Players in the Drama of the Cross, Part 1

This section with the beginning of chapter 14 takes us to the cross. We are now in the shadow of the cross and Mark now moves us into what I looked at is the holy of holies of Scripture we go inside the veil blood. This is sacred ground holy Scripture resurrection Sunday. It's titled the divine drama of redemption John for the next three weeks were going to be talking about the Easter story, the resurrection of Christ and all the events that surrounded that and that's not unusual for us. We do it every year but this year were doing something new. This is your series from Mark and we've never aired these messages before and I think this is going to be a standout Easter series for Grace to you talk about what it is that makes Mark's account unique. While I think it's that is what makes it unique. That is the reason we haven't done it because of the other gospel accounts are so much more detailed and so much longer we could say they are the full story of the resurrection.

Mark gives this kind of a newspaper account. In fact, the common word throughout the book of Mark is immediately immediately immediately immediately.

Mark is giving us the cliff notes story of Jesus.

So that's the reason. Maybe if you're doing an exposition of the resurrection you would want to go to Matthew and even John and Luke and Ann will lay out the whole story, but if you really want to get the drama in a package in a nice wrapped up package of front to back more quickly. Then Mark is the choice, so going to introduce a study called the divine drama of redemption. The divine drama of redemption. It's going to be from Mark chapter 14, 15 and 16 and every year as resurrection Sunday approaches, we we spend broadcasts covering aspects of our Lord's rising from the dead and there is some variation between the four gospel accounts the. The four accounts when put to give her when put together give us the total picture. But some of the writers, as we mentioned to give us a whole lot more detail while Mark is seems to be giving us just the salient points to move us rapidly through the story from the upper room to the resurrection. Fewer verses than any other gospel writers you can sweep to the action faster than you can in Matthew, Luke and John. Still, the content is inspired by the spirit of God, rich and compelling going to see the main characters. The bit players in the drama of the cross, the Last Supper, the agony and betrayal and disseminate the crucifixion and the empty tomb, and a whole lot in between.

This is a study that will intensify your worship every day and leading up to resurrection Sunday. Fear a new Christian these next 15 broadcasts will get you up to speed quickly building your understanding of all that happened over those history changing days in Jerusalem 2000 years ago, so don't miss a day of the divine drama of redemption. Note don't miss a day, and friend. As we get a sort of big picture view of the Easter story over these next three weeks. The important details may connect for you in a fresh way. I think you're going to be very encouraged and so with that, to launch his study called the divine drama of redemption. Here's John MacArthur. Let's open the word of God of the 14th chapter of Mark this section with the beginning of chapter 14 takes us to the cross. We are now in the shadow of the cross. The great discourse sermon on the second coming of Christ is complete and Mark now moves us into what I looked at is the holy of holies of Scripture we go inside the veil. See the blood sprinkled. This is the sacred ground of holy Scripture. The account of the cross. And of course all four Gospels Matthew Mark Luke and John contained this and as we go through chapters 14, 15 and 16 and the cross and resurrection is the theme of these were going to look at the details related to the Lord's death and his resurrection, but the opening 16 verses deal with the players in this drama. Of course, the stage belongs to Christ. He is the featured player in this unbelievable drama everybody else is a bit player. Everybody else's a walk on, but they do have a role there is the role played by the Sanhedrin, the Jewish leaders.

There is the role played by Mary who anoints Jesus. There is the role played by Judas who betrays him and there's a role in his preparation for his death played even by his followers the disciple will see the roles they play and were going to see Christ in center stage, but there is someone who isn't mentioned here, who is the main player. You might say he is the supernatural director of the drama and it is none other than God, much like the book of Esther in which everything that happens happens under the sovereign working of God, though God is not seen everything that happens here in the preparation in the trial in the execution of Jesus is being carried out by the unseen hand of the invisible God.

God is accomplishing his purpose. Through all of these role players who each have a function moment on the stage but he's behind it all. We read the 16 verses to now the Passover, and unleavened bread were two days away and the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to seize him by stealth and kill him, for they were saying. Not during the festival. Otherwise, there might be a right of the people while he was in Bethany at the home of Simon the leper and reclining at the table there came a woman with an alabaster vial a very costly perfume of pure nard and she broke the violent ported over his head, but some were indignantly remarking to one another. Why is this perfume been wasted for this perfume I been sold for over 300 and area I and the money given to the poor. They were scolding her.

But Jesus said letter alone. Why do you bother her. She's done a good deed to me for you always have the poor with you and whatever you wish, you can do good to them but you do not always have me. She has done what she could. She has anointed my body beforehand for the burial. Truly I say to you, wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the 12 went off to the chief priests in order to betray them to them. They were glad when they heard this and promised to give him money and he began seeking how to betray them at an opportune time on the first day of unleavened bread when the Passover lamb was being sacrificed. His disciples said to him what you want us to go and prepare for you to eat the Passover and he sent two of his disciples and said to them go into the city and a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water. Follow him and wherever he had her say to the owner of the house. The teacher says, where is my guest room in which I may eat the Passover with my disciples. And he himself will show you a large upper room furnished and ready prepare for us. There, the disciples went out and came to the city and sounded just as he had told them they prepared the Passover. In this preparation for his death. The rulers play a role. Mary plays a role, Judas plays a role in the disciples play a role but the power behind-the-scenes is none other than God who is orchestrating every detail of the death of Christ.

This is the unfolding of the divine plan. This was established by acts 223 says the predetermined purpose of God. Jesus death was not an accident. It was not a revolution gone bad. It was not a failed idea. It was a divine plan in fact and explore it says that you did what God purpose you would do in killing Jesus himself. Jesus said the Son of Man is come to give his life a ransom for many.

See the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is always been the focal point of Christianity the heart of salvation. The key reality of the gospel in the central theme of the entire Bible. The cross is the apex of redemptive history, the ratification of the new covenant. The single atonement for sin. The satisfaction of divine justice. The propitiation of holy wrath, the epitome of sovereign love and grace the necessary object of saving faith, and the only hope of eternal life.

Understanding this, the significance of the cross. The sweeping breath of its truth. No wonder we sing so many songs about the cross right the cross and the resurrection is the supreme testimony to God's goodness is saving love is righteousness, his grace, his mercy, his wisdom is justice is holiness in every other attribute. That is why all four gospel writers and their histories of Jesus with the details concerning his death and resurrection. This is the high point of all history now as we come to chapter 14 and we enter into the final words of Mark and he moves us toward the cross and the resurrection will then look at preparation for his death. We can look at his agony is betrayal.

His arrest is trial's denial, denial of Peter, the crucifixion and the resurrection of these next weeks are going to be wonderfully thrilling weeks for us now as we come to chapter 14 again I remind you it is on Wednesday night that we find our Lord. He has been on the Mount of olives.

Looking back at the temple ground on the eastern side of Jerusalem and is just completed his great teaching on his second coming to establish his kingdom that is finished now.

Jesus ends the day then with the disciples talking about his second coming and his kingdom. Meanwhile, meanwhile the leaders are intent on planning and pulling off his murder. How out of touch with reality are the is the account in chapter 14 unfolds, we see the different players and the first ones we meet are the religious leaders before we can look at them in verses one and two would gotta back up a moment and identify the one who is orchestrating everything by his providential power.

And that is none other than God that's implied in the opening statement. Now the Passover, and unleavened bread were two days away.

That is not incidental information. It is the purpose of God that on that Passover in AED 30 on the 14th of the month nests on at the very hour. When the Passover lambs were being slain on the Passover, three in the afternoon. Jesus would die. That's pretty specific. God's plan was that in A.D. 30 Nissan 14 on the Passover on Friday at 3 o'clock in the afternoon or about that time when all the Passover lambs were beginning to be slaughtered. The true Passover would die. Jesus died at 3 o'clock on that Friday. At that Passover. What makes it interesting is that is exactly the time the leaders didn't want to have to killing that was the last time they would've wanted to murder him but that was God's time and they frankly were not in charge it so important for you to see this because all the way through.

We going to would knowledge the unseen hand of God in every single detail. Another were three main feasts the Jews celebrated the feast of Pentecost which is a kind of firstfruits feast of booths that are remembering their wandering in the wilderness and the feast of unleavened bread, feast of unleavened bread. Remember, commemorated the Exodus. When they made the unleavened bread left Egypt.

These were celebrations to commemorate past events in their history, the feast of unleavened bread was seven days long and commemorated the unleavened bread in the Exodus back in Exodus chapter 12 verses 15 to 20. It was held on Nissan 15th to 21st. Originally it was during barley harvest. According to Exodus and the book of Deuteronomy the 14th was the day before the day before the unleavened bread was Passover. And that's the order they appear in verse one. The Passover's on the 14th, starting the 15th and running for seven days.

Feast of unleavened bread because you remember that when they left Egypt prior to their leaving with their unleavened bread.

There was the Passover kill the lamp with the blood on the door posts in the little and the angel of death will pass over you and they were celebrating God's salvation of them in Egypt with their Passover, they still do it. It's the Jewish satyr Passover.

By the way, comes from the Hebrew word pass, which means to jump over because the angel of death jumped over their blood spattered houses in Egypt, the feast of unleavened bread was then connected to the Passover so that they were terms used interchangeably, God's purpose now is follow this God's purpose was to have the Lord Jesus.

Listen eat the Passover with his disciples on Thursday night listener, this time to late Thursday night their having the Passover there into Friday. The plan was to have Jesus arrested very early in the morning. Tried in the morning which is illegal sentenced in the morning and crucified in the morning.

Diet three Friday afternoon and be in the grave before six because he had to be three days in the grave.

What an amazing timetable and then rise again Sunday if you got all these people together and try to organize that you can pull it off. That kind of precision timetable, Mark identifies the fact that the Passover and unleavened bread were two days away. It still Wednesday, Friday is the date for Jesus to die. This is God's plan.

This is God's plan. Jesus even said in John 1018, no one takes my life from me. I lay it down of myself and remember he was hanging on the cross and he said it is finished and he died. They were shocked. The reason they were shocked as he screamed at the top of his voice before he died.

If he had the air in his lungs to scream at the top of his voice. He had enough air to survive many times. His death was sought many times, but his enemies were never able to kill and go back to chapter 3 and Mark in verse six, you see an illustration of that there on another occasion recorded in the fifth chapter of John. He went to the pool of Bethesda near Jerusalem and he healed a crippled man and he did it on the Sabbath, which infuriated the leaders and it says the Jewish leaders were seeking all the more to kill him because he was breaking the Sabbath and he was calling God his father and making himself equal with God, they would've killed him right there on that Sabbath or the next day, but they were unable there probably are many other attempts on the life of Jesus that are recorded for us in the Gospels but recorded or unrecorded.

Everyone of them failed because it wasn't his time. It wasn't God's time for the lamb to be slain the Lamb would be slain at the Passover on this year on that day the very details of the schedule were said Luke 2222 Jesus said the Son of Man goes as it has been determined in acts 223 determined by the foreknowledge of God the predetermined foreknowledge of God divinely decreed to die at the Passover, when the lambs were being slain because he was the Lamb of God, whose death would take away the sin of the world. When you look at the events concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. On the surface the arrest, the unjust trial. The unjust execution is a heinous series of crimes and its perpetrators bear the guilt for the injustices. No victim of injustice was ever more innocent than the sinless son of God, the most innocent because perfectly righteous perfectly holy perfectly sin less. He therefore was unjustly accused and he was on justly executed.

He is murdered on justly at the hands of men and can I add something, maybe you never thought about.

He suffered unjustly at the hands of men. And he also suffered at the hands of God. There was nothing by which men could indict him and there was nothing for which God could indict him either. He was punished for sins, he didn't do right. What the Jews accused him of.

He didn't do. They finally accused him of leading an insurrection against Caesar. He didn't do that. They punished him for what he didn't do, but God punished them for what he didn't do also. He suffered as if he was guilty most evil act ever perpetrated by evil men and yet the most wonderful loving act ever perpetrated by God.

The worst miscarriage of justice in history and yet the greatest satisfaction of justice in history. The cross is full of paradoxes and conundrums human injustice at its worst. Of course, but the crucifixion of Jesus Christ was also the greatest act of divine justice even though God killed them for since he didn't commit God killing for since we did commit. We did commit done for the most wonderful purpose to secure the salvation of sinners and bring them to heaven. If you don't understand the cross. This way you can't be a Christian.

This is the heart of everything. He was killed by the holy one who loved him.

He was killed by the one who loved imperfectly to satisfy divine justice and divine righteousness on behalf of unworthy, undeserving sinners, so that not for us, so that God might give to his son through his son's death.

He redeemed humanity to praise him forever and ever and ever and ever Jesus Christ and is not killed because his plan went bad because the revolution was rejected.

He is placed on the cross by the father and Isaiah 53 says it, it's unmistakably clear but the Lord was pleased to crush him. Isaiah 5310 putting him to grief as a guilt offering for his good pleasure death of Christ is no accident, he was sent to die and it please the father to crush him and Isaiah 53 says he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities. He was chastened for our peace with God and God was fully satisfied with the sacrifice and that's why he raised him from the dead, exalted to his right hand made him a high priest over his own and one day will send him to establish his everlasting kingdom. He didn't die an unexpected death. He said many times. John likes to record this my hours not come my hours not come my hours not come and then you come to chapter 12 of John and all of a sudden he says, the hour has come. John 12 John 13. Even John 17. He refers to the hour.

The moment the epic moment Matthew 2618. He calls it. My time, my time, this is the man delivered over by the predetermined will of God was just for a glimpse and it's only a moment to do so we come to this.

The bit players in this drama God is directing everything, but let's just meet the first will group the chief priests and the scribes receiving how to season by stealth and kill him, for they were saying. Not during the festival.

Otherwise, there might be a right of the people. So what's the one time they didn't want to kill during the Passover.

During this. Why Jerusalem had swelled with hundreds of thousands of pilgrims would all come for this most attended feast of the year, but they need to get together to kill and got a plan to do it, but they don't want to do it during this week the Sanhedrin again is who they are. The chief priests and the scribes is that it is just representative of this ruling group 70 men plus the high priest who were involved in all these plans. Matthew 26, three says they met together at the house of the high priest Caiaphas.

They met at his house in his courtyard to plan how to kill Christ.

They couldn't tolerate him anymore. He came in he attracted all the interest of the people and that's a suppose a triumphal entry. He attacked their temple. He fought all day Wednesday, contrary to everything they believed so. And John, I'll take you to the meeting now at the meeting minutes are recorded in John 1147, the chief priests and the Pharisees convened the Council were saying, what are we doing this man is performing many signs. If we let them go on like this all men will believe in him and the Romans will come and take away our place in our nation enough for the people in the Sanhedrin was about politics.

Sadducees didn't care about theology at all and they were the main players. They were afraid that there were going to lose their freedoms.

The nation there were elusive social ground, the religious and political clout and some power because of the people go after Jesus.

The Romans are going to come and they're going to see this as a threat to them to be in trouble.

So Caiaphas was high priest said to them, you know nothing at all.

You guys aren't good at coming up and answer what you gonna do. Verse 50. Nor do you take into account that it's expedient for you that one man die for the people rather than the whole nation parish. We have to kill him. So verse 53 says so from that day on the planned together to kill him. But one thing for sure, we do not want to arrest him in public. And we do not want to kill him this week. We want to hold them over until the unleavened bread feast is over and the crowds have gone Passover would be the absolute worst time to arrest and murder Jesus and the worst time of that whole time would be to do it on Passover.

On that Friday when all the Passover lambs were being killed. Everybody would know it was the worst time, but they were in charge that it was God's time it was God's time.

In fact, God moved them so fast they arrested him in the night.

They tried them in the morning they crucified him in the morning, he was dead by three in the afternoon off the cross through the request of Joseph of Arimathea body down in the gray before the day is over. They couldn't postpone what God had designed. One of the greatest providential workings of God ever was the murder Jesus. So the Jewish leaders set their plans but their plans are thwarted and replaced by the plan of God.

This is grace to you with John MacArthur. Thanks for being with us. John's brand-new series the divine drama of redemption is unpacking the events from the upper room to the resurrection and everything in between. The critical details about all that Christ went through to make salvation possible for sinners like you and me and keep in mind you can own this series on CD. It comes with a lot of material that we don't have time to air so you want to get the whole thing to order the divine drama of redemption. Contact us today to pick up the 14 CD album call toll-free 855 race or go to our website Jide TY.org the divine drama of redemption is a perfect study to go through with your family as you get ready for Easter again to order your copy, call 805 five race or go to Jide TY.org and while your online member.

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Follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook now for John MacArthur. I'm Phil Johnson encouraging you to be here tomorrow when John looks at a lesser-known event in the passion but one that adds soundly to the story. Don't miss the next half hour of unleashing God's truth one verse at a time on grace to you