The Suffering Messiah

The Arrest - Mark 14:43-52 - not the Romans, but the Jewish leaders
John - Sword bearer = Peter
          Servant's name = Malchus
Luke - right earring/ Jesus healed it
This is a real, historical account.

Matt. 26:52-54
John 18:4-6
Luke 22:53 - hour of evil, hour of Satan     

The Trial - (before the Sanhedrin - 70 members of powerful court)

2 leadership figures:
1)  Annas - had been High Priest for 7 years, but deposed by Pilate's predecessor.
2)  Caiaphas - Anna's son-in-law/current High Priest (would serve as High Priest for 19 years)

Jesus tried by the Sanhedrin, BUT they needed civil authorities to execute
Mark 14:53-59 - Jesus' words - Jews thought was blasphemy against the temple
John 2:18-22

Mark 14:60-65 - fulfillment of Isaiah 53:7
with Matt. 26:67-68   (From Isa. 11:3 - Messiah "will not judge by what he sees with his eyes or hears with his ears")  

Mark 15:1

This = historic account of events/ not teaching, instruction, explicit doctrine.
Nevertheless, passage does teach and illustrate some major things:

#1)   Scripture must be fulfilled - as seen in the many texts about Suffering Messiah!!
Which also means ... Scripture about His return in glory ALSO must be fulfilled!!!  - "Christian Hope"
This still stands - past and future

#2)  What God ordains (determines) WILL come to pass!
This does NOT VIOLATE man's free will!!
Though God knew it would happen this way.... does NOT excuse their behavior!!  Acts 2:22-23- did it out of their own selfishness

#3)  The Christ (Messiah) must suffer
Often prophesied in the Old Testament
But the Jews didn't see it!!! - Luke 24:25-27  They thought Messiah would be mighty warrior, deliverer, etc.

Sometimes we are so sure of our interpretation/ understanding ... THAT WE CAN'T see God's message!!

Question:  Why did Christ have to suffer??
Answer - God ordained it!

Question:  But WHY did God ordain it??
Was there NO OTHER way to accomplish this?
Answer = sometimes God's methods remain a mystery to us!!

But.... what is clear (not a mystery) is that to accomplish our salvation, God used Christ as a Substitutionary Sacrifice.  (foreshadowed by Old Testament sin offerings)

How Substitutionary Sacrifice works:

(1)  Sin = a Violation of God's righteous law(s)
(2) Our sin is usually deliberate, willful disobedience ... which = Rebellion (against God)
(3)  Therefore punishment is due (payment, reparation, making things right again)
(4)  BUT we cannot make the make the payment / cannot set things right!

So.... (5)  IF it's to be done... someone must do that for me!! 

 ie:  (1)  the Sinless One
      (2) who suffers on our behalf.

Scriptures re: substitutionary sacrifice:
1 Pet. 2:24
Gal. 3:13
2 Cor. 5:21
Matt. 1:21

IN THE Substitutionary Sacrifice we see...
God's Righteousness
and my (our) guilt - (I'm guilty, therefore I need a Savior)

My inadequacy
and God's Provision  ((I can't, God can)

God's Justice (sin must be paid for)

AND God's Mercy - (He pays it for me!! )

From praise song "Here is Love" -
"On the mount of crucifixion fountains opened deep and wide
Through the floodgates of God's mercy flowed a vast and gracious tide.
Grace and love like mighty rivers, flowed incessant from above..
AND Heaven's Peace AND Perfect justice,,, kissed a guilty world in love"

All of this adds up to this... in His Substitutionary Sacrifice we see ... GOD'S LOVE .. FOR US!!!
John 3:16    Rom. 5:8 - He shows us His love.
Might add... we also see...Your Value to Him!!

The Suffering Messiah, the Substitutionary Sacrifice illustrates 2 very important facts about you....

#1.  Your sins/sinfulness s greater than you realize or care to admit - so great that Jesus had to come and die to remove them/ reconcile you.

#2.  Christ's love for you is far beyond anything you can imagine!! You matter so much He came and suffered and died to redeem/reconcile you!!!

Closing Scripture:

1 John 4:9-10