Christ because Christians have failed in one 382 00:27:32,680 --> 00:27:35,560 way or another, even if they failed in a colossal way like 383 00:27:35,560 --> 00:27:41,160 Peter. What happens to Peter here? 384 00:27:41,160 --> 00:27:45,960 I believe that, like him, if we truly belong to the Lord, though 385 00:27:45,960 --> 00:27:49,680 we have done great mistakes, we've performed things that we 386 00:27:49,680 --> 00:27:51,720 thought there was. How did I allow myself to go 387 00:27:51,720 --> 00:27:55,120 there? God will eventually teach you 388 00:27:55,240 --> 00:27:58,760 and mature you and grow you. And I believe Peter learned a 389 00:27:58,760 --> 00:28:01,840 valuable lesson here, Many lessons, I'm sure. 390 00:28:01,840 --> 00:28:06,760 I can't read his mind. We are not a religion that 391 00:28:06,760 --> 00:28:10,000 permits the utilization of the sword as an act of vengeance 392 00:28:10,000 --> 00:28:13,000 against our enemies, right? Nor are we a faith that 393 00:28:13,000 --> 00:28:17,280 advocates that we conquer people in order to make converts. 394 00:28:18,880 --> 00:28:21,920 What Peter is going to learn is that there has been a weapon 395 00:28:21,920 --> 00:28:26,040 provided to us far greater than a sword and that does much 396 00:28:26,040 --> 00:28:34,120 greater work in our enemies. So the same disciple who took 397 00:28:34,120 --> 00:28:37,800 out the sword and cut off the ear of those who oppose Christ 398 00:28:38,080 --> 00:28:42,440 would know another kind of confrontation that would cause a 399 00:28:42,440 --> 00:28:47,400 different kind of bleeding, a righteous 1A praiseworthy one, 400 00:28:47,600 --> 00:28:50,440 and the one that is far more effective in overcoming those 401 00:28:50,440 --> 00:28:54,400 who oppose Christ saying, what are you talking about? 402 00:28:54,400 --> 00:28:57,960 Here's what I'm talking about. Listen to the language of what 403 00:28:57,960 --> 00:29:01,240 happened to the audience that Peter preached to after the 404 00:29:01,240 --> 00:29:07,160 first Christian sermon on that day of Pentecost in Acts 237. 405 00:29:09,080 --> 00:29:19,280 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said 406 00:29:19,280 --> 00:29:21,320 to Peter and the rest of the apostles. 407 00:29:21,320 --> 00:29:30,080 Brothers, what shall we do? We don't implement the sword, We 408 00:29:30,080 --> 00:29:35,320 have the sword of the Spirit. We don't attack people, we 409 00:29:35,320 --> 00:29:38,680 challenge them and seek their conviction through the sharpness 410 00:29:38,680 --> 00:29:42,040 of the truth. And so the same Peter who cut 411 00:29:42,040 --> 00:29:45,240 off a man's ear stood before thousands of others who have 412 00:29:45,240 --> 00:29:49,120 also denied Christ, but this time wielding the sword of the 413 00:29:49,120 --> 00:29:54,320 Spirit and seeing all these hearts slashed by the Spirit's 414 00:29:54,320 --> 00:30:00,840 conviction and then being won over in a saving way, Peter 415 00:30:00,840 --> 00:30:04,200 would learn that aren't you grateful for God's patience? 416 00:30:05,680 --> 00:30:08,040 Take some time for us to understand how the Kingdom of 417 00:30:08,040 --> 00:30:13,040 God works. So we cover the crown. 418 00:30:13,040 --> 00:30:18,600 We covered the kiss, we cover the sword briefly. 419 00:30:18,600 --> 00:30:27,440 We now we come to the Scriptures in verse 48 of Mark 14 and Jesus 420 00:30:27,440 --> 00:30:31,960 said to them, have you come out as against a robber with swords 421 00:30:31,960 --> 00:30:35,480 and clubs to capture me day after day? 422 00:30:35,480 --> 00:30:38,160 I was with you in the temple teaching and you did not seize 423 00:30:38,160 --> 00:30:40,400 me, but let the Scriptures be fulfilled. 424 00:30:42,080 --> 00:30:45,600 What is Jesus getting at here? He is exposing their cowardice 425 00:30:47,200 --> 00:30:49,320 and he is reinforcing his innocence. 426 00:30:49,320 --> 00:30:52,520 There are many times that you saw me in the temple teaching, 427 00:30:53,880 --> 00:30:56,480 even flipping tables. Why didn't you arrest me then? 428 00:30:56,480 --> 00:31:00,280 Why are you doing it in secret? Why are you concealing this? 429 00:31:02,800 --> 00:31:05,000 But again, I mean, you see this throughout the Gospels. 430 00:31:05,000 --> 00:31:09,360 Jesus wants us to know, we see it in the writings that this is 431 00:31:09,360 --> 00:31:12,720 not happenstance. This is not a surprise. 432 00:31:13,040 --> 00:31:15,600 Notice the last words he said. But let the Scriptures be 433 00:31:15,600 --> 00:31:18,320 fulfilled. So earlier when when Jesus said 434 00:31:18,320 --> 00:31:24,320 I am, he manifested his power to show I'm the master right here. 435 00:31:25,000 --> 00:31:27,040 I'm the one who's really in control here. 436 00:31:27,880 --> 00:31:30,680 And isn't it amazing that though they were knocked back and 437 00:31:30,680 --> 00:31:33,040 though Malchus ear was healed, they still didn't repent. 438 00:31:33,160 --> 00:31:36,720 Like didn't even reconsider. Maybe, maybe we're dealing with 439 00:31:36,720 --> 00:31:38,080 something who's not just human here. 440 00:31:38,080 --> 00:31:43,320 We're dealing with somebody who was extravagantly gracious and 441 00:31:43,320 --> 00:31:45,920 merciful and kind. They didn't cross their minds at 442 00:31:45,920 --> 00:31:50,440 all. The the the unbelief that's 443 00:31:50,440 --> 00:31:54,920 willing to bulldoze through all hurdles of grace. 444 00:31:55,680 --> 00:31:57,680 Some people will go through a lot. 445 00:31:57,680 --> 00:32:01,640 We'll ignore a lot, we'll reject a lot before they plunge into 446 00:32:01,640 --> 00:32:07,240 hell. Let the scriptures be fulfilled. 447 00:32:07,600 --> 00:32:10,800 He showed his power earlier, but now he's showing with his power. 448 00:32:10,920 --> 00:32:14,560 Prophecy is at work. This has been foretold. 449 00:32:15,320 --> 00:32:18,320 The prophets predicted this in great detail and all. 450 00:32:18,320 --> 00:32:21,040 We can spend the next 5-10 minutes looking at so many 451 00:32:21,040 --> 00:32:24,720 references, but here's one that comes to mind from Isaiah 50 452 00:32:24,720 --> 00:32:27,760 verse 5. The Lord God has opened my ear. 453 00:32:27,760 --> 00:32:31,520 This is Messiah speaking. The Lord God has opened my ear. 454 00:32:31,520 --> 00:32:33,240 This is what we need to know our Old Testaments. 455 00:32:33,840 --> 00:32:36,480 You read that He's open my ear. I don't know what that means. 456 00:32:36,680 --> 00:32:40,280 Open my ear. No, no, there's an allusion here 457 00:32:40,280 --> 00:32:43,680 to Exodus that when a servant wanted to become a permanent 458 00:32:43,680 --> 00:32:48,880 slave to his owner, he would offer his ear and that ear would 459 00:32:48,880 --> 00:32:51,520 be placed against the door and there would be an all pierced 460 00:32:51,560 --> 00:32:55,720 through it to signify as a token this individual now is my 461 00:32:55,720 --> 00:32:59,720 permanent slave. And now with that illusion, 462 00:32:59,720 --> 00:33:03,400 Messiah says I open my ear. I am a bond servant. 463 00:33:03,400 --> 00:33:07,600 I am the perfect servant to God. The Lord God has opened my ear 464 00:33:07,600 --> 00:33:11,080 and I was not rebellious. I turned not backward. 465 00:33:12,240 --> 00:33:16,280 What did he do instead? Verse 6 I gave my back to those 466 00:33:16,280 --> 00:33:20,480 who strike. Was it taken from him? 467 00:33:21,240 --> 00:33:23,200 Was he forced? No, no, look at look at the 468 00:33:23,200 --> 00:33:25,640 language. I gave my back to those who 469 00:33:25,640 --> 00:33:31,040 strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard. 470 00:33:33,360 --> 00:33:37,440 I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting. 471 00:33:38,200 --> 00:33:40,000 And that disgrace and spitting was coming. 472 00:33:42,960 --> 00:33:47,440 The prophets foretold this. I'm aware of it, and I'm walking 473 00:33:47,440 --> 00:33:49,320 in it faithfully. I did not turn back. 474 00:33:50,360 --> 00:33:52,720 I was not rebellious. I did not shrink. 475 00:33:53,880 --> 00:33:56,320 I embraced what I know I've come to do. 476 00:33:59,840 --> 00:34:01,960 I could stay here, but I don't want to stay here. 477 00:34:02,880 --> 00:34:05,840 I want to spend the remainder of our time with whatever energy we 478 00:34:05,840 --> 00:34:09,760 have left to discuss the final element of this glorious scene, 479 00:34:11,800 --> 00:34:19,120 the cloth, verse 50 to 52. And they all left him and fled, 480 00:34:20,320 --> 00:34:23,679 and a young man followed him with nothing but a linen cloth 481 00:34:23,719 --> 00:34:28,639 about his body, and they seized him, but he left the linen cloth 482 00:34:28,679 --> 00:34:34,639 and ran away naked. This has made people feel 483 00:34:34,639 --> 00:34:39,199 awkward, uncomfortable, even confused. 484 00:34:39,840 --> 00:34:43,320 And that has been the subject matter of much debate. 485 00:34:43,639 --> 00:34:47,360 The curiosity from this passage is not unfamiliar. 486 00:34:47,840 --> 00:34:50,679 It is shared among all genuine seekers of the truth. 487 00:34:50,679 --> 00:34:52,960 And here's the main thing that people want to know. 488 00:34:53,040 --> 00:34:57,440 Who is this guy? Who is this young man? 489 00:34:59,560 --> 00:35:01,080 And so there are all these theories. 490 00:35:02,240 --> 00:35:09,440 Lazarus, Joseph of Arimathea, the rich young ruler. 491 00:35:11,000 --> 00:35:13,920 Most people believe that it's John Mark himself, the writer of 492 00:35:13,920 --> 00:35:16,360 this gospel, because it's only found in Mark and in a very 493 00:35:16,800 --> 00:35:22,080 modest way, he's trying to admit and confess his own failure and 494 00:35:22,080 --> 00:35:29,960 denying Christ. We can't know for certain and 495 00:35:29,960 --> 00:35:35,280 any any case you would make is just speculation, but what we do 496 00:35:35,280 --> 00:35:38,200 know is that this young man's nakedness as a follower of 497 00:35:38,200 --> 00:35:40,280 Christ, right? Mark is using very familiar 498 00:35:40,280 --> 00:35:43,360 language and a young man followed him, followed him 499 00:35:43,880 --> 00:35:48,480 denoting discipleship. He followed him and then he 500 00:35:48,480 --> 00:35:51,040 flees from him. So really the scene is a 501 00:35:51,040 --> 00:35:55,440 reflection of the shame of the abandonment of the disciples of 502 00:35:55,440 --> 00:35:57,160 Christ. In verse 50, he's, he's 503 00:35:57,160 --> 00:36:02,120 reflecting that because nakedness in the Bible points to 504 00:36:02,120 --> 00:36:04,200 shame, it's a shameful thing to be naked. 505 00:36:04,360 --> 00:36:06,280 That that's the truth that goes all the way back to the garden 506 00:36:06,280 --> 00:36:08,240 because of sin. It wasn't so from the beginning. 507 00:36:08,960 --> 00:36:11,440 And so the impression that we're supposed to get from this is 508 00:36:11,440 --> 00:36:17,320 that this young man who also followed Christ was unwilling to 509 00:36:17,320 --> 00:36:20,320 be associated with the with the Christ to the degree that he was 510 00:36:20,320 --> 00:36:24,520 willing to be in public naked. That's how much he didn't want 511 00:36:24,520 --> 00:36:27,040 to pay the price to be with Christ, that he was willing to 512 00:36:27,320 --> 00:36:30,800 run out of there without any clothes on. 513 00:36:31,760 --> 00:36:34,800 And so he's left in a state of shame, not just because of the 514 00:36:34,800 --> 00:36:39,480 obvious reason, but because of the internal reason of not being 515 00:36:39,480 --> 00:36:42,280 faithful to his master. And that is true of the 516 00:36:42,280 --> 00:36:44,080 disciples, though they were still clothed. 517 00:36:45,400 --> 00:36:50,520 Now we can end it there that this is a disgraceful lack of 518 00:36:50,520 --> 00:36:53,400 commitment, whoever this young man was. 519 00:36:54,880 --> 00:36:57,920 But I believe that there is a different emphasis that Mark is 520 00:36:57,920 --> 00:37:02,640 trying to to make here. I don't think Mark is as 521 00:37:02,640 --> 00:37:04,760 concerned about identifying who this young man is. 522 00:37:04,760 --> 00:37:06,040 You know why? Because he could have told us. 523 00:37:07,320 --> 00:37:10,000 But he does under score something else that I believe 524 00:37:10,000 --> 00:37:13,120 most people miss. And it's what this young man 525 00:37:13,120 --> 00:37:17,480 wore. Look again here at verse 51. 526 00:37:17,760 --> 00:37:21,400 And the young man followed him with nothing but a linen cloth 527 00:37:21,400 --> 00:37:23,640 about his body, and they seized them. 528 00:37:23,960 --> 00:37:28,760 Now look at this. But he left the linen cloth and 529 00:37:28,760 --> 00:37:33,880 ran away naked. This linen cloth, this material, 530 00:37:34,000 --> 00:37:35,880 this garment is brought up twice. 531 00:37:36,920 --> 00:37:38,960 And you know why this is important? 532 00:37:39,840 --> 00:37:42,840 It's not until you realize, and if we all read the original 533 00:37:42,840 --> 00:37:45,400 language, like if we had the ability to read the Greek, it 534 00:37:45,400 --> 00:37:48,400 would be more apparent. But we do have a concordance in 535 00:37:48,400 --> 00:37:50,840 this day of age, we can actually do this kind of research. 536 00:37:50,960 --> 00:37:53,000 We can actually have access to these resources. 537 00:37:53,000 --> 00:37:55,000 So when you look at a concordance, you know what you 538 00:37:55,000 --> 00:38:00,200 realize that the word for linen cloth is only found in one other 539 00:38:00,200 --> 00:38:06,320 place, in the Gospel of Mark. And here it is in Mark 1546. 540 00:38:09,600 --> 00:38:12,600 And Joseph. Joseph brought a linen shroud, 541 00:38:12,800 --> 00:38:17,480 and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud and laid him 542 00:38:17,480 --> 00:38:21,240 in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock, and he rolled a 543 00:38:21,240 --> 00:38:23,840 stone against the entrance of the tomb. 544 00:38:24,080 --> 00:38:28,480 How many times did Mark bring up this young man and his linen 545 00:38:28,480 --> 00:38:30,440 cloth? Twice. 546 00:38:31,440 --> 00:38:33,920 How many times do we see this linen shroud, which is the same 547 00:38:33,920 --> 00:38:36,600 original word when Jesus was wrapped in this material? 548 00:38:38,280 --> 00:38:43,600 Twice. Is it a coincidence that the 549 00:38:43,600 --> 00:38:50,360 next and only mention of the Lord Jesus Christ, rather this 550 00:38:50,360 --> 00:38:54,680 linen outfit is placed on the Lord Jesus Christ and it's taken 551 00:38:54,680 --> 00:39:01,560 with Him into the tomb and as we read, it's brought up twice. 552 00:39:02,040 --> 00:39:04,720 Now you may be hesitant to make any kind of application with 553 00:39:04,720 --> 00:39:07,800 that connection, but I am persuaded that this next point 554 00:39:08,400 --> 00:39:12,320 will convince us, will convince us even more because when we 555 00:39:12,320 --> 00:39:16,280 come back to Mark 14, look again at verse 51 and a young man 556 00:39:16,280 --> 00:39:18,760 followed him. We concluded that that linen 557 00:39:18,760 --> 00:39:21,480 cloth is only mentioned one other place in the Gospel of 558 00:39:21,480 --> 00:39:24,760 Mark and check this out. The word young man is only 559 00:39:24,760 --> 00:39:29,280 brought up in one other place in the Gospel of Mark and it is 560 00:39:29,280 --> 00:39:33,840 absolutely incredible where you realize the placement of the 561 00:39:33,840 --> 00:39:40,520 same word. Go to Mark 16 and look at verse 562 00:39:40,800 --> 00:39:49,640 5. This is when the woman came to 563 00:39:49,640 --> 00:39:54,280 the tomb to try to anoint Jesus. And let's actually begin in 564 00:39:54,280 --> 00:39:56,560 verse 2. And very early on the first day 565 00:39:56,560 --> 00:39:59,920 of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb and 566 00:39:59,920 --> 00:40:02,520 they were saying to one another, who will roll away the stone for 567 00:40:02,520 --> 00:40:05,040 us from the entrance of the tomb. 568 00:40:05,040 --> 00:40:07,560 And looking up they saw that the stone had been rolled back. 569 00:40:07,560 --> 00:40:12,080 It was very large. And entering the tomb they saw a 570 00:40:13,240 --> 00:40:18,920 young man sitting on the right side dressed in a white robe. 571 00:40:18,920 --> 00:40:22,920 And they were alarmed. It's the only other place where 572 00:40:22,920 --> 00:40:25,200 you're going to find young man in this gospel account. 573 00:40:27,560 --> 00:40:31,760 And what's so amazing by this and because of this is that when 574 00:40:31,760 --> 00:40:34,360 you read Matthew's account of the woman coming to the tomb and 575 00:40:34,360 --> 00:40:37,600 Luke and John, the other gospel writers, you know what they tell 576 00:40:37,600 --> 00:40:42,200 us about who they encountered, Not a young man who an Angel. 577 00:40:45,160 --> 00:40:48,400 Mark has used the word Angel before in his gospel account, 578 00:40:49,480 --> 00:40:52,160 and all the other gospel accounts agree this is an Angel 579 00:40:52,160 --> 00:40:56,000 that gave this news. But Mark says it was a young 580 00:40:56,000 --> 00:41:01,680 man, Same word as Mark 14. What's happening here? 581 00:41:02,800 --> 00:41:06,720 What's he trying to denote? What is he trying to convey? 582 00:41:07,720 --> 00:41:10,960 And I think here we have something of a literary 583 00:41:10,960 --> 00:41:16,480 technique marked by the Spirit is about to blow our minds. 584 00:41:19,240 --> 00:41:22,160 It could be that, yes, in the literal sense, this Angel looked 585 00:41:22,160 --> 00:41:24,040 like a young man. But I don't think that that's 586 00:41:24,040 --> 00:41:26,040 the main point. I believe the main point is that 587 00:41:26,040 --> 00:41:29,400 when you read a young man in Mark 16, five, you were to 588 00:41:29,400 --> 00:41:35,600 recall that young man from Mark chapter 14, that same young man 589 00:41:35,600 --> 00:41:38,880 that was fully clothed but end up becoming naked and fleeing. 590 00:41:39,680 --> 00:41:43,080 And now you come to this point, you read the same terminology 591 00:41:43,080 --> 00:41:45,800 used to describe this person who is sitting in the tomb after the 592 00:41:45,800 --> 00:41:51,840 resurrection of Jesus Christ. You think, OK, what's the point? 593 00:41:51,840 --> 00:41:56,120 I believe that there is a symbolic work being done here, 594 00:41:57,760 --> 00:42:01,520 that this young man who's in the garden is to be bridged with 595 00:42:01,520 --> 00:42:04,760 this young man who's in the tomb after the resurrection. 596 00:42:04,760 --> 00:42:07,040 So let's pause it and consider these clues so far. 597 00:42:07,040 --> 00:42:10,680 Mark mentions someone who is following Christ and he was a 598 00:42:10,680 --> 00:42:14,360 young man with a linen cloth but fled away naked and fell short 599 00:42:14,360 --> 00:42:17,120 like the disciples that OK pay attention now, it's going to be 600 00:42:17,120 --> 00:42:21,240 worth it. The only other place where this 601 00:42:21,240 --> 00:42:27,760 word linen cloth is mentioned is when Jesus was buried with this 602 00:42:27,760 --> 00:42:32,080 material. The same material and the only 603 00:42:32,080 --> 00:42:34,920 other place that this young man is mentioned, the same word is 604 00:42:34,920 --> 00:42:38,120 someone in the tomb announcing the glorious resurrection. 605 00:42:38,720 --> 00:42:40,760 But wait, what was the young man in the tomb wearing? 606 00:42:42,440 --> 00:42:46,920 Go back to verse 5 of Mark 16. And entering the tomb, they saw 607 00:42:46,920 --> 00:42:50,560 a young man sitting on the right side dressed in a white robe, 608 00:42:53,560 --> 00:42:58,680 and they were alarmed. You know what else is 609 00:42:58,680 --> 00:43:04,000 interesting? The word white is only found in 610 00:43:04,000 --> 00:43:05,800 one other place in all the Gospel of Mark. 611 00:43:07,280 --> 00:43:12,080 Do you know where? Let me remind you, Mark Chapter 612 00:43:12,080 --> 00:43:16,160 9. Look here with me and verse 2. 613 00:43:24,240 --> 00:43:27,360 And after six days, Jesus took with him Peter and James and 614 00:43:27,360 --> 00:43:30,160 John and LED them up a high mountain by themselves. 615 00:43:30,560 --> 00:43:34,240 And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became 616 00:43:34,320 --> 00:43:42,080 radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. 617 00:43:43,760 --> 00:43:45,520 Here's a young man clothed in linen. 618 00:43:46,000 --> 00:43:50,320 He wants to follow Christ, fear, failure, shortcoming runs, they 619 00:43:50,320 --> 00:43:53,520 seize him, the cloth is removed. He runs naked. 620 00:43:54,040 --> 00:43:56,520 The only other time this word linen cloth is found in the 621 00:43:56,520 --> 00:43:59,680 Gospel of Mark, and may I add, in all the gospels, is when 622 00:43:59,760 --> 00:44:01,840 Jesus was wrapped with it before he was buried. 623 00:44:03,360 --> 00:44:05,800 And the only other time this word young man in the Gospel of 624 00:44:05,800 --> 00:44:11,640 Mark is found, interestingly, is identified with the Angel in 625 00:44:11,640 --> 00:44:16,400 Mark 16, and he's wearing a white robe. 626 00:44:16,880 --> 00:44:20,400 And the word white is supposed to connect us to the only other 627 00:44:20,400 --> 00:44:22,440 place where the word white is found in the Gospel, Mark. 628 00:44:22,440 --> 00:44:26,840 And it's what Jesus wore when he was demonstrating his glory. 629 00:44:28,840 --> 00:44:32,680 This is artistry. These are clues that we have 630 00:44:32,680 --> 00:44:35,960 been granted to put together so that we can see this beautiful 631 00:44:35,960 --> 00:44:37,960 picture. And I am convinced that what 632 00:44:37,960 --> 00:44:41,880 Mark is doing is providing a subplot to the grander story of 633 00:44:41,880 --> 00:44:45,280 the Gospel account. And what is that subplot and 634 00:44:45,280 --> 00:44:53,960 exchange of garments? So you have this man who we see 635 00:44:53,960 --> 00:44:57,680 wearing a linen cloth when he failed Christ. 636 00:44:59,560 --> 00:45:04,800 And that linen cloth that symbolizes such failure was 637 00:45:04,800 --> 00:45:09,640 taken with Christ by wave symbolism into the tomb. 638 00:45:10,360 --> 00:45:12,880 It was worn by Jesus as he was laid in the grave. 639 00:45:14,120 --> 00:45:17,440 But when the same word young man reappears in the gospel, it is 640 00:45:17,440 --> 00:45:21,880 after the resurrection of Christ and he is no longer naked, but 641 00:45:21,880 --> 00:45:25,520 he's dressed in a white robe, one that is linked with the 642 00:45:25,520 --> 00:45:27,800 glory that Christ wore on the Mount of Transfiguration. 643 00:45:31,160 --> 00:45:39,360 So even in this subplot, Mark is 1 to communicate the gospel of 644 00:45:39,360 --> 00:45:42,960 the imputed righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ. 645 00:45:44,040 --> 00:45:46,640 See, this young man, it's, it's not about trying to figure out 646 00:45:46,640 --> 00:45:48,200 who it is. It's trying to figure out what 647 00:45:48,200 --> 00:45:50,800 he represents. That's what it is. 648 00:45:50,800 --> 00:45:53,240 And that's why Mark uses that word about the Angel. 649 00:45:53,600 --> 00:45:57,280 Not to say that they're the same person, but so that you can make 650 00:45:57,280 --> 00:46:00,960 that connection and realize, well, the young man in Mark 14 651 00:46:00,960 --> 00:46:03,240 wore this, but now the same word, young man, now he's 652 00:46:03,240 --> 00:46:06,360 wearing this. And where did this Garmin go? 653 00:46:06,360 --> 00:46:09,120 It went with Jesus to the tomb. And where did this white robe 654 00:46:09,120 --> 00:46:11,040 come from? Well, Jesus had it when he 655 00:46:11,040 --> 00:46:19,560 demonstrated His glory, and so we can be moved by that 656 00:46:19,560 --> 00:46:21,720 connection. But what's more important is you 657 00:46:21,760 --> 00:46:24,880 realizing that this is an invitation that Christ extends 658 00:46:25,160 --> 00:46:28,880 to every man, to take your filthy sin, your filthy 659 00:46:28,880 --> 00:46:34,400 garments, all the mess, even even in your religiosity, and 660 00:46:34,400 --> 00:46:37,920 trying to honor God and work up your righteousness, whatever it 661 00:46:37,920 --> 00:46:41,440 may be. Christ is willing to take all 662 00:46:41,440 --> 00:46:45,840 your shame, all your guilt, all your shortcoming, and take it 663 00:46:45,840 --> 00:46:51,760 with Him to the cross and bury it, never to be brought up and 664 00:46:51,760 --> 00:46:54,600 used against you. And more than that, the same 665 00:46:54,600 --> 00:46:58,400 Jesus is willing to clothe you with the glory of His 666 00:46:58,520 --> 00:47:02,320 righteousness. That is what this is about. 667 00:47:02,600 --> 00:47:06,600 That is what the story is even with this young man with his 668 00:47:06,600 --> 00:47:08,920 linen cloth. It's a gospel truth. 669 00:47:10,040 --> 00:47:12,080 And it's something that I hope that you would consider, if you 670 00:47:12,080 --> 00:47:15,560 have never considered it, that you would actually be confident 671 00:47:15,560 --> 00:47:18,920 to say, if this is what Christianity is all about, why 672 00:47:18,920 --> 00:47:21,840 would I denied it? If he's willing to take all the 673 00:47:21,840 --> 00:47:29,280 stains and all the shame and then give me his perfection so 674 00:47:29,280 --> 00:47:31,760 that I can stand before him faultless. 675 00:47:32,480 --> 00:47:35,840 Is it any accident that this young man wearing the robe was 676 00:47:35,840 --> 00:47:37,680 wearing it after Jesus rose from the dead? 677 00:47:38,560 --> 00:47:41,440 No, it's not an accident. It's to show that your salvation 678 00:47:41,440 --> 00:47:45,280 has been amened by God. Because Jesus rose from the 679 00:47:45,280 --> 00:47:46,680 dead, He didn't stay in the tomb. 680 00:47:47,960 --> 00:47:51,320 And so I invite you to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as your 681 00:47:51,320 --> 00:47:56,080 Savior by making that exchange. How do I make that transaction? 682 00:47:56,560 --> 00:48:03,560 Repent and believe, turn to him, give him your sin, receive his 683 00:48:03,560 --> 00:48:08,080 saving pardon, and you will know everlasting life. 684 00:48:09,160 --> 00:48:35,280 Can we pray? Lord, Your word is amazing. 685 00:48:37,720 --> 00:48:40,240 We tremble at Your word, rightfully so. 686 00:48:41,000 --> 00:48:46,160 What kind of book is this? How has it been put together? 687 00:48:47,520 --> 00:48:49,400 You are indeed the author of this book. 688 00:48:51,440 --> 00:48:53,920 So first, Lord, we ask that you open our eyes, that we might 689 00:48:53,920 --> 00:48:55,520 behold the wondrous things out of your law. 690 00:48:55,520 --> 00:48:59,600 We don't want to miss anything. We don't want to think for a 691 00:48:59,600 --> 00:49:02,280 moment that there's one detail in this book that is accidental, 692 00:49:02,280 --> 00:49:05,760 that is void of purpose. So Lord, we, we want to pray for 693 00:49:05,760 --> 00:49:08,160 a revival, for our love for the Word. 694 00:49:08,760 --> 00:49:13,600 Breathe on our hearts to have this appetite for the things of 695 00:49:13,600 --> 00:49:17,720 God in the sacred Scriptures, please and Lord, as we come to 696 00:49:17,760 --> 00:49:20,280 it, to believe that you are willing to teach us and guide us 697 00:49:20,280 --> 00:49:23,720 through it. Lord, we also thank you that in 698 00:49:23,720 --> 00:49:28,080 this word you confirm what Christ said, that it is about 699 00:49:28,400 --> 00:49:31,680 the sun. It is about ultimately what 700 00:49:31,680 --> 00:49:35,520 Christ has done for man. And Lord, you even were able to 701 00:49:35,520 --> 00:49:39,560 tuck it in a brief little vignette of a young man who ran 702 00:49:39,560 --> 00:49:44,520 naked in the garden. And so, Lord, we pray that the 703 00:49:44,520 --> 00:49:48,440 gospel would have preeminence in our thinking and our affections 704 00:49:48,440 --> 00:49:53,120 and our devotion and our love. We thank you and we worship you. 705 00:49:53,120 --> 00:49:57,040 We give you glory and honor. May these things be tied around 706 00:49:57,040 --> 00:50:01,600 our necks, bound in our hearts and the source of our delight. 707 00:50:01,880 --> 00:50:04,480 In Jesus mighty name we pray. Amen. 708 00:50:05,040 --> 00:50:07,120 Can we stand? Isn't God amazing? 709 00:50:07,600 --> 00:50:12,200 He is amazing. I'm moved by these truths, and I 710 00:50:12,200 --> 00:50:15,480 pray that you're moved as well. Let's give Him glory and thanks 711 00:50:15,480 --> 00:50:16,360 as we praise Him.