Richmond Community Church

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Sermon Audio: Betrayal
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Mark 14:43-72
Duration: 23:51
Size: 11.3 MB

Jesus: The Ultimate Action Hero
Betrayal
Mark 14:43-72

Beginning in Mark 14:43 we shift from Jesus being the source of the action to Him being acted upon by others.

There were not photographs so it was important that someone who knew Jesus point Him out among the disciples.

Jesus wants them to know that He knows their actions are unsupported and that the only reason He is allowing it is to fulfill God’s Word.

What Mark records here is really the second hearing–taking place at the current high priest’s house: Caiaphas.

The religious leaders had already rendered their judgment and were looking for facts to support it!

At this point Caiaphas was getting frustrated. He tried to trick Jesus into answering a false accusation.

They didn’t need any more witnesses because Jesus was either blaspheming or telling the truth.

This records Peter’s worst hour. He can’t escape who he is, though he tries desperately.

Mark focuses a lot of Peter here and the process of Peter’s denial:

curiosity
pride
weakness
making up
running away
denial
weeping

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Sermon Audio: Intimacy & Agony
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Mark 14:12-42
Duration: 24:14
Size: 11.9 MB

Jesus: The Ultimate Action Hero
Intimacy & Agony
Mark 14:12-42

But before He goes to the cross, Jesus wants one last time with his men–to comfort them and warn them of betrayal both within their group and within themselves.

Jesus knew there was a price on His head and was very careful to arrange just when and where He would be arrested.

Mark is laser-focused on Jesus’ mission and so concentrates on the fact that Jesus identifies his betrayer.

I’m sure the real meaning was lost on the disciples but Jesus will shortly shed His blood to establish a new covenant between God and man–an everlasting covenant.

He may have felt like a failure but he still belonged to Jesus. And you know, even when we fail the Lord (and we will) He will never fail us!

Going to the cross was no small thing, even for the Messiah. He would be cut off from the Father for the first and only time.

No, look at what we see here: Jesus didn’t want to go to the cross “if it were possible” to redeem humanity any other way

But many times, the best way is not the easiest way and God’s way can mean we get hurt in the process.

Know that betrayals and troubles will come but that with God all things are possible. Sometimes, though, the only way out is going through the trial, not around it.

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Sermon Audio: Ultimate Worship Ultimate Betrayal
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Mark 13:24-14:11
Duration: 19:51
Size: 9.68 MB

Jesus: The Ultimate Action Hero
Ultimate Worship Ultimate Betrayal
Mark 13:24-14:11

Like in a theater, the house lights dim so the lights can come up on the stage. So too–both at the beginning and end of our account today, we see the lights dim in order to let the enemy have full sway, until the spotlight shines on the Savior–as the suffering Savior, then as the coming King.

He left in clouds and in clouds He will return–but not humbly riding into Jerusalem on a donkey but “in power and glory.”

No matter what happens around you, the words of Jesus will NEVER pass away–words like “I will never leave you nor forsake you” or that nothing can separate you from His love.

The main point here is that Jesus has given us a job to do, and that is to have an active relationship with Him, being transformed into His image by the Holy Spirit and to be a witness to His love and power.

At this point the religious leaders have resigned themselves to arresting Jesus, but they knew they were no match for Him in public and feared the crowds and a potential Roman response to a riot.

Mark puts it here, out of chronological order, to emphasize what Jesus is about to do.

From the ultimate act of worship to the ultimate act of betrayal.

It’s worth thinking about where we are on that scale–from freely giving it all to holding on so tight that we are willing even to leave Jesus behind.