On the day that Jesus made his triumphal entry into Jerusalem—that first Palm Sunday, I can almost imagine that he could see right through the praises and accolades of those in attendance. The symbol of riding on the back of a donkey’s colt—one that had never been ridden—was a sign of royalty. Indeed, here was the King—our King, the One whom God had sent in his infinite wisdom to save us from our sins—literally from the sin that we were born into. But, the majority of His world missed it. And even his closest disciples were afraid to stand by that truth…
Less than a week later, many of those who were singing His praises on that first Palm Sunday, watching as he rode into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey’s colt, through the Eastern Gate and onto the Temple grounds … many of those same people would be right there to condemn him to death as the crowds began to shout ‘Crucify Him!’ Folks, Jesus came to speak the truth—God’s truth about the condition of humanity and of what it would take to reconcile our relationship to our Creator. But, the truth scares people; many in this ol’ world cannot handle the truth (no pun intended, if you’re a Jack Nicholson fan). Instead, they will do anything they can to avoid the truth—even the truth of God, including sending the Messiah who God sent … to his death on the cross. So, where was God in all of this?
Today’s scripture actually begins in Mark 14:43, where we left off in the Garden of Gethsemane earlier… Jesus had already announced to those who were with him that the time had come to cease prayer and get ready for what was next. What was next was the betrayal of Judas. He came with a mob … and I’m sure they had a ‘mob mentality’ like so often happens … and he betrayed Jesus with a kiss, so they’d know exactly who to take with them to the High Priest and the Sanhedrin (Jewish High Council). Let’s pick up there with verse 53 of Mark 14…
They took Jesus to the high priest’s home where the leading priests, the elders, and the teachers of religious law had gathered. 54 Meanwhile, Peter followed him at a distance and went right into the high priest’s courtyard. There he sat with the guards, warming himself by the fire. 55 Inside, the leading priests and the entire high council were trying to find evidence against Jesus, so they could put him to death. But they couldn’t find any. 56 Many false witnesses spoke against him, but they contradicted each other. 57 Finally, some men stood up and gave this false testimony: 58 “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this Temple made with human hands, and in three days I will build another, made without human hands.’” 59 But even then they didn’t get their stories straight! 60 Then the high priest stood up before the others and asked Jesus, “Well, aren’t you going to answer these charges? What do you have to say for yourself?” 61 But Jesus was silent and made no reply. Then the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” 62 Jesus said, “I AM. And you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 63 Then the high priest tore his clothing to show his horror and said, “Why do we need other witnesses? 64 You have all heard his blasphemy. What is your verdict?” “Guilty!” they all cried. “He deserves to die!” – Mark 14:53-64 (NLT)
When we are going through times of pain and suffering in this world … and we wonder if we’re all alone—if God even understands what we’re going through, be reminded especially of the 24 hours that Jesus spent prior to his death. I have a few things to say about God and his understanding of suffering, but let me begin with this: In Christ, folks, we can find true HOPE, even in the midst of our pain and suffering! Why would I say something like that (other than the fact that I believe it to be true)? Here’s why: First…
GOD IS NO STRANGER TO SUFFERING… From the Garden, and on into that night, Jesus learns the agony of:
- Denial (Peter and the other disciples)…
Can you imagine how it would feel if those closest to you—those who had walked with you for years and had stood by your side—finally reached a point in your relationship where they felt like they had to walk away? The disciples, living out of FEAR, went into hiding… Peter hangs in there for awhile, inappropriately turns to violence on behalf of Jesus, then eventually denies knowing him 3X before the rooster crowed 2X (as Peter remembered in v. 72). In Mark, we also find out that another young man hung in there for awhile, too (vv. 50-52):
“Then all his disciples deserted him and ran away. 51 One young man following behind was clothed only in a long linen shirt. When the mob tried to grab him, 52 he slipped out of his shirt and ran away naked.”
Most scholars believe this ‘young man’ to be John Mark himself—the author of the Gospel of Mark (his comments here being almost like an artist’s signature in the corner of a painting—bed sheet=linen cloth, etc.)…
Folks, how often in your lifetime have you had someone you thought was your friend … suddenly back off, denying being close to you? It happens you know—usually right when you need someone to stand by you! Denial doesn’t only bring agony to us, but denial brings agony to Jesus too; then he learns the agony of…
Decision (Jesus=self-emptying)…
Here, Jesus has to make the final decision to be obedient to God; he is fully human and fully divine, yet here he makes a decision to empty himself of the divine—to become fully human for a short period of time, so that he’d be that ‘perfect sacrifice’ for sin. This was an agonizing decision—a decision to separate himself, even if just for a short period of time, from God. (How do we describe a time when ‘God is absent?’ HELL … and that’s what Jesus went through for us!) So, here Jesus learns the agony of decision—a decision that meant absolute suffering for him, but the freedom of salvation for us! And then Jesus finally learns the agony of…
Deceit/Betrayal (Judas)…
Have you ever been betrayed by someone close to you? I don’t think there’s any worse feeling in the world…
When the Romans wanted to capture Jesus they paid one of his trusted followers to betray him. Judas Iscariot was one of Jesus’ disciples. The Romans arranged for a signal from Judas. He would identify Jesus by kissing him in the Garden of Gethsemane. In return for this betrayal, Judas was paid thirty pieces of silver.
Judas is thus the symbol of betrayal and treason…
The “thirty pieces of silver” has become another way of saying “blood money”…
An act of betrayal has come to be known as a “Judas kiss.”
Similarly, a “Judas goat” is the animal that leads a flock to the slaughter house. (Encyclopedia of Illustrations #13087).
If you’ve ever been through this kind of suffering—having someone who you believed to be close to you … betray you in every way, then just know that God is no stranger to this kind of suffering either! Jesus has been there … and understands when we’re there, too… Folks, it’s one thing to know that God is no stranger to suffering; but, we also need to know—without a doubt—that…
GOD’S LOVE CAN PERSEVERE THROUGH IT ALL… Let me tell you what LOVE overcame on that fateful night:
Broken communion—both heavenly and earthly! Jesus was separated from those he was closest to here on earth … as well as being separated—for a time—from his Father in heaven! Can you think of a time that could be any lonelier than that? LOVE overcame broken communion on the night Jesus was betrayed … and LOVE also overcame…
Injustice like this world had rarely seen! A commentary that I recently went through recorded at least 9 infractions—legally speaking—of what took place that night, when they came to the Garden to get Jesus, that were totally illegal. There was no integrity in the actions of the religious leaders of Jesus’ day—at all (and that would make a good study sometime)…
Folks, the fact is … GOD IS NO STRANGER TO SUFFERING, but the other fact is … GOD’S LOVE CAN PERSEVERE THROUGH IT ALL: GOD’S LOVE did not fail when humanity failed him … and GOD”S LOVE did not fail … even when it seemed that God had abandoned him.
So, what keeps you going when suffering becomes a reality in your life? When we think of suffering in our own lives, look at how Jesus handled it … since he’s already been there—done that…
Jesus accepted the fact of human suffering, and neither explained it … nor explained it away. If he had attempted to explain it, his message would’ve been just another philosophy (philosophy having to have an explanation for everything). Jesus’ purpose in coming into this world was not to explain everything, but to spell out the GOOD NEWS—that in him we can find HOPE and life and power to overcome all obstacles… Folks, the Gospel may not explain, but it certainly brings about a change—a change of heart and a change of mind. Jesus transforms suffering by using it, and shows us that victims can become victors, and tests can become testimonies… Are we going to now trust him, our Lord and Savior, during our times of suffering?
As you come forward for communion today, reflect on the suffering of your own life; but also reflect on the suffering of Jesus…
Jesus, folks, is one who totally understands any suffering we might go through.
Jesus is also one who can offer us HOPE, not only because he’s been there … but because he’s conquered the very last enemy that can get a strangle-hold on us: death.
Jesus not only experienced resurrection himself, but now he’s able to give us—through faith—the gift of resurrection in our lives; yes, we will be given a bodily resurrection, but even now Jesus can resurrect our lives from a place of hopelessness … to a place of HOPE … in Him.
There’s nothing this life can throw our way … that Jesus doesn’t understand, hasn’t been through, and can’t deliver us from! There’s the GOOD NEWS of this day…
So, as you come to His Table today, GIVE YOUR SUFFERING TO JESUS—turn it over—knowing that he can handle yours, too!
So often, we just want to go to God when things are going good in our lives. But, what’s up with that? Look to Jesus as your example; learn to fall on your knees … especially when the world seems to be crashing in around you! This is what Jesus did; this is what God wants us to do…
Give your suffering … to Jesus, once and for all!