The Passover Of God’s Servant

January 19, 2014January 19, 2014 / Bobby Mayfield / 6 Comments

"Picturing His Sacrifice"

Book of Mark Chapter 14:1-25

As Jesus approached the days of His "Passion", He explained to the soon to be Apostles, of the New Testament Church, to teach the Church to "watch" to see how His Word would be fulfilled.

As disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ we are not to concern ourselves with the turmoils of this world but we are to be aware of their happening!

We are to concentrate ourselves with the work Jesus has given us to do, while still keeping a watchful eye on His coming to get His Bride!

The "death" of our Savior is only a few days away but Jesus would not be our Savior, if He had not risen from that grave.

Jesus Christ was born as a babe, to die for our sins, and to resurrect for our newness of life as babes in Christ!

Let’s continue:

*****Mar 14:1 After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and put him to death.
Mar 14:2 But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar of the people.

The "Passover" was both memorial and symbolic!

It was a "memorial" to the memory of that first passover in Egypt.

It was "symbolic" because it’s ultimate fulfillment was at Calvary, on a hill called "Golgotha"!

The Bible teaches us with these words:

Joh 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

1Co 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ "our passover" is sacrificed for us:

On the 10th day of the month of the Passover, (Abib, now Nisan) each family was to select a perfect lamb and keep it under close observation, to make sure it was perfect, until the 14th day.

These same four days, we will observe as Jesus prepares for His last four days before He is crucified.

We have just witness as Jesus rode that foal of a donkey into Jerusalem on "Psalm Sunday" and the multitudes went before Him and behind Him crying Hosanna.

Jesus has already arrived in Jerusalem and cleansed the Temple.

Jesus has already cursed the fig tree, (representing Israel).

Jesus has already given what is called, the Olivet Discourse.(Last two weeks lessons)

So we will begin our lesson here:

Mat 26:1 And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples,
Mat 26:2 Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.

Jesus gives us our time frame.

Two days before the observance of the Feast of the Passover, these things we read will take place.

We should also keep in mind that the day after the Passover Feast would begin the "Feast of the Unleavened Bread".

While also remembering that the Jewish day always begins in the evening (6 o’clock).

The beginning of Passover Feast was celebrated before 6 P.M. with the Feast of Unleavened Bread to begin at 6 P.M.

These two feast were observed in one meal!

It is the "Feast of Unleavened Bread" that symbolizes deliverance and freedom from sin, which was obtained by the offering of the "Passover Lamb"!

There could be no deliverance from sin, nor freedom from sin, until the Lamb was sacrificed and the blood applied!

Heb 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

These are a lot of things to consider while Jesus walks with joy to the Cross!

Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

While these crafty enemies of Jesus were plotting His death, Jesus was with His friends.

*****Mar 14:3 And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.

We can be sure that this Simon was no longer a leper as he would be breaking the Jewish law. Lepers were not allowed to live among the people.

The Lord Jesus had healed many lepers which is a true miracle as leprosy still has no sure cure in our day.

Some believe, as I do, that this Simon was the relative of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha.

Joh 12:2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.
Joh 12:3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.

This home would have been just over a mile and a half from Jerusalem.

This was a happy home and a place full of love. They loved the Lord and He loved them. There was no better place for Jesus to spend some of his last moments before He was to die.

We should all strive to have a home where Jesus is welcomed to stop in at any time. This is part of the "watching" that we are supposed to be doing!

Alabaster is a carvable lime stone and at that time was mined at Alabastrom in Egypt from which it gets it’s name.

Later most every perfume holding vessel was called an alabaster box.

Spikenard was a very precious and very costly perfume of that day and is made from "a plant" and the smell of it is said to be unequalled.

In fact this fragrance can be considered a type of Jesus Christ:

Eze 34:29 And I will raise up for them "a plant of renown", and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more.

But also it could be said that the smell of the spikenard is the "aroma" the Lord wants of His Bride:

Son 4:10 How fair is thy love, my sister, my spouse! how much better is thy love than wine! and "the smell of thine ointments" than all spices!

In either case Mary anointed the Lord Jesus Christ, but there are always those object to things done for the Lord Jesus Christ.

*****Mar 14:4 And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made?
Mar 14:5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her.

We could have many discussions on why Mary did this thing but we must first make our own selves aware that there is nothing that we can do for the Lord that can equal to what He has done for us.

There is probably not anything Mary would not have done for the Lord.

Simon a relative, maybe even a father had been healed of leprosy.
Lazarus a dear brother had been raised from the dead.
She had felt and see the love that Jesus had for her family.
Why would she not do this thing?

The Lord Jesus Christ has saved us from the pits of the "Burning Lake Of Fire", why should we not do everything in power to please Our Lord?

To the men in that room, pouring perfumed oil on the Lord Jesus just did not seem right.

Not many men want to smell like women, though we love for our women to smell real good!

It was just not a manly thing to do!

But there was one man in that room that had his own motive:

Joh 12:4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him,
Joh 12:5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?

A pence was a days wages for the poor worker of that day. This bottle of perfume was nearly a years wages.

Count that by today’s standards and we can see that 300 pence was a lot of money in that day.

In fact the money spent on perfume throughout our world today could feed all the poor that are starving to death in our world today.

But Judas was thinking only of himself!

Joh 12:6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.

And Jesus said:

*****Mar 14:6 And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me.

Mary realized that these men who traveled with Jesus objected to what she was doing and she became uneasy.

But Jesus said "Let her alone"!

Jesus had looked into Mary’s heart and He knew that it was only out of goodness that Mary had done this thing and she had had no other motive. It was just something that she could do and was capable of doing it!

This action of pouring this perfume on the Lord, was a sign of her "faith" in what Jesus had been saying.

Mary had clearly understood that the Lord Jesus Christ was going to die on that cross in her place.

No one else may have realized this but Mary did and Jesus said this would be a memorial to her!

*****Mar 14:7 For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.
Mar 14:8 She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.
Mar 14:9 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.

There are many reasons that there will always be poor people living in this world.

The biggest reason is that the resources of our world are placed, by Satan, into the hands of men that maintain complete control of them.

Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

We should also realize that if there were no poor then, there would be no place to show charity and kindness.

These are those that are poor of no fault of their own.

Deu 15:11 For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.

Rom 12:8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

And there will always some be poor because of their own sinful ways!

Luk 8:18 Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.

And there will always be those that are to lazy to help themselves!

2Th 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

There will be the poor in human flesh on this Earth until the New Heaven and the New Jerusalem!

The Lord Jesus Christ, Emmanuel(God in human flesh), was only on this Earth for 33 and one half years and He would have been included with the poor under man’s standards!

The Lord never had a place to lay His head on this earth!

**********"She hath done what she could".

The Lord Jesus has only one expectation from any of us. He expects us all to do what we can!

Mary did all she could knowing that what Jesus had come to accomplish, was in the hands of God.

Mary greatly loved the Lord and through that love, she knew she wanted to do something for the Lord.

Not out of need. Not out of duty. Not out of request. But only out of "LOVE".

Sometimes we may only be able to pray, especially those that have reached an age when they physically are unable to do many things.

As long as we have a voice, we can all sing songs of praise, and share a kind word.

As long as we have eyes we can offer a kind look.

As long as we have feelings and compassion, we can share those with others.

There is no one is so humble or even so poor that they cannot do something for The Lord!

God has keen eyes and He looks more for the little things than for the greater things, but those that are more able are expected to do more things.

Mary chose to do something probably no man would have thought of doing and it is remembered forever in the Word of God.

But this was the straw that broke the camel’s back to one man in particular, Judas Iscariot.

*****Mar 14:10 And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them.
Mar 14:11 And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him.

Judas the traitor!

Judas finally realized that Jesus indeed was going to die and as he had been a disciple in His life, he wanted to make sure he was part of His death.

Judas had been rebuked by the Lord for his murmuring against what he said was a wasteful act.

This woman had been praised for what seemed like nothing to Judas.

If Jesus was the Messiah and was about to die, Judas could not see a fulfillment of the scriptures and he no longer believed the Word of God.

Mary had given her best in faith and love, Judas gave his worst in unbelief and hatred!

The Jewish leaders did not know how to arrest Jesus without causing a riot but that problem was now solved.

Judas would lead them to Jesus in a secret place, when He was alone with the other 11 disciples.

If we look back at what God said about Pharaoh, we can see that it would also apply to Judas Iscariot:

Rom 9:17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.

And we should also realize that both these men were offered many opportunities to repent and they both chose not to!

Judas sold his Master for the price of a slave:

Exo 21:32 If the ox shall push a manservant or a maidservant; he shall give unto their master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.

This also fulfilled prophecy:

Zec 11:12 And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver.
Zec 11:13 And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD.

A freeman could have been ransomed for 60 pieces of silver but these chief priests could only see the price of a slave!

Luke said Judas made this promise to the chief priests:

Luk 22:6 And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.

It was now time:

Joh 13:1 Now before the feast of the passover, "when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father", having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.

*****Mar 14:12 And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover?

The Passover Lamb commemorated the deliverance from Egypt and was to slain and eaten with unleavened bread on the 14th day of the first month.

The unleavened bread was then to be eaten for 7 total days.

Jesus Christ is our passover and was sacrificed for us!

1Co 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
1Co 5:8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

So, Jesus had already made these arrangements Himself, for it was furnished and prepared.

*****Mar 14:13 And he sendeth forth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him.
Mar 14:14 And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house, The Master saith, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?
Mar 14:15 And he will shew you a large upper room furnished and prepared: there make ready for us.

While Jesus and eleven of the disciples were still in Bethany, He sent John and Peter to prepare the passover meal.

The Passover meal had to be eaten in Jerusalem because the Temple was in Jerusalem!

Luk 22:8 And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat.

Judas was in the act of betrayal but would return later to travel with Jesus to this upper room.

According to the Laws of Moses, the lamb was to be slain and the meal prepared between the evening of the Passover the 14th and the beginning of the Feast of unleavened bread the 15th.

Before the 15th day ended Jesus would be dead and buried!

A man bearing a pitcher of water would have been very noticeable because this was a job normally done by women.

This guestchamber we know was in the house of Mark, who wrote the Book of Mark, and he was probably young about 12 years old at this time.

Act 12:12 And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.

This is the same Mary who was sister to Barnabas, who traveled with the apostle Paul.

Col 4:10 Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister’s son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;)

To make ready, meant that a lamb had to be bought and carried to the Temple for slaughter, and the fat burnt on the altar.

It would then be brought to the home and roasted whole and served with bitter herbs.

And so Peter and John obeyed the Lord.

The Apostle John will write 9 chapters in the Book of John, describing the events that happened during and after this Passover meal.

*****Mar 14:16 And his disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.
Mar 14:17 And in the evening he cometh with the twelve.

Peter and John found that things were just as the Lord Jesus had described.

Jesus knew what was about to happen because this was His plan!

Joh 13:1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.

*****Mar 14:18 And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you which eateth with me shall betray me.

Only Judas knew the truth of what the Lord was saying but Judas kept quiet!

The Lord Jesus already knew what was going to happen next, and He was offering Judas one more chance to repent.

This is something that is very important to us and that is why it was written for those that read the "Gospel".

Jesus Christ never missed an opportunity to teach, even at His last meal, know He was about to die!

1Co 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

We need to see what happened just before Jesus said these words.

Joh 13:4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
Joh 13:5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.

Jesus Christ washed the feet of His 12 disciples, including the man who was fixing to betray Him.

Then Jesus said:

Joh 13:10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, "but not all".

There was still one man, Judas, that needed more than just washing away the filth of this world.

Judas kept quiet.

It is then that Jesus had these words:

Joh 13:21 When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, "that one of you shall betray me".

Judas kept quiet.

And even after this Jesus still allowed this traitor another opportunity:

*****Mar 14:19 And they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, Is it I? and another said, Is it I?
Mar 14:20 And he answered and said unto them, It is one of the twelve, that dippeth with me in the dish.

And Judas kept quiet.

We know that John sat next to Jesus and Peter told John to ask who the traitor was.

Joh 13:23 Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.
Joh 13:24 Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake.
Joh 13:25 He then lying on Jesus’ breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it?

Jesus whispered back to John:

Joh 13:26 Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.

Judas again kept quiet but the Lord Jesus, knowing that the Devil was in control Judas, told him to go and get it done!

But Luke describes to us an even greater thing for the New Testament Church, during this last meal:

Luk 22:15 And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:
Luk 22:16 For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.
Luk 22:17 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:
Luk 22:18 For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.
Luk 22:19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
Luk 22:20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

*****Mar 14:21 The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born.

The soul of man is immortal!

Humans can only be immortal because "immortality is a gift from God"!

Rom 2:6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
Rom 2:7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
Rom 2:8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
Rom 2:9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;

But man in his human flesh will perish!

1Co 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1Co 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
1Co 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

Humans in their earthly life are mortal beings subject to death and their are no means to extend death to immortality by human methods!

Eternal life is the gift of God and because God is no respecter of persons, He has given this eternal life to every soul.

BUT, While we are yet living we must decide where our soul will spend eternity!

Mat 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Judas Iscariot passed up an opportunity to spend eternal life with the Lord in Heaven and by doing so, he insured he would spend eternity in damnation!

Jesus says, it would be better to have never lived than to spend eternity in everlasting punishment!

We have no control over whether we are born or not born but we do have some say in where we will spend eternity!

We can conclude that it is because of this life in the flesh, that we get this chance to spend eternity in a place we call Heaven, in eternal bliss, the highest degree of happiness.

1Co 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

When we get a taste of Heaven while we are living, we will be glad we had this opportunity!

Thank You Jesus!

Next the Lord’s Supper

*****Mar 14:22 And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.

As these future apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ were eating the Passover meal, Jesus did something that was different from the normal passover ritual.

The "unleavened bread" eaten with the passover meal symbolized the deliverance and the freedom from sin to the Jew.

That freedom from sin could only occur by the offering of the passover lamb!

Heb 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and [without shedding of blood is no remission].

Deliverance and freedom was not obtained until the Lamb was offered and the "blood applied"!

But this day Jesus said we are going to do something new.

This unleavened bread then signifies our need of the spiritual food of Jesus Christ!

Jesus had already taught this:

Joh 6:48 "I am" that bread of life.
Joh 6:49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
Joh 6:50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.
Joh 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

We are not only physical beings but more important "we are spiritual beings" because God has already decided our spiritual being will live forever.

Our spiritual being must have nourishment just as does our physical side!

To the disciples, that bread signified their need of the spiritual food from Christ Jesus.

A soul that is starving from this nourishment, that only the Lord Jesus can provide, "is lost"!

Jesus blessed this bread and this signified that God the Father was also recognized as having a part in the work of His Son!

Jesus broke that bread to remind us of how He had to suffer in payment for our sin debt. Christ Jesus had no sin of His own!

It is important for us to notice that Jesus broke this bread Himself and not some other person:

Joh 10:17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
Joh 10:18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

Man is incapable of taking the life of Jehovah God!

Jesus then gave a portion of this bread to each disciple which signifies our complete dependence on Him!

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

And the Lord continued.

*****Mar 14:23 And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it.
Mar 14:24 And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.

The two necessities of physical life are food and drink!

The use of the "cup" shows "the completeness" that comes from Our Lord. This is then the cup of salvation!

Psa 116:13 I will take the "cup of salvation", and call upon the name of the LORD.

This cup is then symbolic of the Blood of Jesus Christ.

The blood of Jesus Christ is then "the blood of eternal life".

Lev 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: "for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul".

But not the blood of some animal:

Heb 10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

It is the blood of Jesus alone that can cleanse us of all sin!

What is the New Testament?

A testament, is the last act and will of a person to assign the things he owns before he dies.

The Bible says:

Heb 9:15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
Heb 9:16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
Heb 9:17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

Heb 9:23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
Heb 9:24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
Heb 9:25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;
Heb 9:26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself

We must remember, to be saved is to have a home in Heaven:

Joh 14:2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

This where we belong, this is our real home:

Psa 115:16 The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.

This Heaven is where the Lord lives:

Psa 102:19 For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth;

We have a place in Heaven and there is nothing on Earth we have to compare to our home in Heaven!

*****Mar 14:25 Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.

That cup that symbolizes so many things to the believer also speaks of the joy that we will behold at the time of the Lord’s return to take us home.

And we soon will be back home:

Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
Rev 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
Rev 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Questions?

Let’s Pray!

The Promise Of God’s Servant

January 12, 2014 / Bobby Mayfield / 181 Comments

The Promise Of God’s Servant

"He Will Return"

Book of Mark Chapter 13:24-37

In our last lesson Jesus tells us many things that cannot be denied and have already come to pass. There are those that say anyone could have said these things and they be true, but this is not the message of the world nor of false science.

The message of the false science is that, the world is evolving into something better when the truth is, the world is decaying and dying.

Rom 8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Rom 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
Rom 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

The message of the world is that, because of technology, things are getting better all the time, when the truth is, these same things are causing death and decay and the world is being deceived.

2Ti 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

The pure fact is that Jesus said in our last lesson these words:

Mar 13:23 But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.

So let’s continue Chapter 13 as Jesus continues to answer the disciples.

That question was:

Mar 13:4 Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?

*****Mar 13:24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,
Mar 13:25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.

There should little doubt that there was a great deal of tribulation after the ascension of Jesus Christ back to Heaven.

The work on Herod’s Temple was completed in 64 AD.

By 66 AD Israel had rebelled against the tyranny of Rome. Nero who was Caesar at this time, dispatched Vespasian to stop this rebellion.

By 68 AD the resistance had been put down and Vespasian turned his attention to Jerusalem. This same year Nero committed suicide and Vespasian returned to Rome as ruler and Titus his own son became General of the Roman army.

In 70 AD the walls of Jerusalem fell and the city was destroyed and the Temple ransacked and burned. Not only that but most all the residents of Jerusalem, innocent men, women, and children were ruthlessly slaughtered.

Those that remained, upon seeing these things rebelled again and it was not until 73 AD that the Jews were completely defeated when Masada fell. Those left at Masada would not allow the Roman Army the pleasure of another slaughter and they robbed them by killing themselves.

When Jesus said "those days" and "after that tribulation" we can be sure He was referring to this time period.

But God has already said this:

Mat 23:35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
Mat 23:36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.

This is the generation that was destroyed by Titus, except for a small remnant, that Jesus was making reference to!

But Jesus is also speaking of another time period. Jesus was quoting from the Book of Isaiah.

Isa 13:9 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.
Isa 13:10 For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.
Isa 13:11 And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.

Only the Jew was punished in the day of Titus. The Lord says He will punish the world and that has not taken place yet, so there is coming another period of Tribulation and even Greater Tribulation to the entire world!

These are the days "yet to come" when the sun shall be darkened and the moon shall not give of her light!

And the stars will fall from heaven and the powers in heaven shall be shaken.

In 73 AD any remaining Jews were driven off their own land by Rome and many made slaves and scattered throughout the Roman empire.

But that was not the end of the Jews then and their troubles are not yet over!

Jer 30:10 Therefore fear thou not, O my servant Jacob, saith the LORD; neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; "and Jacob shall return", and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid.
Jer 30:11 For I am with thee, saith the LORD, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations "whither I have scattered thee", yet will I not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished.

Jer 30:7 Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: "it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble"; but he shall be saved out of it.

It is this future time when The Lord Jesus says He will return and it is the Lord Jesus Christ who will save Jacob, "the deceiver", out of the troubles of the Antichrist, at this future time!

The Lord will sit as King then, not only of Israel, but the entire world!

*****Mar 13:26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.

There is a great judgment coming to this world we live in.

It is by the Lord Jesus Christ that the world was made:

Heb 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
Heb 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

It is by the Lord Jesus Christ that "Salvation came" to this world:

Act 4:10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
Act 4:11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
Act 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

It will be by the Lord Jesus Christ that "Judgment" will fall on this world:

Psa 96:13 Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.

Act 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
Act 17:31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

The Lord Jesus will return "to be the climax and the conclusion" of the Great Tribulation Period.

Mat 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

There will be "unmistakable" signs from on high.

What the Devil is doing at that time will be seen as only a deception because he is only a deceiver but he will have caused the murder and mayhem and slaughter to many of the innocent.

But it is not that remnant that will rebel at this time, because there is coming the Savior!

Rev 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
Rev 19:12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
Rev 19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
Rev 19:14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

Then, what will the Lord do?

*****Mar 13:27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.

These elect are not the Church because the Church is already in Heaven and will return with the Lord at His second coming!

Rev 4:1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
Rev 4:2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.

1Co 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
1Co 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be "caught up" together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Those two words, "caught up"(snatched out) are the meaning of the word "rapture" and this is the victory of the Church!

1Co 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Church will not see those 7 years of tribulation!

Rom 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

Through Jesus Christ and He alone, the Church will come in fullness of joy to Heaven being saved from the wrath of God.

This is what is called the Rapture of the Church.

The Church is the is the object of God’s love, "and not His wrath".

It would be a contradiction of Christ’s relationship with His Church, His Bride, for the Church to go through the punishments of the seven year tribulation period.

1Th 5:9 "For God hath not appointed us to wrath", but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

2Th 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath "from the beginning" chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

And there is no greater proof than this verse that the Church will not see the tribulation period:

Rev 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, "I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth".

The signs of the Lord’s coming were given to Israel and should not be a concern of the Church!

It is "the remnant" of Israel that will be gathered by the Holy Angels.

Dan 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

And Jesus explains:

*****Mar 13:28 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near:

We already know that the fig tree represents the nation of Israel!

On May 14, 1948 a strange thing happened.

Isa 66:8 Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.

Having been nearly destroyed by the horrors of the Holocaust(6 million Jews slaughtered by Hitler), still facing persecution around the world(another 6 million in Russia), and being constantly surrounded by their enemies(Jews persecuted around the world), the Jewish people gathered together in Israel and declared themselves a nation in a single day.

The United States recognized Israel as a nation on that same day, and Israel’s victories in the wars since have solidified their place among the nations of the world!

That fig tree that God owns, was replanted back onto their land promised to Abraham and it has budded and blossomed ever since but has still not produced spiritual fruit up till today.

"Her branch is yet tender"!

It has not been an easy road for the reborn nation of Israel.

Zec 12:2 Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem.
Zec 12:3 And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.

The rebirth of Israel has brought about constant war and conflict with surrounding Muslim nations. Israel attempts to live in peace but those around her want her destroyed!

There seems to be not a day go by that Israel and or the Middle East is not in the world news. It seems the main focus of world’s attention today, concerns Israel’s relationship with its neighbors.

The other atrocities in the world are ignored for the most part!

Just as God foretold, Israel has become a "burdensome stone" for the world’s political leaders.

The majority of the Islamic countries surrounding Israel have made it clear, "their primary goal is the destruction of Israel".

However, God has made it clear that Israel is here to stay!

Israel has had to defend herself from annihilation since her rebirth.

In 1967 Israel did not wake up one morning and decide to go to war – she woke up one morning and found she had to defend herself.

A war between Israel and Egypt, Jordan and Syria that began on June 5, 1967 and ended on June 10 1967.

In this war, Israel regained, by the hand of God, the Sinai Peninsula, the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, Jerusalem and the Golan Heights.

It seems the world wants to still punish Israel for trying to hold on to what God has given to them. Israel has made many concessions and each time those concessions have not brought peace but just more turmoil.

Israel cannot be forced to concede this land to the so called Palestinians!

It is those foreign governments that were defeated by Israel that have ceded these lands to the Palestinians knowing that they never owned them to begin with.

Not many Palestinians that are on these lands now were ever raised on these lands in 1967!

But this fig tree, "Israel", will still not produce fruit until the Great Tribulation period.

This is when 144,000 Jewish men will evangelize the world. There will 144,000 men similar to the Apostle Paul that will preach the "Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and many will be saved.

Remember what Paul said:

1Co 15:8 And last of all he was seen of me also, "as of one born out of due time".

God says:

Rev 7:3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, "till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads".

Satan will have his seal 666 but God will also have His seal, the blood of Christ Jesus!

Rev 7:13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
Rev 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white "in the blood of the Lamb".

ALL these things can only happen after the Church is already in Heaven.

When Israel was re-birthed, it was then we should realize that "summer is near" and we could go home to be with the Lord any day now.

So what does Jesus say to His Church?

*****Mar 13:29 So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.
Mar 13:30 Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.

As Israel and the world is watching the signs of the Second Coming of Christ, the Church needs to watch the fig tree, Israel!

So what have we already seen so far?

1) Increasing religious apostasy.
2) Wars and rumors of wars.
3) Kingdoms against kingdoms.
4) Earthquakes, famines, and troubles.
5) The Gospel published and available to all nations.
6) Disregard for the moral laws.
7) Persecution toward the Gospel and those who preach and teach it.
8) The rebirth of the Nation of Israel.

What should we remember as we watch for the coming of the Lord to take us home?

A) Unbelievers will always act like unbelievers.
B) This world we live in needs Jesus.
C) When Jesus Christ returns, He will bring with Him, Justice first and then Peace!

The job of the Church is still to tell the world about Jesus!

This last age of the Church and at least seven years before the Second Coming of Christ will culminate in a time of trouble such as the world has never seen.

Then Jesus says we can depend on the Word of God to be true!

*****Mar 13:31 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

Psa 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
Psa 19:8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
Psa 19:9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
Psa 19:10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
Psa 19:11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.

God’s Word is the foundation of life and God gives life eternal!

Jesus said, God is not the God of the dead!

All those that have gone before us to Heaven are still alive!

*****Mar 13:32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.

God knows exactly when He will return, but only in the limits of of human flesh did Jesus say he did not know when He would return for His Church. Jesus says "we must watch the fig tree"!

The date of the Rapture is concealed from the Church!

BUT, Israel and the world can see the signs, if they look, and know that the Second Coming of Jesus Christ is very near!

So, what else does the Church know?

There will be a "judgment seat of Christ"!

Paul wrote to the Church:

Rom 14:10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

This day of judgment is for rewarding the Church Age believers.

These rewards are for deeds, good or bad, that we have done after we came to know Jesus Christ as our personal Savior.

2Co 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

We can know that this rewarding takes place before Jesus returns to this earth because the "Bride of Christ" has already been rewarded when returning with Christ Jesus:

Rev 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
Rev 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

The marriage of the Lamb takes place in Heaven, the marriage supper of the Lamb makes reference to Israel and takes place to begin the Millennial Kingdom.

Rev 19:9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed "are they which are called" unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

It is Israel who is called to attend this marriage supper. The Church is already the wife of Christ at this time!

So what other command does Christ give to the Church?

*****Mar 13:33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.

Not only are we to watch the fig tree but we are to pray, for we will never know the exact time the Lord returns for His bride until the day it happens.

Christ Jesus has already told us His plan for us:

And Jesus has already told us how to know we will be ready for this day.

Joh 14:4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

And Jesus has already told us we would miss out on His day of wrath to the world:

Rev 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
Rev 3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

We are to live righteously and patiently:

Jas 5:8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

And we are to pray:

Rev 22:20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. "Even so, come, Lord Jesus".
Rev 22:21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

When Jesus comes the things He does will be very quick. The Rapture of the Church will be a very quick thing!

*****Mar 13:34 For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.
Mar 13:35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:
Mar 13:36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.
Mar 13:37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch. Mar 13:34 For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.
Mar 13:35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:
Mar 13:36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.
Mar 13:37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

What did Jesus say?

Joh 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

We are to watch the fig tree!

We are not to try to set dates of Christ’s return!

We are not to try to say to say that the Lord cannot come until certain prophecies are fulfilled because we cannot know these things!

We are not to concern ourselves with looking for the appearing of the Antichrist!

We are not to look for some great revival!

We are not even to look for some great apostasy!

We are not to look for some revival of the Roman Empire!

We are not to concern ourselves with a one world monetary system, we have our own perfect provider!

It would be pointless to occupy our time watching for signs, when we are to focus our thoughts on the things of the Lord and "watch" for His imminent coming!

Our job is to watch and be about the Master’s business!

Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Tit 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Tit 2:15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

These are the things that we of the Church must do!

Questions?

Let’s Pray!

The Promise Of God’s Servant

January 12, 2014 / Bobby Mayfield / 193 Comments