Jack Rendel

J & Z Publications

FIVE EXPECTATIONS

(What are you looking forward to?)

Jack Rendel

(At the end of this file the table of contents for this division of Mark is given in order to see how these five stories fit into this division.)

In the last days and hours of Jesus’ life as recorded in the Gospel of Mark we find people looking forward to a number of different things. What were they? Mark gives them to us in 5 parallel passages.

They are (1) the money promised to Judas for betraying Jesus; (2) the meeting the disciples would have with Jesus after his resurrection; (3) seeing Jesus when he returns in the clouds; (4) bowing to him after his return; and (5) the Kingdom of God for which Joseph of Arimathea was waiting.

1. Money promised, Mark 14:10, 11

10  And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto (to) the chief priests, to betray him unto (to) them. 11  And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought (looked for a way) how he might conveniently betray him. AV/KJV (All words in parentheses in the Scripture texts are mine.)

Judas looked forward to getting money. He would do it by betraying Jesus. He was going to receive 30 pieces of silver. It is so little for betraying the Master, but how much would be enough to betray Jesus, the Son of God? Nothing in the whole world or universe could compare in value to him!

The chief priests promised him money. Promises, promises! You must choose between the promises of God and the promises of this world.

There is no wrong in receiving money in exchange for honest work. Jesus told parables about such things and commended those who knew how to wisely and faithfully use money. But he also warned us that we cannot serve God and money. Money is to use not serve.

On the bills we have in the USA is printed, “In God We Trust.” Unfortunately for some the God we trust may be the paper that declaration is printed on, the money itself.

“Richard Cory put a bullet through his head.” It’s a line from the ballad by Simon & Garfunkel about the sad end of the only son of a banker, who owned half the town, who appeared in the papers, and who had orgies on his yacht, and in whose factory the song writing artist worked. The chorus expresses the desire of the poor song writing factory worker, “...and I wish that I could be Richard Cory!” But does the writer of the song understand that if he were Richard Cory he’d snuff out his life by suicide? Have we considered the logical conclusions of what we desire? Isn’t it amazing that Judas also committed suicide? No, it’s not amazing; it’s logical!

So we must ask ourselves if money or something much greater is what we are to look forward to. Let’s sneak a peak at the last of the stories we are considering and we will find that Joseph of Arimathea, one of the Jewish council, was looking forward to something else.

Mark 15:43  Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which (who) also waited for (looked for) the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto (to) Pilate, and craved (pleaded for) the body of Jesus. AV/KJV

The man who asked for the body of Jesus from Pilate was someone who was waiting or looking for the Kingdom of God! There is our goal, our concern, or future!

But let’s back up just a little and look at the other scenes that come in between.

2. Meeting Jesus, Mark 14:26-28.

26  And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives. 27  And Jesus saith (said) unto (to) them, All ye (of you) shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite (strike) the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. 28  But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee. AV/KJV

That very night the disciples were to go through some gut wrenching experiences. Their Master was to be arrested, beaten, spit on, accused, condemned, mocked, crucified and buried. They would cringe in hiding for fear of the Jews. They thought all had come to an end.

But Jesus had said something about rising again, which they found hard to take in. He also promised them that he would go before them into Galilee. He had promised he would rise from the dead and meet them again in Galilee.

When they met the Lord after his resurrection they would be overjoyed! He was alive! He died so tragically but now he was back again! They couldn’t believe their eyes.

We can also “meet” the Lord after his resurrection. It has been 2000 years since he came back from the dead. During this time many thousands have been introduced to him, through the Scriptures that talk about him. You too can meet him. Read the gospels and the Bible and the marvelous person of Jesus will meet you in its pages. Jesus once said that the Comforter, Spirit of truth, whom he would send to us from the Father would reveal his things to us, testifying to us about Jesus.

John 15:26  But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto(to) you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which (who) proceedeth (comes) from the Father, he shall testify (tell) of me…AV/KJV

It is doubly comforting to know that Jesus went before them, leading the way, like a shepherd his sheep. He had made reference to that very relationship when he said the shepherd, referring to himself, would be struck, referring to his sufferings and dearth.

There is another great comfort found in the words of Jesus and it’s because these were his words. He was promising them that after his resurrection he would go before them into Galilee. This was not the promise of a dead leader but of the resurrected Savior. The chief priests may promise money to Judas, but to us who follow Jesus, Jesus promises himself, his person, his presence and his leadership to us.

You can meet him too.

3. Seeing Jesus, Mark 14:61, 62

61  But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?62  And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. AV/KJV

Jesus now promises the high priest a vision of the future. As of the writing of this message in July 2006 it is of an event not yet taken place. He refers to his second coming. His first coming was relatively quiet and unassuming. He was born a baby into the world through a virgin, born in a stable away from home. In his coming again he will be seated at the right hand of power, come in the clouds of heaven. Jesus did not return within the life time of that high priest. How would that high priest see him unless he was brought back from the dead at the resurrection? The Bible tells us that that appearance of Jesus will be seen by the whole world.

Revelations 1:5-7

5  And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto (to) him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6  And hath (has) made us kings and priests unto(to) God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.7  Behold, he cometh (comes) with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds (tribes, peoples) of the earth shall wail (weep) because of him. Even so, Amen. AV/KJV

So if a religious teacher from Boston, or from anywhere else for that matter, tells you he is the reincarnation of Jesus don’t believe him. Jesus said many would come in his name deceiving many. Just remember that the next time Jesus appears it will be with power and in the clouds.

4. Bowing to Jesus, Mark 15:16-19

16  And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band. 17  And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and  put it about his head, 18  And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews! 19  And they smote (struck) him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him.  AV/KJV

The soldiers did not know it but they would once again at a future time bow the knee to Jesus in very different circumstances. Philippians 2:10 describes the circumstances.

10  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. AV/KJV

So, in a sense they, and all peoples, “look forward”, to that future day when they bow the knee to Jesus. And let’s remember that this verse says every knee shall bow. Let’s also remember that it will be at the name of Jesus. It is not another name but his name. Acts 4:12 tells us that there is no other name under heaven by which people may be saved but the name of Jesus. The same holds true for that day when every knee shall bow, because it will be at the name of Jesus that every knee will bow to him.

5. The Kingdom of God, Mark 15: 43

43 Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which (who) also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto (to) Pilate, and craved (desired) the body of Jesus.AV/KJV

Just what is waiting for the kingdom of God? It is all wrapped up in the person of Jesus. We can meet him now in the Scriptures. One day we will all see him and one day we will all bow the knee to him.

It was in his body that he appeared to so many when he lived those 33 years on earth. It will be in his resurrected body that we will see him when he comes again. It will be in his body that every knee will bow to him! It is no small thing that Joseph of Arimathea wanted the body of Jesus, and not surprising that the body of Jesus is connected to his kingdom the kingdom of God.

Let’s go over our list of 5 things people were looking for (1) the money promised to Judas for betraying Jesus; (2) the meeting the disciples would have with Jesus after his resurrection; (3) seeing Jesus when he returns in the clouds; (4) bowing to him after his return; and (5) the Kingdom of God for which Joseph of Arimathea was waiting.

What am I looking forward to? What are you looking forward to? Take your pick; you choose, money or Jesus! Take Jesus!

The following table of contents covers this division of Mark and the third row, which is shaded, contains the 5 parallel stories which include these 5 things for which people waited.

VI.       MARK 14:1-16:8    HOW WILL THE MESSIAH ESTABLISH HIS KINGDOM?PRIVATE

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