God on Trial
Scripture: Mark 14:32-42
C.I.: The Garden's Four Trials
We are going to begin a new series
of lessons… “God on Trial.”
• The Trials, (Mark
14:43-50)
• Trial #1: When God's Will is Difficult
• The humanity of Jesus - always astonishes me
far more than His deity.
• His willingness to touch the dead skin of a
leper (when a touch was not required in order to heal).
• His anger at the hardened hearts of the religious
leaders (yet in love He spared their lives).
• His willingness to wash the filthy feet of
His disciples, even Judas (a job of the lowest slave).
• Now here in the Garden – at the end of a life
given totally to serving others – I finally see myself.
1) “I don't want to do this!!!” – “All things are possible
for You; remove this cup from Me!”
2) Is it just me? – Or have all of us been at the place
where we don't want to do God's will?!!!
3) If Jesus didn't feel this way – He would not be my example – I
couldn't understand Him.
• Yet because of His hesitation – I am willing
to keep reading – to strive to learn more.
c. Jesus prayer of victory, “…remove this cup from Me;
yet not what I will, but what You will!
1) Victory is found in the “will of God”! – God has already
determined that the victory is
obtainable. – Its within our reach. – Only 1 question; “Am I willing to submit
to His will?”
• All of us are spiritual Special Olympians – but
if we stay on the track – we will win!!!
• Those who accept God's will – no matter the
consequences – gain the victory ( I Jn. 5:3-4 ).
• Today's lesson is about 3 groups who prayed
the prayer of defeat, “Not Thy will but mine …
• Trial #2: The Kisses of an Enemy, (vs.
43-46)
• Sometimes those who are closest to us to do
not have our best interests (God's will) at heart!
• ( vs. 43-45 ), “And immediately
while He was still speaking, Judas, one of the 12 , came
up, accompanied by a multitude with swords and clubs, from
the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. – Now
he who was betraying Him had given them a signal, saying, ‘Whomever
I shall kiss, He is the one; seize Him, and lead Him away
under guard.' – And after coming, he immediately went to
Jesus, saying, ‘Rabbi!' and kissed Him.” – And they laid
hands on Him and seized Him.
b. Probably all of us have been “blind-sided” by someone
close to us. – We never see it coming!
1) Jesus knew this would happen – it had been foretold. – ( Psa.
41:9 ), “Even my close friend, in
whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.”
2) ( Psa. 55:12-13 ), “It
is not an enemy who reproaches me, then I could bear it;
nor is it one
who hates me … But it is you, my companion and my friend.”
• Therefore, sometimes it will be people close
to us – who will betray us!
• So what is our responsibility – when we have
been betrayed by a friend?
1) ( Rom. 12:19-20 ), “Never take your
own revenge, but leave room… for it is written,
‘Vengeance …' But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, if he is thirsty, give him
a drink.”
2) Jesus was not taken by surprise by Judas' betrayal -
because He trusted in God – ( Jn. 2:24 ),
“But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew
all men.”
• Judas lost his trial – by living the prayer
of the defeated, “ Not Thy will but mine be done!”
• Trial #3: The Zeal of a Friend, (v.
47)
• The enthusiasm of those closest to us – can
sometimes lead us in the wrong direction!
• ( v. 47 ), “But a certain
one of those who stood by drew his sword, and struck the
slave of the high priest, and cut off his ear.”
• Being caught up in the excitement of the moment! – Peer
pressure! – We have all felt these.
• Yet God desires for us to control of our emotions – and
not allow them to control us!!!
• ( Lk. 22:51 ), “Jesus
said, ‘Stop! No more of this.' He healed [Malchus] right
ear.”
b. Difference between thermometers & thermostats. – (One
reacts & the other changes things!)
• ( Jms. 1:19-20 ), “Let
everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak & slow to
anger. – For the…”
• ( Heb. 10:24 ), “Let us
consider how to stimulate one another to love and good
deeds.”
• ( Eph. 4:26-27, 32 ), “Be
angry, yet do not … And be kind to one another, tender-hearted….”
• Peter lost this trial – by living the prayer
of the defeated, “ Not Thy will but mine be done!”
• Trial #4: When Numbers are Stacked
Against You, (vs. 48-50)
• We will always be defeated if we are waiting
to be in the majority against this world.
• ( vs. 48-50 ), “Jesus
answered & said to them, ‘Have you come out with swords
and clubs to arrest Me, as against a robber? – Every day
I was with you in the temple teaching, and you…
• God's people will always be numerically in
the minority.
2) So notice what Jesus did. – For Him to be victorious
Jesus had to tell them the truth!
3) We must learn to tell ourselves and others the truth – we/others
are going to be saved!!!
a) ( Jn. 8:31-32 ), “If you will abided
in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and
you shall know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
b) ( Gal. 4:16 ), “Have I become your
enemy by telling you the truth.”
c) ( Eph. 4:15 ), “Speaking the truth
in love we are to grow up in all aspects into Him….”
b. “…but this has happened that the scriptures might
be fulfilled.'” – And His disciples all left Him
and fled.”
• Jesus knew the scriptures. – He knew He had
to die - for people to be saved!!!
2) But He also knew a scripture which they forgotten – ( Psa.
16:8-10 ), “I have set the Lord
continually before me; because He is at my right hand I will not be shaken. – Therefore
my
heart is glad and my soul rejoices; for You will not abandon my soul to Hades,
nor will You
allow Your holy one to undergo decay.”
3) While your friends may betray or leave you – and your
adversaries overwhelm you (yet they
will be defeated - because their prayer is, “ Not Thy will, but mine be done”)!!!
Acts 2:36-38, 41
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