Sunday – July 14, 2013 “Mission Impossible”

July 14, 2013 – Read the Word on Worship

Mission Impossible from Sunrise Community Church on Vimeo.

It is easy to conclude Jesus is the victim of great injustice, false evidence and a rigged jury. But nothing could be further from the truth. Jesus was the Son of Man and was in complete control of everything that took place. Jesus was under no compulsion to testify against Himself, and the false witnesses were doing just fine shooting themselves in the foot. If Jesus chose too, He could have shredded the charges against Him just as He dismantled the traps set to trip Him up while He was teaching in the temple. Jesus is not going to argue over trivia or petty charges. Jesus would testify when it came to the critical issue of who is Jesus Christ. Is He the divine Messiah? Is He truly the Son of God?
Join us this Sunday as we continue in our study of the Gospel of Mark chapter 14 verses 53 to 72 on “Mission Impossible” and see why this text was written for us.


Word On Worship – July 14, 2013 Download / Print

Mark 14:61-64
Again the high priest was questioning Him, and saying to Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” And Jesus said, “I am; and you shall see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, and COMING WITH THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN.” Tearing his clothes, the high priest said, “What further need do we have of witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy; how does it seem to you?” And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death.”

A common name for Jesus in the Gospel of Mark is the Son of Man. The term comes from the Book of Daniel and is associated with great power, glory and forth coming judgment. Judaism in the time of Christ saw the Son of Man as someone who would be a supernatural man who would transcend the suffering of the Jewish community because He would possess the power and exaltation they lacked. And yet when Jesus claims the title, it is the testimony which seals His fate before the High Priest.

In Mark, we see the Son of Man associated with power that is blended with suffering and weakness.  Jesus openly declares He is the Messiah only when there is no possibility the crowds will rise up and crown Him king. His admission is the only evidence the Sanhedrin has to convict Jesus of blasphemy and secure a sentence of death.  This was not the Messiah they wanted. Jesus as Messiah is far less than they hoped because He never raised a finger against Roman authority and passively submits to the beating of the religious elite and a sentence of death.

It is easy to conclude Jesus is the victim of great injustice, false evidence and a rigged jury. But nothing could be further from the truth. Jesus was the Son of Man and was in complete control of everything that took place. Jesus was under no compulsion to testify against Himself, and the false witnesses were doing just fine shooting themselves in the foot. If Jesus chose too, He could have shredded the charges against Him just as He dismantled the traps set to trip Him up while He was teaching in the temple. Jesus is not going to argue over trivia or petty charges. Jesus would testify when it came to the critical issue of who is Jesus Christ. Is He the divine Messiah? Is He truly the Son of God?

As Messiah, Jesus was far more than anyone hoped. In the most devastating and chaotic time in all human history, Jesus is in charge. God’s power is seen in weakness and Jesus demonstrates the power of God. He is bringing about His death, in His time and in His way. Anyone looking for mighty displays of power, miraculous feats or startling prophecies will see nothing. But those who connect the dots see the Son of Man, orchestrating the events of this kangaroo court to accomplish the will of God. And the will of God will be completed when the Son of Man returns with the clouds of heaven to judge those rejected Him and the His calling to be the Lamb of God.

What do you think?