Mark 14:60-64

[snapstur]

@Shield> Let's pray
@Shield> Our Father, thank you for this day.
@Shield> This is the day that you have made and we will rejoice and be glad in it.
@Shield> Thank you that you do all things well.
@Shield> And thank you Lord, that despite how hard it is for us to understand, nothing that happens occurs without first being allowed by you. You are sovereign over all things.
@Shield> Thank you that you are in control.
@Shield> And that the promises made by your Son Jesus two thousand years ago resound today with equal brilliance.
@Shield> He is coming again.
@Shield> And he will do so victoriously.
@Shield> in Jesus mighty name we pray, amen.
carol> Amen
hugsfromtheMASTER> amen
Aspros_Tigris> Amen
@Shield> have most of you been a part of these studies over the last several weeks and months?
@Shield> say yes if that is the case, please...
Deacon> yes
carol> yes
GentleDove> yes
Snapstur> yep
@Shield> so a number of you might not have been, but several have.
sunnylady> yes
Aspros_Tigris> yes
@Shield> Let's say a couple of things as we get started on Mark 14:60 and following.
Donna> sometimes when I’m awake yes lol
@Shield> At forums.christian-chat.net you can find past logs of our series on Mark.
@Shield> If you have a registered nick, you can log on and interact with those past studies.
@Shield> I encourage you to do that.
@Shield> Ask questions, inquire about issues you are not sure about.
@Shield> It is a great place to challenge and prod and ask for prayer.
@Shield> They are all there.
@Shield> We have been doing an inductive series on Mark
@Shield> by that I mean we have been trying to let the text speak for itself in light of the context
@Shield> socially
@Shield> historically
@Shield> in terms of the genre of literature
@Shield> in this case gospel literature, which was a specific genre in the first century.
@Shield> Here we see Jesus being questioned as he has just been captured.
@Shield> It is not a friendly audience.
@Shield> To put it mildly, they are making up stories about him to try to get him tried and convicted.
@Shield> Only one problem
@Shield> Their stories conflicted and they embarrassed themselves.
@Shield> That was last week.
@Shield> But now a new player enters the conversation.
@Shield> A man to be reckoned with.
@Shield> A man charged with the responsibility to enter the holiest place once per year.
@Shield> let's peak in on the action...
@Shield> Mark 14:60 Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, "Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?"
@Shield> Mark 14:61 But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.
@Shield> Isn't it interesting that Jesus remained silent when falsely accused?
@Shield> The silence spoke volumes in light of the contradictory evidence and accusations.
@Shield> but the high priest was not finished...
@Shield> Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ, he Son of the Blessed One?"
@Shield> that should say the Son of the Blessed One.
@Shield> imagine with me, the expressions of the crowds.
@Shield> I can picture them leaning in.
@Shield> silence descended for that moment.
@Shield> they collectively held their breath
@Shield> all of the subterfuge over the last weeks of the biblical record
@Shield> all of the plotting
@Shield> all of the scheming
@Shield> all of the murderous intentions
@Shield> it all hinged on this moment
@Shield> and it was finally the high priest who had the fortitude to ask Jesus outright
@Shield> again he asked....
@Shield> "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?
@Shield> there is no mistaking what he meant.
@Shield> let’s see Jesus' response
@Shield> before we do, one thing
@Shield> the high priest, in effect, was acting as judge
@Shield> in the religious sense.
@Shield> this is a key point to keep in mind as we listen in on Jesus
@Shield> Jesus said, "I am,"
@Shield> in a moment we will read the rest of his sentence, but I wonder...
@Shield> what comes to your mind when you read that portion of Jesus'
@Shield> reply?
@Shield> anyone?
Deacon> o/
@Shield> yes Deacon?
Deacon> In another place He said I am that I am which indicated that He was God
@Shield> Exodus 3:14 God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM.
@Shield> This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.'"
roseofsharon> well said shield
roseofsharon> well quoted I mean
<@Shield> and in the language which the author of Mark's gospel wrote, he records Jesus as saying, "I am."
@Shield> the construction of the language is unmistakably reminiscent of the Mosaic decree
@Shield> in other words, Jesus was purposefully identifying with God in the first person.
@Shield> He was throwing off the cloak, revealing himself prophetically.
@Shield> We have proof of this by looking at the next words...
@Shield> Jesus went on to say, "And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."
@Shield> now, let’s do a little inductive study on this verse.
@Shield> what is it saying?
@Shield> raise your hand and I will call on you, like normal:)
@Shield> btw, Might One actually literally says "the Power"
@Shield> in the original
@Shield> any takers?
@Shield> what is the text saying..just in simple terms...
Deacon> o/
@Shield> yes Deacon?
Deacon> I would say it’s speaking of His second coming
@Shield> yes, and what gives that away? what was the clue?
Deacon> coming on the clouds of heaven
@Shield> exactly
@Shield> Daniel 7:13 "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.
@Shield> any other observations?
@Shield> where is he sitting?
LarryBoy> 0/
@Shield> yes LarryBoy?
LarryBoy> at his father’s right hand
@Shield> good, thank you LarryBoy
@Shield> in this verse literally God is referenced as "the Power"
@Shield> or the Mighty One in certain translations such as NIV
@Shield> any other observations?
@Shield> "And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."
@Shield> what tense is used in the phrase and you will see?
Deacon> future
@Shield> correct
@Shield> and, it is second person plural
@Shield> indicating that all will see
@Shield> furthermore it is in the middle voice, indicating a state of doing an action for oneself
@Shield> so, you (plural) will see for yourselves
@Shield> any other observations?
Deacon> o/
@Shield> what is the significance of being at the Father's right hand, or literally at the right hand of "the power" or the Mighty One?
@Shield> yes Deacon?
Deacon> Son of Man - His humanity
@Shield> ah
@Shield> very good
@Shield> this is critically important
@Shield> Jesus is fully human, fully divine
@Shield> born of the virgin who was overshadowed, or impregnated supernaturally by the Holy Spirit
@Shield> Son of Man is the most common way that Jesus referred to himself.
@Shield> I have said this before in these studies
@Shield> it is a sign, actually, of his divinity, by virtue of his virgin birth.
@Shield> and we see that confirmed in this context
@Shield> where Jesus says, putting it all together, "I AM."
@Shield> "you all will in the future see with your own eyes the Son of Man sitting at his rightful place at the right hand of the Mighty One, the Power, the Father, Yahweh.
@Shield> and you will seem him with your own eyes coming on the clouds of heaven.
@Shield> And in that day, the subtext goes, he will come as Judge.
@Shield> think of it
@Shield> Jesus is captured.
@Shield> Surrounded.
@Shield> He has a hostile audience.
@Shield> They want his blood.
@Shield> The crowd has been seeded by troublemakers who are skilled at working up the masses.
@Shield> and the High Priest asked him plainly, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed On?"
@Shield> to which Jesus stunned the crowd in general, and the High Priest in particular, with his response.
@Shield> there is no small amount of irony at play here.
@Shield> Jesus, put simply, said he is God.
@Shield> and that he, in effect, is the Great High Priest and Judge, by virtue of his statement.
@Shield> so look at the high priest's reaction....
@Shield> Mark 14:63 The high priest tore his clothes. "Why do we need any more witnesses?" he asked.
@Shield> Mark 14:64 "You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?" They all condemned him as worthy of death.
@Shield> enter the irony...
@Shield> in accusing Jesus of blasphemy, the high priest effectively committed blasphemy, and caused others to do the same.
@Shield> the one who would be high priest completely misunderstood the person and work of Messiah, the Christ, and condemned him to die.
@Shield> and here is a small tidbit to chew one as we prepare to move ahead in the text in future weeks:
@Shield> they did not have the guts to do it according to Hebrew tradition or with their own hands via stoning as required by law.
@Shield> no
@Shield> they had to find someone else to be their henchmen.
@Shield> but that is for another time.
@Shield> for now we might consider what application this might have for our own lives.
@Shield> for me, it is sobering.
@Shield> Jesus was very clear.
@Shield> He is returning.
@Shield> Physically.
@Shield> Literally.
@Shield> He is coming in the role of Judge.
@Shield> Each of us, and every person who has ever lived will be judged.
@Shield> good works.
@Shield> bad works.
@Shield> no works.
@Shield> and our relationship with him.
@Shield> taking into account this one thing
@Shield> have we trusted Jesus for salvation?
@Shield> or
@Shield> have we denied him, trusting instead in our own good works or philosophies?
@Shield> recently I told my pastor
@Shield> if the pretrib folks are correct, and Jesus does catch up the redeemed before the time of tribulation,
@Shield> I am pretty sure there will be no lack of trained pastors to continue leading many churches.
@Shield> now what do I mean by that?
@Shield> simply this.
@Shield> seminary training, as valuable as it can be, does not save a person.
@Shield> nor Bible college
@Shield> no Sunday school
@Shield> nor momma's prayers
@Shield> we must trust Jesus.
Donna> amen
@Shield> We must choose to follow him, placing our life in his hands, asking him to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
@Shield> Even the high priest of the Jews didn’t get it.
@Shield> one of the most learned in the Hebrew Bible
@Shield> it is a matter of faith.
@Shield> I don’t know who many of you are
@Shield> I don’t know your lives and what you face daily
@Shield> so, I am not here to make judgments or any such thing
@Shield> I simply ask that if you have not yet trusted Jesus, that you consider doing so tonight.
@Shield> Each of us is one heartbeat away from eternity, save the grace of God
@Shield> those of you who know me well know that I do not often go on like this, but I think the text justifies and encourages it.
@Shield> trust Jesus
@Shield> he died for us
@Shield> he rose again
@Shield> and he is coming soon
@Shield> and he loves you
@Shield> let's pray
Rock> Father God,
Rock> I thank you tonight for what has been shared with us here.
Rock> It is amazing to me that we can all come together in this sanctuary on the net and share our beliefs in one accord.
Rock> Thank you for providing us with this sanctuary.
Rock> Abba, I pray that as we go our separate ways tonight that we concentrate on the importance of telling others about you and what you have promised us.
Donna> yes Lord thank you for your word you have given us and thank you for Shield and his faithfulness to deliver this message to us
Rock> You truly are that "I Am".
Rock> You are everything You have promised.
Donna> yes Lord
Rock> Help us to remember that when we are discussing the Bible, religion, church, etc. that the only important things is that we agree upon who Jesus is, what he came for, and what his resurrection and eventual returning mean.
Donna> yes Lord
Rock> Thank you for being our friend and loving us enough to send your one and only son to earth so that we may spend eternity with you.
Rock> We pray for your quick return.
Rock> In the name of Jesus we pray.
Rock> Amen
carol> Amen
Donna> amen
Fushia> Amen
Snapstur> Amen
Deacon> Amen
Aspros_Tigris> Amen
GentleDove> amen
@seekHm1st> amen
Deacon> Very good as always Shield
@Shield> thank you folks
@Shield> thanks Deacon:)