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Caring for the Most Valuable
• What is the most valuable thing…– In chess?– In your home?– In your car?– In your schooling?– In your career?
• How should we treat these things?• How did God treat His Son?
Giving Up the Best
Mark 14:12-31Brown (English) Bible: Page 1019White (Spanish) Bible: Page _Red (Chinese) Bible: Page _
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Context
• Lent: 40 days of preparing ourselves for Easter– Daily readings from Bible– Sermon focus– Conversations, perhaps extra service, giving, or sacrifice
Easter was a completion of Passover
• Every year for Jewish people, a meal to remember how God rescued them from slavery– Not because of race or nationality– Because their houses were marked with the blood
of a lamb“And when your children ask you, ‘What does this ceremony mean to you?’ then tell them, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he struck down the Egyptians.’” Exodus 12:26-27
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Brief Overview of Mark
• Jesus’ ministry of teaching & miracles chapters 1-10
• Jesus’ travel to Jerusalem chapters 11-13
• Jesus’ death and resurrection chapters 14-16
Mark 14:12-31
12-16:
17-21:
22-25:
26-31:
Preparing the Passover meal for Jesus
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Mark 14:12-31
12-16:
17-21:
22-25:
26-31:
Preparing the Passover meal for Jesus
Prediction: Jesus is betrayed by an insider
All my enemies whisper together against me;they imagine the worst for me, saying,
“A vile disease has afflicted him;he will never get up from the place where he lies.”
Even my close friend,someone I trusted,
one who shared my bread,has turned against me. Psalm 41:7-9
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“Jesus and the Gospel writers do not explain how human freedom and divine sovereignty exist together side by side, but they do not compromise one for the sake of the other. Both exist together.”
Mark 14:12-31
12-16:
17-21:
22-25:
26-31:
Preparing the Passover meal for Jesus
Prediction: Jesus is betrayed by an insider
Last Supper: All eat & drink of Jesus’ sacrifice
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Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,and made intercession for the transgressors.
Isaiah 53:12Portion=inheritanceSpoils=whatisreceivedinvictory
Borethesin=tookoursinashisownIntercession=stepintohelpothers
Transgressors=sinfulorshamefulpeople
Mark 14:12-31
12-16:
17-21:
22-25:
26-31:
Preparing the Passover meal for Jesus
Prediction: Jesus is betrayed by an insider
Last Supper: All eat & drink of Jesus’ sacrifice
Prediction: Jesus is abandoned by all
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• Betrayal fulfilled– Jesus said, “Here comes my betrayer!” Just as he was speaking, Judas,
one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs… Mark 14:42-43
• Abandonment fulfilled– Then everyone deserted him and fled. Mark 14:50
• Denial fulfilled– [One of the servant girls] looked closely at Peter. “You also were with
that Nazarene, Jesus,” she said. But he denied it. “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,” he said.
– When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, “This fellow is one of them.” Again he denied it.
– After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.” He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about.”
Mark 14:66-71
The Big Idea
Jesus laid down His life to rescue
those who were failing Him
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How does God treat His Son?
The most valuable (God’s Son) is sacrificed for the sake of the least
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
• At the table of the Lord’s Supper are those who betray, abandon, and deny Jesus– Every time!
• We come to the table– not as those who have a higher devotion to Jesus– not as those who are more faithful followers of Jesus– not as those who have a better family or ancestors– but as those who receive forgiveness in His sacrifice
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The Big Idea
Jesus laid down His life to rescue
those who were failing Him
Application
• Confess and leave old ideas, and embrace the Gospel!– Pride in self, or judgment of others– My shame, judgment of self, or shame before others
• Rejoice in God’s grace in Christ– Stand in awe of this gift– Live in this gift• Rejoice in Christ!• Give grace to others in Christ
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:
While we were still sinners,
Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
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The Big Idea
Jesus laid down His life to rescue
those who were failing Him
God’s invitation for us:•Confess & leave pride & judgment•Rejoice in this amazing love!
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:
While we were still sinners,
Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
