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In Mark 14:12–26, Jesus predicts the disciples' desertion and Peter's denial, then prays in Gethsemane in deep agony while the disciples repeatedly fall asleep; He submits to the Father's will as His betrayal approaches.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/lets-talk-scripture/donations
A Sermon Series in the Gospel of Mark
Olive oil may be a kitchen essential today, but in Bible times, it was a complex process. Farmers collected the olives, dumped them into hollowed-out rock, and repeatedly crushed them with a large milling stone. This area was called the pressing place. In this program, Chip teaches through the rest of Mark chapter 14, where we find Jesus in an emotionally and spiritually pressing place. Join us to better appreciate the immense burden Christ carried before the Cross and the ultimate sacrifice He made.Main Points I. The observance of Passover = Mark 14:12-25 The preparation for the feast = Mark 14:12-16 The announcement of the betrayal = Mark 14:17-21 The institution of the Lord's Supper = Mark 14:22-25 II. The Garden of Gethsemane = Mark 14:26-52 The prediction of Peter's denial = Mark 14:26-31 The agony of the Servant-Messiah = Mark 14:32-42 The betrayal and arrest of the Servant-Messiah = Mark 14:43-50 The flight of the anonymous streaker = Mark 14:51-52 Three ways Jesus prepared His disciples for impact: He reminded them of the extent of His love. He taught them the depth of His love. He demonstrated the unconditional nature of His love. Broadcast Resource Download Free MP3 Message Notes Additional Resource Mentions The Road to Calvary 16-day Devotional About Chip Ingram Chip Ingram’s passion is helping Christians really live like Christians. As a pastor, author, and teacher for more than three decades, Chip has helped believers around the world move from spiritual spectators to healthy, authentic disciples of Jesus by living out God’s truth in their lives and relationships in transformational ways. About Living on the Edge Living on the Edge exists to help Christians live like Christians. Established in 1995 as the radio ministry of pastor and author Chip Ingram, God has since grown it into a global discipleship ministry. Living on the Edge provides Biblical teaching and discipleship resources that challenge and equip spiritually hungry Christians all over the world to become mature disciples of Jesus. Connect 888-333-6003 Website Chip Ingram App Instagram Facebook Twitter Partner With Us Donate Online 888-333-6003
Olive oil may be a kitchen essential today, but in Bible times, it was a complex process. Farmers collected the olives, dumped them into hollowed-out rock, and repeatedly crushed them with a large milling stone. This area was called the pressing place. In this program, Chip teaches through the rest of Mark chapter 14, where we find Jesus in an emotionally and spiritually pressing place. Join us to better appreciate the immense burden Christ carried before the Cross and the ultimate sacrifice He made.Main Points I. The observance of Passover = Mark 14:12-25 The preparation for the feast = Mark 14:12-16 The announcement of the betrayal = Mark 14:17-21 The institution of the Lord's Supper = Mark 14:22-25 II. The Garden of Gethsemane = Mark 14:26-52 The prediction of Peter's denial = Mark 14:26-31 The agony of the Servant-Messiah = Mark 14:32-42 The betrayal and arrest of the Servant-Messiah = Mark 14:43-50 The flight of the anonymous streaker = Mark 14:51-52 Three ways Jesus prepared His disciples for impact: He reminded them of the extent of His love. He taught them the depth of His love. He demonstrated the unconditional nature of His love. Broadcast Resource Download Free MP3 Message Notes Additional Resource Mentions The Road to Calvary 16-day Devotional About Chip Ingram Chip Ingram’s passion is helping Christians really live like Christians. As a pastor, author, and teacher for more than three decades, Chip has helped believers around the world move from spiritual spectators to healthy, authentic disciples of Jesus by living out God’s truth in their lives and relationships in transformational ways. About Living on the Edge Living on the Edge exists to help Christians live like Christians. Established in 1995 as the radio ministry of pastor and author Chip Ingram, God has since grown it into a global discipleship ministry. Living on the Edge provides Biblical teaching and discipleship resources that challenge and equip spiritually hungry Christians all over the world to become mature disciples of Jesus. Connect 888-333-6003 Website Chip Ingram App Instagram Facebook Twitter Partner With Us Donate Online 888-333-6003
In the Garden of Gethsemane we see the full humanity of Jesus as he is overwhelmed by sorrow, let down by friends, and betrayed. The good news is not only that Jesus identifies with your sorrow in his life, but that he willingly surrenders his life to end all sorrow and save the world.
Gethsemane // Mark 14:32-41 // David Piper March 30th, 2025 www.gracecc.net
Pastor Patrick Carmichael & occasional guest speakers deliver God's Word at Christ Bible Church's weekly Sunday services. Mission Hills, California.
John 21:14 This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead. 15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Feed My lambs."16 He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Tend My sheep." 17 He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep. 18 "Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish." 19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me." Today we look a little closer at the three do you love Me statements and what they mean to us in practical terms of what we need to do and how we need to live in light of these questions. Peter is like us in that he is not willing to totally commit to something unless we are sure WE can pull it off. So, Jesus gives a prophecy of how Peter will die. He tells Peter that he will live to be an old man and then they will put him on a cross. That he will glorify God through his death. That is just like God to let us know, yes you have failed, yes you are hesitant to fully commit now because of your failure, but I am going to use you anyway. Also, I want to let you know that when it comes time to stand up for me, you will not fail, you will not make the same mistake again and you will ultimately do the will of God as you are supposed to when it really counts. 2Co 9:15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! 14 This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead. Joh 20:19,26 John said that this was the third post-resurrection appearance "to the disciples" (i.e., the apostles, cf. 20:19-23, 26-29). Chronologically this was at least Jesus' seventh post-resurrection appearance (cf. 20:11-18; Matt. 28:8-10; 1 Cor. 15:5; Luke 24:13-32; John 20:19-23, 26-29). Nevertheless it was the third appearance to the disciples, and the third appearance to the disciples that John recorded. John viewed this appearance as further proof of Jesus' resurrection. Perhaps he viewed it as completing a full complement of testimonies since he drew attention to its being the third appearance to the disciples. The number three in Scripture sometimes connotes fullness or completeness (e.g., the three Persons of the Trinity). However by calling this appearance a "manifestation" (Gr. ephanerothe, cf. v. 1) John indicated that he also viewed it as a revelation of Jesus' true character. So far Jesus had reminded these disciples of lessons that He had taught them previously that were important for them to remember in view of their mission. He had also set the stage for an even more important lesson that would follow. I believe there are lessons to be learned from this miracle in the light of its similarity to the great fish harvest of Luke 5. Because of the fishing miracle in Luke 5, Peter and the other disciples came to see Jesus (and themselves) in a whole new light. There, Peter realizes he is not worthy to be in the same boat with Jesus. In John 21, Peter and the others are once again awed by our Lord and His works. In both texts, these professional fishermen were not able to catch anything on their own, even though they were laboring in the area of their expertise. Jesus taught them that He is the source of their success, He is the One Who, when obeyed, makes men fruitful fishermen. In Luke 5, the disciples were called to leave their fishing boats and to become “fishers of men” (5:10). I believe that John 21:1-14 is a reaffirmation of that original call. The disciples are all waiting around, wondering what to do with their lives. I believe that by means of this miracle Jesus reiterates and reinforces their original call, which came in Luke 5. There are some interesting differences in these accounts as well—and lessons to be learned from them. The most obvious (and probably the most important) difference is that in Luke 5, Jesus was in the boat. In John 21, Jesus is on the shore. You may think I am pressing the limits of this story, but there is a lesson here: “Jesus is able to guide, to provide for, and to watch over His disciples just as well (better?) from a distance, as He is able to care for them “up close and personal.” From 100 yards away, Jesus knew they had caught no fish. From 100 yards away, Jesus could guide them to an abundance of fish. Even before they saw Him, Jesus was prepared to provide for their needs. He had breakfast “on the table,” so to speak, when they arrived on shore. Were the disciples uneasy about Jesus going away, about Jesus leaving them to return to His Father? Such fears are unfounded. He is just as able to care for them when He is in heaven as He was to care for them while He was on earth. I think this was a significant part of the lesson He wanted them to learn. That is why this story is included here -- to teach us that in the work of evangelizing, whether through mass evangelism or individual witnessing, God himself is working with us and will supply far more than we ever dreamed. Both of these accounts refer to Peter as "Simon Peter." Recall that when the Spirit of God uses the name "Simon" Peter, the natural Peter, the one with whom we feel a kinship, the Peter in us all, is in view. And three times, Jesus is going to ask Peter the same question, or at least, we think it’s the same question, but as we’ll see as we move through this there’s actually a subtle shift in this question that we can’t see in our English Bibles, right? It’s a rich picture of how intimately Jesus knows His friend, Peter, and by implication, how He knows us. So, not only the guilt of, “Oh, I failed, and I didn’t respond well,” but, “Let me restore you to a place of usability that’s far beyond your wildest imagination.” We need to keep this in mind as well, especially those of us who are very aware of our own sins, and how we have failed… No matter how great a person is, he may fall (cf. 1 Cor. 10:12).[i] Would you begin to understand that nothing you will ever done will make Him love you more, -and nothing you have ever done will make Him love you less. And when you start there, I believe the prayer thing is going to take care of itself.” But we’re all in this performance quota, “I have to do this before God will look on me favorably.” He could not have demonstrated His love more profoundly than He already has. Why would He then change that conditionally based upon our works? So the motivation is, “I love you, and I want to respond well to you.” Not, “I need to pray more, I need to be more faithful, I shouldn’t have done that.” What a terrible way to live the Christian life. Ultimately, that performance mindset that you’re talking about is legalism. It’s an attempt to self-justify and we have to come back and say do we believe that Christ has paid it all, and that we’re accepted not because of what we do, - but because of what He has done? And Peter had to realize that as well. As we pick up this account in John’s Gospel, Jesus has just finished cooking breakfast for His friends, and He’s about to have a conversation with Peter. to follow Christ as maybe we have promised to do. Jesus is in the business of restoration. I am inclined to understand verses 1-14 in terms of evangelism—being fishers of men. But it is not enough to simply bring a lost sinner to faith in Jesus Christ; that person should also be discipled, and thus brought to maturity in Christ. This seems to be implicit in the Great Commission: Lu 24:33 So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, "The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" Mr. 16:7 "But go, tell His disciples--and Peter--that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you." Jesus is not seeking to correct (or even rebuke) Peter here for his three-fold denial. Jesus personally revealed Himself to Peter, probably before He appeared to the disciples as a group (1 Corinthians 15:5; Luke 24:34; Mark 16:7). I believe it is there that our Lord dealt with Peter’s three-fold denial, and forgave him. In our text, Peter is eager to be with our Lord. I believe this is because Peter’s sins have already been confronted and forgiven, and thus he has already been restored to fellowship with the Master I am not even inclined to see this text as Peter’s restoration to leadership. There are some scholars who hold that Peter was restored to fellowship in his private interview with Jesus, and that this incident is his public restoration to leadership. I see the emphasis of this passage falling on humble service, not on leadership, per se.????????? this passage is more about love than about leadership. Love for Jesus is demonstrated by faithfully caring for His sheep. So, too, when we care for the sheep whom our Lord loves, and for whom He gave His life, we show our love for the Shepherd. caution should be exercised in making too much of the two different words for “love” which are employed in this text. The two verbs are agapao and phileo. The first two times Jesus asks Peter if he loves Him, the word for love is agapao. The third time Jesus asks, He employs the term phileo. Every time Peter responds to Jesus’ question, indicating his love, he employs the word phileo. The distinctions that some make between these two terms may hold true in some cases, and for some authors. They do not seem to hold true for John, who often uses different terms for the same concept. When commentators do seek to emphasize the distinctions between the two Greek words John uses, they do not agree as to what the meaning and emphasis of these terms are. We should keep in mind that when Jesus spoke to Peter and asked him these three questions, He spoke not in Greek (the language in which the Gospel of John is written), but in Aramaic, the language spoken by the Jews of that day. The change in words may have some significance, but I hardly think it is the key to understanding the passage. Jesus began by addressing Peter as Simon the son of Jonas. In the Gospels, Jesus addressed Peter this way on only the most important occasions. These were his call to follow Jesus (1:42), his confession of Jesus as the Son of God (Matt. 16:17), and as he slept in Gethsemane (Mark 14:37).???????????? When Jesus addressed Peter this way here, Peter probably realized that what Jesus was about to say to him was extremely important. "His [Peter's] actions had shown that Peter had not wanted a crucified Lord. But Jesus was crucified. How did Peter's devotion stand in the light of this? Was he ready to love Jesus as he was, and not as Peter wished him to be?" His will is content with following. His work is compelled by love. His way is committed to God. And his work, or his will is content with following, but his words are about Jesus. Number one, his work is compelled by love. A real committed Christian operates on the basis of his love for the Lord. Two, his way is controlled by God. He has learned how to give his life totally to God and trust Him for it. His will is content with following. He's happy to do what Jesus leads him to do. Fourth, his words are concerning Jesus. His work is compelled by love. His way is controlled by God. His will is content with following. And his words are concerned with Jesus. A committed Christian operates on the basis of his love for the Lord. 15 ¶ So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Feed My lambs." Each question begins with Simon, son of John. It’s funny to me that He names him Peter, but He never calls him Peter but one time. At least, it’s only recorded one time that He calls him Peter. He still calls him Simon. I think it has to do with the person of him before the Holy Spirit indwells him because in Acts he’ll be known primarily as Peter. But now, Jesus still calls him Simon. Called Him Simon Peter every time something important occurred. Original calling, garden of gethsemane, and now. Peter had denied that he was one of Jesus' disciples and that he even knew Jesus three times. Thus Jesus' question was reasonable. He wanted Peter to think about just how strong his love for Jesus really was. "There can be little doubt but that the whole scene is meant to show us Peter as completely restored to his position of leadership. . . . It is further worth noting that the one thing about which Jesus questioned Peter prior to commissioning him to tend the flock was love. This is the basic qualification for Christian service. Other qualities may be desirable, but love is completely indispensable (cf. 1 Cor. 13:1-3)." Our Lord’s addition of the words, “more than these do,” really got to the heart of the matter. Our Lord’s prediction of Peter’s denials came in the midst of Peter’s confident boasting that even if all the others denied Jesus, he certainly would not. In other words, Peter was claiming a higher level of devotion than the rest. Jesus is simply asking him to re-evaluate his boastful claim. And this Peter did. Peter could truthfully affirm that he did love Jesus, but he would not go so far as to claim that his love was greater than that of his fellow-disciples. He also speaks of his love in terms of the Savior’s assessment of it: “Yes, Lord, You know I love You.” To this our Lord replied, “Feed My lambs.” There is some discussion over what Jesus means here. The verse could be translated (and understood) in several ways. (1) “Peter, do you love me more than these fish, more than this boat and the nets, and the things which represent your life of a fisherman?” (2) “Peter, do you love Me more than you love these men?” (3) “Peter, do you love me more than these men do?” But a comparison of these two accounts reveals that what he means is, "Do you love me more than these men love me?" Before he denied Jesus, Peter had inferred that he loved Jesus much more than they. "All men will forsake you, Lord, but I will lay down my life for you," he had said. Clearly he regards himself as more faithful and more committed than the others, whom he expected would desert the Lord in a time of danger. Thus Jesus addresses these words to him, "Do you love me more than these?" When we bring that into our context, taken together, “Peter, now that you’ve denied me three times, remember I told you you’d deny me? Now that you’ve denied me three times, can you tell me that you love me more than these people love me?” That’s the question He’s posing to him. And Peter is saying, “Look, Lord you knew I was going to deny you three times, you know if I love you or not, Lord.” Now, Peter is starting to develop a fuller Christology. This Jesus Christ knows everything about him. And He knows everything about him now. That’s why it grieved him, I think. Three times, “Lord, you know I love you. You know everything.” Peter has learned some painful but necessary lessons. He does not judge himself in relationship to the others, but reads his own heart and replies, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." He makes no mention of the others. Here is a great lesson on how we are to look at others. Peter indicates he has learned to read his Lord's mind better. In the Garden of Gethsemane he felt that his love for Jesus required that he assault the enemies of his Lord, but here he learns that he is responsible to feed the sheep of Jesus. That is the correct manifestation of love. Jesus responded graciously by giving Peter a command, Tend My lambs” This is an PRESENT ACTIVE IMPERATIVE. All three of these statements are the same grammatical form. Note that Christ gives Peter a new commission: he is now a shepherd (pastor) besides being a fisher of men. (See 1 Peter 5.) He is now to shepherd the lambs and sheep and feed them the Word of God. All Christians are expected to be fishers of men (soul-winners), but some have been called into the special ministry of shepherding the flock. What good is it to win the lost if there is no church where they might be fed and cared for? When Peter sinned, he did not lose his Sonship, but he did fall away from his discipleship. For this reason Christ repeated His call, “Follow Me.” Christ also confronts Peter with the cross (v. 18), indicating that Peter would one day be crucified himself. (See 2 Peter 1:12–14.) Before we can follow Christ, we must take up the cross. When you recall that earlier Peter tried to keep Christ from the cross, this commandment takes on new meaning (Matt. 16:21–28).[ii] He told Peter to tend (Gr. boske, feed) His lambs (Gr. arnia). Previously Jesus had referred to Himself as the Good Shepherd (10:14). Now he was committing the care of His flock to this disciple who had failed Him miserably in the past. Jesus had formerly called Peter to be a fisher of men, an essentially evangelistic ministry (Matt. 4:19). Now he was broadening this calling to include being a shepherd of sheep, a pastoral ministry. The image, however, changes from that of the fisherman to that of the shepherd. Peter was to minister both as an evangelist (catching the fish) and a pastor (shepherding the flock). It is unfortunate when we divorce these two because they should go together. Pastors ought to evangelize (2 Tim. 4:5) and then shepherd the people they have won so that they mature in the Lord. Here is the chief work of a shepherd. Jesus says to Peter, "Feed my lambs"; "Tend my sheep"; "Feed my sheep." Three aspects of feeding are suggested here: "Feed my lambs." Teach the children. Do not wait for them to grow up. Teach children from the Word what life is all about. Peter was grieved because Jesus found it necessary to ask virtually the same question three times. I do not like to be asked the same question repeatedly. I conclude that either the person asking the question wasn’t paying attention (this could not be the case with Jesus), or that my answer was not acceptable or credible. The three-fold repetition must have registered with Peter as being related to his three-fold denial. Peter was grieved because he realized that the bold and even arrogant claims he had made proved to be empty. Peter is not distressed with Jesus; he is grieved over his own sin. Jesus is not attempting to shame Peter; he is seeking to reaffirm his call to service. Did Jesus question Peter about his love for Him three times? Then note that three times Jesus instructed Peter to care for His sheep. Does Peter fear he has been cast aside as useless? Jesus tells him to return to His work, three times! Peter really did love Jesus. But Peter needed to understand that his love for the Savior was not as great as he thought, just as his ability to catch fish was not as great as he seemed to think. In loving, and in landing fish, Jesus was supreme. Even in the thing Peter did best (fishing), he could not hold a candle to Jesus, who proved to be far better at fishing than he. Peter sought to prove his love for Jesus by boasting about it, by arguing with his fellow-disciples about it (see Luke 22:24), and by being the first to draw his sword and lop off an ear, or perhaps even by being the first man into the water and onto the shore. These were not the benchmarks our Lord had established for testing one’s love for Him. The proof of one’s love for God is sacrificial service —feeding our Lord’s sheep. The way I understand verses 15-19 is something like this: “Peter, do you really love Me as much as you say? Then prove your love for Me by taking care of My sheep.” Jesus is the “Good Shepherd,” Who cares for His sheep (see John 10). If Peter really loves his Lord, then his passion will be the Lord’s passion. The circumstances must have reminded Peter of the scene of his denial. And if the circumstances as such did not remind him of this, what was about to happen was bound to do so. Note the following resemblances: 1. It was at a charcoal fire that Peter denied his Master (18:18). It is here at another charcoal fire (21:9) that he is asked to confess (his love for) his Master. 2. Three times Peter had denied his Master (18:17, 25, 27). Three times he must now own him as his Lord, whom he loves (21:15-17). 3. The prediction with reference to the denial had been introduced with the solemn double Amen (13:38; see on 1:51). The prediction which immediately followed Peter’s confession was introduced similarly (21:18). Ps 1:1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But it has been shown that the resemblance is even more pointed. In reverse order the same three ideas—1. following, 2. a cross, 3. denying—occur here in 21:15-19 as in 13:36-38.” William Hendriksen, Exposition of the Gospel According to John, II , p. 486. John 21:15-17 is more about love than about leadership. “Peter if you’re going to love me, part of that will be shepherding and feeding and caring for my sheep, but the manifestation of those attributes come connected to your love to me. If you love me, Peter, you will shepherd the flock that I will give to you. My passion, Peter, will be your passion. The things I’m concerned about, Peter, will be the things you’re concerned about, if you love me.” 16 He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Tend My sheep." Ac 20:28; Heb 13:20; 1Pe 2:25; 5:2,4 Now the first and third words for “feed”, “Feed my sheep… feed my lambs… “ is the same word. The middle word is the word I want to talk about. The middle word is the word shepherding. Some of your translations use the word “care for”, and it has the root of a pastor. In fact, the word that Jesus uses here for Peter to shepherd is the word for pastoring and for eldering. Pastoring is the gift, eldering is the function. It is a shepherd; one who cares for people. The shepherd-sheep relationship describes the spiritual task of leaders of God’s people. The command ‘to shepherd’ includes guiding, guarding, feeding, protecting. Then, "Shepherd my sheep." The word means, watch over, guard them. In Peter's first letter he says to the elders to whom he is writing, "Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, watching out for them," (1 Peter 5:2). Try to discern where they are at, apprehend the coming dangers, warn and guard them. That is the work of a shepherd. The verbal tense conveys urgency. It calls upon the elder to have the official life of devotion to serving the flock of God.” 17 He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep. Joh 2:24-25; 16:30 Jesus is the “Good Shepherd”; He is the Shepherd who came to lay down His life for His sheep. If Peter really loves Jesus, he will care for the Master’s sheep, and he, like the Master, will lay down his life for the sheep. Love manifests itself in service—humble, sacrificial, service. You become like the people you love. The things they love, you love. If Peter really loves his Lord, Who is the Good Shepherd, then Peter will surely seek to shepherd in the same way. He will seek the lost sheep (evangelism). He will feed and tend the young and vulnerable lambs (discipleship). And, like the Good Shepherd, he will lay down his life for the sheep. That is why the Lord moves so quickly and easily from verses 15-17 to verses 18 and 19. Peter had assured his Lord that he was willing to die for Him (Matthew 26:35), and so he will. But he will not die in the manner that he once supposed—seeking to keep His Master from being arrested and crucified. Peter will die, as the Savior did, as a good shepherd, and for the sake of the gospel. Finally, "Feed my sheep, my grown-up ones." The instrument of feeding, of course, is the teaching of the Word of God. Open their minds to the thoughts of God. This is the missing element in the church today. The primary function of shepherding is in teaching and explaining the Gospel and the Word to the flock of God. People are not thinking the thoughts of God, not looking at life the way God sees it, but following blindly after the fantasies and the illusions of the world. What is necessary is the unfolding of the mind of God in obedience to the word of Jesus: "Teach the word." The weakness of the church flows from a famine of the Word of God. Peter had learned not to make rash professions of great love. Therefore he did not compare his love for Jesus to the love of the other disciples as he had done before. He simply appealed to Jesus' knowledge of his heart. Notice that throughout this interchange Jesus consistently referred to the sheep as His sheep, not Peter's sheep. Moreover Jesus described Peter's ministry in terms of acts, not in terms of an office. Later Peter wrote to elders urging them to apply these same viewpoints to their pastoral ministry (1Pet. 5:1-4). The Greek word for “sheep” at the end of John 21:17 means “dear sheep. A committed Christian’s way is controlled by God. Having loved Jesus Christ to that extent that you'd give your life for Him, it's no problem to hand Him your life and let Him keep it. Didn't Paul say, "I'm confident that what I've given the Lord He'll keep till the day of Jesus Christ?" And as a Christian, you can say, "All right, Lord, I love You, here's my life, You've got it now, it's up to You to do what You want." Are you willing to say that? Whatever God's will is, he'll do it. The committed Christian yields the control of his destiny to God, no questions asked. Psalm 37:5 puts it this way, "Commit thy way unto the Lord, trust also in Him." Just let it go. Here's my life, God, and it's Yours, do whatever You want. And Paul says, "If I live, I live unto the Lord. If I die, I die unto the Lord. So, if I live, if I die, I'm the Lord's." See. I gave myself to Him. 18 "Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish." Joh 13:36; Ac 12:3-4 Peter had been learning how his self-confidence led to failure and how he needed to depend on Jesus more (i.e., "You know vv. 15, 16, 17). Jesus reminded Peter that as time passed he would become increasingly dependent on others even to the point of being unable to escape a martyr's death. Therefore, Jesus implied, Peter should commit his future to God rather than trying to control it himself as he had formerly tried to do. "The long painful history of the Church is the history of people ever and again tempted to choose power over love, control over the cross, being a leader over being led." For Peter, following Jesus would involve more than teaching, it would ultimately involve pain, suffering, deprivation, and death. This was historically fulfilled. Clearly this book was written after the death of Peter, as John records the way Peter would die. Eusebius, the church historian, tells us that when Peter went to Rome at the close of his life (by the way, he did not found the church at Rome at all; he went there much later), he was finally imprisoned, his hands were bound and he was led out to the place of execution, and there he was crucified. At his own request he was crucified upside down because he did not feel he was worthy to share the manner of his Lord's death. Jesus is saying that preaching and teaching the Word of truth in a mixed-up world like ours will call for sacrifice. It may mean living in primitive conditions, under difficult circumstances, and not feeling harassed, but privileged, to teach and to suffer for the sake of the Word of God. Peter found this to be true. He ultimately obeyed his Lord. He had said, "I will lay down my life for you," and Jesus replied, "You will indeed, not like you once thought, not in defense of me with a sword, but in the teaching and preaching of the Word. Eventually you will lay down your life for me." A committed Christian’s will is content with following. 19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me."2Pe 1:14 Follow Me” This is a PRESENT ACTIVE IMPERATIVE as is v.22. This is related to the renewal and reaffirmation of Peter’s call to leadership Our Lord’s words, “Follow Me!” must have brought new joy and love to Peter’s heart. Literally, Jesus said, “Keep on following Me.” Immediately, Peter began to follow Jesus, just as he had done before his great denial. Peter later wrote that Christians who follow Jesus Christ faithfully to the point of dying for Him bring glory to God by their deaths 1Pe 4:14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people's matters. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. He lived with this prediction hanging over him for three decades 2Pe 1:14 knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. Notice that Jesus does much more than predict Peter’s death. John wishes us to understand that Jesus went so far as to predict the way in which Peter would die: “(Now Jesus said this to indicate clearly by what kind of death Peter was going to glorify God.)” (verse 19). Peter’s previous effort to resist the arrest of Jesus was contrary to the gospel, and this is why Jesus rebuked him and abruptly ordered him to stop resisting His arrest. The death which Peter will experience is a death that will glorify God. Jesus also indicates that Peter will die in his old age, and thus he is informed that his death is not imminent. But his death for the Savior’s sake is certain: Notice it says that his death would glorify God. How? Because anybody who dies for their faith in Jesus Christ is a glory to God. I agree with those who see here a prophecy that Peter truly will follow Jesus, by dying on a Roman cross: More important is the way stretch out your hands was understood in the ancient world: it widely referred to crucifixion (Haenchen, 2. 226-227). … Bauer (p. 232) proposed long ago that this ‘stretching’ took place when a condemned prisoner was tied to his cross-member and forced to carry his ‘cross’ to the place of execution. The cross-member would be placed on the prisoner’s neck and shoulders, his arms tied to it, and then he would be led away to death. The words, “Follow Me,” constitute the first calling of the disciples (Matthew 4:19; Mark 1:17; John 1:43). As time passed, these words took on a much deeper meaning. Following Jesus meant putting Jesus above family (Matthew 8:22). It meant a whole new way of life, where former practices would be unacceptable (Matthew 9:9; Mark 2:14). Before long, Jesus let His disciples know that following Him meant taking up one’s cross (Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34). (At this point in time, our Lord’s reference to “taking up one’s cross” was, at best, understood symbolically.) For the rich young ruler, it meant giving up his possessions (Matthew 19:21; Mark 20:21). And now, for Peter, it means not only carrying on the Master’s work, but taking up a very literal cross. It would seem that at every point where following Jesus is more precisely defined, another challenge to follow Him is given. So it is in our text. I fear that Christians today understand these two words, “Follow me,” in a superficial way. When Paul writes, “For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21), we interpret his words in a somewhat self-indulgent fashion. We suppose that Paul means living as a Christian is glorious, trouble-free, and fulfilling. It is, to put it plainly, “the good life.” In other words, we get to live it up here, and then when we die, it gets even better. There is a certain sense in which this is true. But we must understand Paul’s words in the light of what Jesus is telling Peter here, in our text, about following Him. To follow Christ is to walk in His steps, to live as He lived, to serve others as He did, and to lay down your life for the sheep, like Him. In Philippians chapter 1, Paul is therefore saying, “For me, to live is to live just as Christ did, taking up my cross daily, laying down my life for His sheep.” "Obedience to Jesus' command, Follow Me, is the key issue in every Christian's life. As Jesus followed the Father's will, so His disciples should follow their Lord whether the path leads to a cross or to some other difficult experience." Peter got the message. He was willing to lay down his life for the Savior. Do you know what Jesus is saying to him here? "Peter, you're going to grow old, “because He says, "When you’re old, so you're going to have a full life, Peter. And when it comes to the end of your life, you're going to be crucified." That means, to Peter, that when it comes down to the crux at that hour, he's going to confess Christ and die for Him, right? Now don't you think that's good news to Peter who last time he had a chance to die for Jesus blew it? And so He says, "Peter, I'm going to give you another chance, you're going to live a full life and then at the end you're going to hang in there, it's going to come down to a life/death issue and you're going to stand up and say I believe in Jesus boldly and you're going to die for it." Now I can imagine the thrills were shooting up Peter's back like crazy because he was going to get a chance to prove his love for Jesus. Peter committed his life to Christ and Christ said, "Peter, you'll live for Me and you'll die nailed to a cross." That's the destiny that God had designed for Peter. That's a beautiful promise. O Peter I'm sure in his heart just was saying over and over again...if I only had another chance...if I only had another chance to show the Lord I could be faithful in a crucial situation...if I only had one more chance to show Him my love in a life/death thing, O I'd do it, I'd do it. And so the Lord says, "Peter, you'll do it...you'll do it." And, you know, it's a good thing He told Peter cause Peter would have lived his whole life a nervous wreck thinking that every time he came to a real issue he'd blow it. And a leader with no confidence is no leader at all. And the Lord knew that Peter would worry himself about this so the Lord says, "Peter, you can relax through your whole ministry. When it comes to the end, you'll proclaim My name, you'll die a crucifixion death, don't worry about it." Following Jesus means being where He is. Jesus said in John 12:26 that, "If any man serve Me, let him follow Me that where I am, there will My servant be also." In other words, Jesus wants servants to go where He goes. That's the first thing about following. You go where He goes. Real simple. And in all the days of your life, in all the circumstances of your life, in all the places of your life, in all the relationships of your life, you should be able to say when asked, "Why are you here?" I'm here because I'm following Jesus and this is where He's led me today. Following Jesus means to pattern our lives after His attitudes. His holiness and His purity and His obedience to God becomes the pattern for us. Jesus said in Matthew 5:48, "Be ye perfect even as I am perfect." We are to pattern our lives after Him. As He was faithful to the Father and obedient, so are we to be faithful and obedient.. Thirdly, following Jesus means a willingness to suffer sacrifice for His sake. That's the nitty-gritty. Are you willing to do that? In Matthew 16 Jesus said, "If any man follow Me, take up his cross," right, "and follow Me." Now that's talking about the suffering sacrificial side of following Jesus. But what does it mean to take up your cross, to bear your cross? in those days the victims of crucifixion bore the crossbeam of their own cross on their back as they marched to crucifixion. And in Matthew, as this was being spoken, the people in Galilee would well understand it because when the Roman General Varus had broken the revolt of Judas of Galilee, he crucified as a punishment two thousand Jews and he placed their crosses along all the roads leading through Galilee so that everywhere that everybody went they saw people hanging on crosses, two thousand of them. And all these people had borne the crossbeam on their back to their own death. What Jesus is saying here is that means to be willing to sacrifice yourself for a cause. That's what it means. And Jesus is saying the same thing, are you willing to sacrifice everything you hold dear, everything you love, all the stupid little things that occupy your time, all your dreams and all your ambitions to be obedient to His cause? That's the real issue. Mark 8:36 "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. Have you trusted Him as your Savior? He can Save you if You ask Him based on His death, burial, and resurrection for your sins. Believe in Him for forgiveness of your sins today. “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” -John 8:32 Our mission is to spread the gospel and to go to the least of these with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ; We reach out to those the World has forgotten. hisloveministries.podbean.com #HLMSocial hisloveministries.net https://www.instagram.com/hisloveministries1/?hl=en His Love Ministries on Itunes Don’t go for all the gusto you can get, go for all the God (Jesus Christ) you can get. The gusto will get you, Jesus can save you. https://www.facebook.com/His-Love-Ministries-246606668725869/?tn-str=k*F The world is trying to solve earthly problems that can only be solved with heavenly solutions [i] Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1985). The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Jn 21:15–17). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books. [ii] Wiersbe, W. W. (1992). Wiersbe’s expository outlines on the New Testament (270). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
John 21:10 Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish which you have just caught." 11 Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken. 12 Jesus said to them, "Come and eat breakfast." Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, "Who are You?" --knowing that it was the Lord. 13 Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish. 14 This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead. 15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Feed My lambs." 16 He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Tend My sheep." 17 He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep. In this very familiar section of Scripture we see Jesus telling the disciples after they have fished all night to cast the net again and they catch so many fish they almost sink the boat. They need to recognize without Him they can do nothing, as do we. Then He feeds the disciples with fish He has created for their breakfast in the same fashion He multiplied the fish and the loaves at the feeding of the 5000 men and their families. He then proceeds to restore Peter by asking him three times do you love me. That is the question of all time, do we love Jesus more than others, more than things, more than anything. As the old song says I would rather have Jesus than silver or gold, than riches untold, I rather have Jesus than anything this world affords. Is this true of you? Jesus invites us to labor with them, Little boy brought his fish and bread, they caught it and hauled it in. The “fire of coals” would certainly remind him of the fire at which he denied the Lord (John 18:18). It is good for us to remember the past; we may have something to confess. 10 Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish which you have just caught." Even though there was already one fish (Gr. opsarion, singular) on the fire Jesus instructed the disciples to bring some of the fish (plural) that they had caught. He would not provide for their physical needs by multiplying the food miraculously as He had done in the past. Now He would use the product of their labor to satisfy their need. Nevertheless it was clear that their fish had been the result of His miraculous provision. Perhaps this was all symbolic of how Jesus would carry out His mission through His disciples in the future compared with how He had done it during His pre- cross ministry. But notice that Jesus then invites the disciples to bring the fish they have caught. This beautifully suggests the way God works with man. As I read through the Scriptures I am continually astonished at the privilege given us by God of being co-laborers with him. Human labor was involved in almost all of the miracles of Jesus. For instance, our Lord multiplied the bread and fish which the boy had to feed the multitude, but he first sent the disciples searching through the crowd to see what they could supply. The wonder of this is that God, who could easily do it all himself, nevertheless gave them the great privilege of being co-workers with him. What he invites you to do may be a very simple thing. You may have opportunity to share your faith with your neighbors. While that may seem an insignificant thing now, when history has come to an end and we are all gathered on the shore with Jesus this may well become the greatest thing you have ever done. We will see ourselves as tremendously privileged to have worked with God in what he was doing in this world. 11 Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken. A spiritual lesson here is that great blessing comes to one’s efforts when he follows the Lord’s will. Peter either organizes the landing of the fish or he's the one who hauls it in. Now, if you've ever been in the water playing with your children when they're small, you can have two or three of your small children kind of hanging on you and you can still get around the water, right? Because the buoyancy displacement makes them not as heavy as if you were on land. On land you might be able to move a step or two but you sure can't haul them around the water, right? So you envision Peter. They can't get over the gunnel of the ship because it's so heavy, but he can sort of man handle it in the water up to the side and then the disciples would organize the getting of all the fish out before they could slip back into the Sea of Galilee. Why 153 fish? Well it's almost comical, commentators write pages of what the number 153 means. They have spiritualized allegorizations into all kinds of things in the Bible and it's almost comical to read, but unfortunately they happen to believe the stuff they write. I am one hundred percent convinced that it means there were 153 fish. And if you know anything about fishing, what does any good fisherman do? You count your fish. Notice the text says large fish? No one ever says, "I caught 153 little fish. John tells us it was 153 large fish. Much has been made of the number 153, but it may be enough to note that the author knew the exact number of fish caught, and that it was a great quantity. Such details give credibility to one’s testimony, and John certainly provides us with details. There have been many symbolic explanations of the meaning of the 153 fish. One of the more credible of these is as follows. Jesus formerly told His disciples that they would become fishers of men, an obvious metaphor (Mark 1:17). If the fish here represent the converts that Jesus would miraculously provide for His disciples to "catch," perhaps their large number represents many converts and the fact that Jesus is the one who is responsible to bring the converts in to us. Mt 13:47 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, 48 "which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. 49 "So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, Mt 25:32 50 "and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth." The fact that the net did not break may symbolize the capability of the gospel to "catch" many people without failing. We are blessed by Laboring with the Lord They have much patience and persistence, and they will not quit. They know how to cooperate with one another, and they are skilled in using the equipment and the boat. What examples for us to follow as we seek to “catch fish” for Jesus Christ! We are indeed “fishers of men,” and there are “fish” all around us. If we obey His directions, we will catch the fish. But the main emphasis in this account is: success cannot occur without the recognition that the power of God is needed. This is not new truth. In Psalm 127 the psalmist said, "Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain who build it. Except the Lord guard the city, the watchman watches in vain," (Psalms 127:1 KJV). But it is very common in the church today to see people rely on strictly human methods, with no recognition of the fact that God must supply. Eph 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us 12 Jesus said to them, "Come and eat breakfast." Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, "Who are You?" --knowing that it was the Lord. Ac 10:41 Jesus, as the host, invited the disciples to dine with Him. Perhaps He was reminding them of their last meal together in the upper room just before His arrest. In the ancient Near East a host who extended hospitality to others and provided food for them was implying that He would defend them from then on. Consequently Jesus' invitation may have been a promise of commitment to them like the oriental covenant meal. Such a meal involved acceptance, forgiveness, and mutual commitment. By accepting His invitation the disciples were implying that they were committing themselves to Jesus afresh. "Three 'invitations' stand out in John's Gospel: 'Come and see' (John 1:39); 'Come and drink' (John 7:37); and 'Come and dine' (John 21:12). How loving of Jesus to feed Peter before He dealt with his spiritual needs. He gave Peter opportunity to dry off, get warm, satisfy his hunger, and enjoy personal fellowship. This is a good example for us to follow as we care for God's people. Certainly the spiritual is more important than the physical, but caring for the physical can prepare the way for spiritual ministry. Our Lord does not so emphasize 'the soul' that He neglects the body." Jesus then invites the disciples to join Him for breakfast. We are not actually told that they ate some of their fish for breakfast, and I am inclined to believe that Jesus supplied their entire meal. This was true of the bread, it would seem, and I think it was true as well for the fish. If Jesus had not already prepared a sufficient quantity for all these men (something a little hard to believe), then He could simply have fed them the same way He fed the 5,000, on the other side of the sea. These men had worked hard to provide for themselves, and they had nothing to show for it. Then they come to Jesus, who has more than enough to meet their needs. And in the process, He provides this great catch, enough to supply for their future needs. I suspect that Jesus had them bring some of their fish so they could actually see how great the catch was. Once again, it would seem as though Jesus did not look exactly as He did before His death and resurrection. Even after the disciples had gotten close enough to get a good look at Jesus, they were still wondering to themselves, “Is this really Him?” They wanted to ask, but no one dared. They knew it was Jesus, but He probably did not look exactly as He had before, and so they just found it hard to believe. "Come. Have breakfast. You've been fishing all night. You're worn out. Come. Have breakfast." There's a charcoal fire and the smell of fish grilling on it. There are hunks of bread by the stones there maybe. It is a great picture. I think we lose, again, a sense of the idea that the disciples, these appearances by Jesus were not every day or commonplace. There was still awe and wonder at when He appeared and what He had come to tell them. Try to envision yourself coming off this boat, you know with your particular first century garb. You are wet, tired, cold and hungry and you haven't had the advantage of a thermos full of coffee. You've been out there on the water all night. It's cold and you’re weary and you have nothing really to show for it. Then you come in and here's Jesus. And of course Peter is thinking to himself, "I've been here before. This has happened to me before." Because back at his conversion this is how Jesus called him. He had a night where he had fished and hadn't caught anything and Jesus sends him back out in the morning and he catches a boatload of fish and he comes before Jesus and he says, "I am a sinful man." And Jesus says, "Follow Me." 13 Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish. 14 This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead. Joh 20:19,26 John said that this was the third post-resurrection appearance "to the disciples" (i.e., the apostles, cf. 20:19-23, 26-29). Chronologically this was at least Jesus' seventh post-resurrection appearance (cf. 20:11-18; Matt. 28:8-10; 1 Cor. 15:5; Luke 24:13-32; John 20:19-23, 26-29). Nevertheless it was the third appearance to the disciples, and the third appearance to the disciples that John recorded. John viewed this appearance as further proof of Jesus' resurrection. Perhaps he viewed it as completing a full complement of testimonies since he drew attention to its being the third appearance to the disciples. The number three in Scripture sometimes connotes fullness or completeness (e.g., the three Persons of the Trinity). However by calling this appearance a "manifestation" (Gr. ephanerothe, cf. v. 1) John indicated that he also viewed it as a revelation of Jesus' true character. So far Jesus had reminded these disciples of lessons that He had taught them previously that were important for them to remember in view of their mission. He had also set the stage for an even more important lesson that would follow. I believe there are lessons to be learned from this miracle in the light of its similarity to the great fish harvest of Luke 5. Because of the fishing miracle in Luke 5, Peter and the other disciples came to see Jesus (and themselves) in a whole new light. There, Peter realizes he is not worthy to be in the same boat with Jesus. In John 21, Peter and the others are once again awed by our Lord and His works. In both texts, these professional fishermen were not able to catch anything on their own, even though they were laboring in the area of their expertise. Jesus taught them that He is the source of their success, He is the One Who, when obeyed, makes men fruitful fishermen. In Luke 5, the disciples were called to leave their fishing boats and to become “fishers of men” (5:10). I believe that John 21:1-14 is a reaffirmation of that original call. The disciples are all waiting around, wondering what to do with their lives. I believe that by means of this miracle Jesus reiterates and reinforces their original call, which came in Luke 5. There are some interesting differences in these accounts as well—and lessons to be learned from them. The most obvious (and probably the most important) difference is that in Luke 5, Jesus was in the boat. In John 21, Jesus is on the shore. You may think I am pressing the limits of this story, but there is a lesson here: “Jesus is able to guide, to provide for, and to watch over His disciples just as well (better?) from a distance, as He is able to care for them “up close and personal.” From 100 yards away, Jesus knew they had caught no fish. From 100 yards away, Jesus could guide them to an abundance of fish. Even before they saw Him, Jesus was prepared to provide for their needs. He had breakfast “on the table,” so to speak, when they arrived on shore. Were the disciples uneasy about Jesus going away, about Jesus leaving them to return to His Father? Such fears are unfounded. He is just as able to care for them when He is in heaven as He was to care for them while He was on earth. I think this was a significant part of the lesson He wanted them to learn. That is why this story is included here -- to teach us that in the work of evangelizing, whether through mass evangelism or individual witnessing, God himself is working with us and will supply far more than we ever dreamed. Both of these accounts refer to Peter as "Simon Peter." Recall that when the Spirit of God uses the name "Simon" Peter, the natural Peter, the one with whom we feel a kinship, the Peter in us all, is in view. And three times, Jesus is going to ask Peter the same question, or at least, we think it’s the same question, but as we’ll see as we move through this there’s actually a subtle shift in this question that we can’t see in our English Bibles, right? It’s a rich picture of how intimately Jesus knows His friend, Peter, and by implication, how He knows us. So, not only the guilt of, “Oh, I failed, and I didn’t respond well,” but, “Let me restore you to a place of usability that’s far beyond your wildest imagination.” We need to keep this in mind as well, especially those of us who are very aware of our own sins, and how we have failed… No matter how great a person is, he may fall (cf. 1 Cor. 10:12).[i] Would you begin to understand that nothing you will ever done will make Him love you more, -and nothing you have ever done will make Him love you less. And when you start there, I believe the prayer thing is going to take care of itself.” But we’re all in this performance quota, “I have to do this before God will look on me favorably.” He could not have demonstrated His love more profoundly than He already has. Why would He then change that conditionally based upon our works? So the motivation is, “I love you, and I want to respond well to you.” Not, “I need to pray more, I need to be more faithful, I shouldn’t have done that.” What a terrible way to live the Christian life. Ultimately, that performance mindset that you’re talking about is legalism. It’s an attempt to self-justify and we have to come back and say do we believe that Christ has paid it all, and that we’re accepted not because of what we do, - but because of what He has done? And Peter had to realize that as well. As we pick up this account in John’s Gospel, Jesus has just finished cooking breakfast for His friends, and He’s about to have a conversation with Peter. to follow Christ as maybe we have promised to do. Jesus is in the business of restoration. I am inclined to understand verses 1-14 in terms of evangelism—being fishers of men. But it is not enough to simply bring a lost sinner to faith in Jesus Christ; that person should also be discipled, and thus brought to maturity in Christ. This seems to be implicit in the Great Commission: Lu 24:33 So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, "The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" Mr. 16:7 "But go, tell His disciples--and Peter--that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you." Jesus is not seeking to correct (or even rebuke) Peter here for his three-fold denial. Jesus personally revealed Himself to Peter, probably before He appeared to the disciples as a group (1 Corinthians 15:5; Luke 24:34; Mark 16:7). I believe it is there that our Lord dealt with Peter’s three-fold denial, and forgave him. In our text, Peter is eager to be with our Lord. I believe this is because Peter’s sins have already been confronted and forgiven, and thus he has already been restored to fellowship with the Master I am not even inclined to see this text as Peter’s restoration to leadership. There are some scholars who hold that Peter was restored to fellowship in his private interview with Jesus, and that this incident is his public restoration to leadership. I see the emphasis of this passage falling on humble service, not on leadership, per se.????????? this passage is more about love than about leadership. Love for Jesus is demonstrated by faithfully caring for His sheep. So, too, when we care for the sheep whom our Lord loves, and for whom He gave His life, we show our love for the Shepherd. caution should be exercised in making too much of the two different words for “love” which are employed in this text. The two verbs are agapao and phileo. The first two times Jesus asks Peter if he loves Him, the word for love is agapao. The third time Jesus asks, He employs the term phileo. Every time Peter responds to Jesus’ question, indicating his love, he employs the word phileo. The distinctions that some make between these two terms may hold true in some cases, and for some authors. They do not seem to hold true for John, who often uses different terms for the same concept. When commentators do seek to emphasize the distinctions between the two Greek words John uses, they do not agree as to what the meaning and emphasis of these terms are. We should keep in mind that when Jesus spoke to Peter and asked him these three questions, He spoke not in Greek (the language in which the Gospel of John is written), but in Aramaic, the language spoken by the Jews of that day. The change in words may have some significance, but I hardly think it is the key to understanding the passage. Jesus began by addressing Peter as Simon the son of Jonas. In the Gospels, Jesus addressed Peter this way on only the most important occasions. These were his call to follow Jesus (1:42), his confession of Jesus as the Son of God (Matt. 16:17), and as he slept in Gethsemane (Mark 14:37).???????????? When Jesus addressed Peter this way here, Peter probably realized that what Jesus was about to say to him was extremely important. "His [Peter's] actions had shown that Peter had not wanted a crucified Lord. But Jesus was crucified. How did Peter's devotion stand in the light of this? Was he ready to love Jesus as he was, and not as Peter wished him to be?" His will is content with following. His work is compelled by love. His way is committed to God. And his work, or his will is content with following, but his words are about Jesus. Number one, his work is compelled by love. A real committed Christian operates on the basis of his love for the Lord. Two, his way is controlled by God. He has learned how to give his life totally to God and trust Him for it. His will is content with following. He's happy to do what Jesus leads him to do. Fourth, his words are concerning Jesus. His work is compelled by love. His way is controlled by God. His will is content with following. And his words are concerned with Jesus. Mark 8:36 "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. Have you trusted Him as your Savior? He can Save you if You ask Him based on His death, burial, and resurrection for your sins. Believe in Him for forgiveness of your sins today. “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” -John 8:32 Our mission is to spread the gospel and to go to the least of these with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ; We reach out to those the World has forgotten. hisloveministries.podbean.com #HLMSocial hisloveministries.net https://www.instagram.com/hisloveministries1/?hl=en His Love Ministries on Itunes Don’t go for all the gusto you can get, go for all the God (Jesus Christ) you can get. The gusto will get you, Jesus can save you. https://www.facebook.com/His-Love-Ministries-246606668725869/?tn-str=k*F The world is trying to solve earthly problems that can only be solved with heavenly solutions [i] Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1985). The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Jn 21:15–17). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
Jesus experiences deep anguish Garden of Gethsemane, praying fervently for strength as He faces impending crucifixion, while His disciples struggle to stay awake. Sermon: Pastor Kaleb Allen.
Jesus experiences deep anguish Garden of Gethsemane, praying fervently for strength as He faces impending crucifixion, while His disciples struggle to stay awake. Sermon: Pastor Kaleb Allen.
In this sermon, Pastor Devin Calhoun explores the concept of spiritual practices or disciplines as intentional shaping forces in our lives. He introduces nine classical practices: Sabbath, prayer, solitude, fasting, scripture, community, generosity, service, and witness. Calhoun emphasizes that these practices are not measures of spiritual maturity or ways to earn God's grace, but rather means for the Holy Spirit to transform us to be more like Jesus. The pastor then focuses on three practices - Sabbath, prayer, and solitude - as ways to counteract the unintentional shaping forces of hurry, noise, and crowds in our modern world. He explains how Sabbath provides rest and worship, prayer offers intimacy with God and relief from anxiety, and solitude allows for undistracted time with God. Throughout the sermon, Calhoun uses personal anecdotes and Biblical references to illustrate his points, such as Jesus' example of prayer in Gethsemane (Mark 14). Calhoun concludes by encouraging the congregation to implement at least one of these practices in their daily or weekly lives, not to prove their spirituality, but to grow closer to Jesus. He stresses that the goal of these practices is transformation and spiritual maturity, as described in Galatians 5:22, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." #practicingtheway #transformedbyjesus #jesus #spiritualformation #spiritualpractice #sabbath #prayer #solitude #followandformed
On Sunday Pastor Shem spoke on Mark 14. He focused on Gethsemane, the garden at the foot of the Mount of Olives, where Jesus and his apostles spent time before Jesus' arrest and crucifixion. Shem unpacked how the victory for our salvation was won in Gethsemane. The submission of Jesus to His Father's will resulted from prayer. Prayer gave Jesus the courage to face the cross and ultimately the deep distress of being separated from His Father for the first time in eternity - to bring us full restoration for our sins.
And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. And he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.” And going a little…
SCRIPTURES (all NKJV) - Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane: Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:39-46 - Your spirit is God given: Ecclesiastes 12:7 - Renew your mind: Romans 12:1-2 - Take every thought captive: 2 Corinthians 10:1-6 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/aliyah-goldson/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/aliyah-goldson/support
Mark 14:26-72We're continuing our study through the book of Mark at our large group meeting.We also would like to invite anyone who lives in the Philadelphia area to worship and study God's word with us at our in-person meeting that takes place every-other Monday night at 7:30pm. Visit phillyyoungadults.com for additional information about our ministry.Feel free to message us on instagram (@phillyyoungadultscc) with any feedback, questions, or topics you want to hear about on the podcast or you can shoot an email to ya@ccphilly.orgVisit our website here.
Lutheran Preaching and Teaching from St. John Random Lake, Wisconsin
March 15, 2024 --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/stjohnrandomlake/support
In this sermon, Pastor Andrew Coleman preaches on Mark 14: 26-42. Here, we see Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, preparing for the cross. As we look at this passage, let us meditate on the great plan of God for our salvation and the agony of Christ taking our sin on Himself. Let us consider the great weakness of our flesh and our dependence on the Spirit of God to obey. Let us rejoice in the great victory of Christ over our sin and death. Romans 1:1-4: "Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord..." Romans 6:4 "We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life." ________________________________________ Links to Sermon Notes & Answers: ➤Sermon Notes (Blank): https://www.sheridanhills.org/_files/ugd/30fec2_f8425825411d46868505d1e637de549d.pdf ➤Sermon Notes (Answers): https://www.sheridanhills.org/_files/ugd/30fec2_9daeebcb1c744f19937f89c4f19f0938.pdf ________________________________________ In this video: Mark's Gospel is Taking Us to the Cross (Chapters 14-15) Observations from the Text (vs 26-42) Homework: Meditate on and pray through the Garden scene ________________________________________ Subscribe to this channel to catch weekly expositional sermons from the Bible. ________________________________________ Explore more sermons and information: https://www.sheridanhills.org/watch-new ________________________________________ Follow us: ➤Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sheridanhills/ ➤Twitter: https://twitter.com/sheridanhills01 ➤Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sheridanhills/
“Seeing the Real Jesus - Full Court Press: Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane” Mark 14:32-42 Rev. John Allen continues our Lent message series with a closer look at the story of Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. Recorded live at Stonebridge United Methodist Church in McKinney, Texas. For more information, please visit www.mysumc.org.
The Gospel of Mark presents a concise account of the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This Life Lesson series focuses on how Mark's narrative emphasizes the urgency of repentance, discipleship, and the coming kingdom of God. The Gospel of Mark ultimately culminates in Jesus' sacrificial death and victorious resurrection, events which solidify his identity as the Son of God. Mark's Gospel serves as an invitation for readers to encounter Jesus, embrace His teachings, and follow Him faithfully.
David Smyrell preaches from Mark 14 on Jesus and the disciples in the garden of Gethsemane.
Message from Jared Raby on November 19, 2023
Just hours before his execution, Jesus spent time in fellowship with his Father praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. In this lesson, we learn... How God's children are sometimes called to suffer deeply A quick overview of the layout of the city of Jerusalem How the cross is the ultimate expression of God's love The privilege of prayer in times of trouble Thanks for listening. For a complete list of sermons and Bible studies arranged by topic and scripture passage, please visit my teaching page.
In this series we are looking into the lives of the people who knew Jesus best—His 12 disciples. These were very ordinary people in many ways who became extraordinary leaders that impacted the world for good. The disciple James is one of the most well-known disciples whose life story has much to teach us. It's worth mentioning that there are several men named ‘James' in the New Testament. There's James, the son of Alphaeus, another disciple, and then there's James, the brother of Jesus who wasn't in the team of 12, who is thought to have authored the Book of James and who was a significant leader in the early Christian church in Jerusalem. But we're focusing on James, the son of Zebedee, who was also part of Jesus' inner circle along with Peter and his own brother, John. 1. James was quick to respond to Jesus (Mark 1:19-20) 2. James became a powerful witness for Jesus (Mark 5:37; Matthew 17:1; Mark 13:3; Mark 14:33; Acts 1:8) 3. James was passionate about Jesus (Mark 3:17; Luke 9:55-56; Mark 12:30-31; Romans 12:11) 4. James had to humbly learn what it meant to follow Jesus (Mark 10:35-45) 5. James gave his life for Jesus (Acts 12:1-2; Philippians 1:2) Apply 1. James was quick to respond to Jesus: We first meet James by the Sea of Galilee, mending nets with his father and his brother John. When Jesus calls him, James doesn't hesitate. He and his brother John leave their nets and their father to follow Jesus (Mark 1:19-20). Let's not underestimate the significance of this moment. James was responsive to the call of Jesus, despite not knowing fully what lay ahead. He wasn't just leaving his job, this potentially was his livelihood, his family, and everything familiar to him. Yet he made an immediate decision. He knew this was the right way to go. He simply trusted Jesus, responded and went for it! James' instantaneous decision to follow Jesus teaches us the urgency and commitment required when answering God's call. James teaches us that God's calling on our life is often disruptive, immediate, and warrants our full attention and action! His immediate "Yes" to Jesus is a powerful example that we need to be responsive in our spirit to the words of Jesus. When we respond, our lives are changed forever. James' example raises some big questions: Are we willing to make changes in our lives? Are we willing to leave our comfort zones? Are we willing to simply trust, follow and live by faith? 2. James became a powerful witness for Jesus: James was not a background character; he was a witness to significant events in Jesus' ministry as part of Jesus' close inner circle of three. He, Peter, and John were the only ones Jesus permitted to go with Him when He raised Jairus's daughter from the dead (Mark 5:37). The same group of three witnessed Jesus' glory on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1). James was among four disciples who questioned Jesus privately on the Mount of Olives (Mark 13:3). And he was included again with John and Peter when the Lord urged those three to pray with Him privately in Gethsemane (Mark 14:33). So as a member of the small inner circle, he was privileged to witness Jesus' power in the raising of the dead, he saw His glory when Jesus was transfigured, he saw Christ's sovereignty in the way the Lord unfolded the future to them on the Mount of Olives, and he saw the Saviour's agony in the garden. Being a Christian is about having a personal encounter with Jesus. It is not about religion or just knowing about God. It is about a personal experience of the transforming power of Christ and how he shapes and guides our lives. Going all in for Jesus means being a powerful witness for Jesus just like the disciple James (Acts 1:8). 3. James was passionate about Jesus: James was filled with zeal for Jesus although his passion and approach needed shaping. His zeal was such that James and his brother even earned a nickname from Jesus: He called them the ‘sons of thunder' (Mark 3:17). Perhaps, unlike Peter's name change that was intended to shape his character and mark his life, this nickname was a nod to their passionate temperaments whilst offering a humorous and gentle correction. James even wanted to call down fire on a Samaritan village for refusing Jesus a place to stay (Luke 9:55-56). His passion needed refinement, but it was there and it was at root a passion for Jesus. This is a powerful example to us. The life of a believer is meant to be a life of love, passion and a fire that burns within our spirit and soul (Mark 12:30-31; Romans 12:11). These verses show the kind of love and passion we are called to have for living for God and for people. They show the kind of spirit and experience we should have when we're building our relationship with Jesus and following after Him in life. 4. James had to humbly learn what it meant to follow Jesus: This meant dealing with his pride and selfish ambition. He once famously sought the greatest seat of honour in Jesus' Kingdom along with his brother John, much to the annoyance of the disciples. They were still arguing about this all the way up to the last supper (Mark 10:35-45). Jesus led James on a journey to see that true greatness is found in serving one another. If James was to truly follow Jesus, he had to be willing to lay down his life to lift others up. Going all in for Jesus isn't about our glory but about becoming more like Him in love, service and sacrifice. 5. James gave his life for Jesus: The only time James is mentioned by himself outside of the core group is in the book of Acts where his martyrdom is recorded. He had the distinction of being the first apostle to give his life for Jesus. He was "all in" to the point of giving his life for the sake of the Gospel (Acts 12:1-2). James didn't just talk the talk; he walked the walk, even if that walk led him to the point of death. His martyrdom stands as a testament to his unswerving faith and devotion. He was "all in," fully committed, not holding back anything from the Lord. For most of us, our devotion to Christ may never be tested in such an extreme manner. Yet, James' life challenges us to consider: What are we willing to give up for Jesus? It may not be our physical lives, but are we willing to die to our desires, our ambitions, our comfort zones, for the sake of His Kingdom? All of us have one life to live. None of us will be here forever. What matters is how we live our lives (Philippians 1:2). We too can follow in James' example and truly give our whole lives to Jesus (see also Jim Elliot following God's call to reach the people of Ecuador). Be quick to respond to Jesus. Follow after Him. Become a powerful witness for Jesus. Be passionate about Him. Humbly learn what it means to let Him shape your character. Give everything for Jesus. When we do, we will witness the amazing things He will do shaping our lives and guiding us in every season.
In this series we are looking into the lives of the people who knew Jesus best—His 12 disciples. These were very ordinary people in many ways who became extraordinary leaders that impacted the world for good. The disciple James is one of the most well-known disciples whose life story has much to teach us. It's worth mentioning that there are several men named ‘James' in the New Testament. There's James, the son of Alphaeus, another disciple, and then there's James, the brother of Jesus who wasn't in the team of 12, who is thought to have authored the Book of James and who was a significant leader in the early Christian church in Jerusalem. But we're focusing on James, the son of Zebedee, who was also part of Jesus' inner circle along with Peter and his own brother, John. 1. James was quick to respond to Jesus (Mark 1:19-20) 2. James became a powerful witness for Jesus (Mark 5:37; Matthew 17:1; Mark 13:3; Mark 14:33; Acts 1:8) 3. James was passionate about Jesus (Mark 3:17; Luke 9:55-56; Mark 12:30-31; Romans 12:11) 4. James had to humbly learn what it meant to follow Jesus (Mark 10:35-45) 5. James gave his life for Jesus (Acts 12:1-2; Philippians 1:2) Apply 1. James was quick to respond to Jesus: We first meet James by the Sea of Galilee, mending nets with his father and his brother John. When Jesus calls him, James doesn't hesitate. He and his brother John leave their nets and their father to follow Jesus (Mark 1:19-20). Let's not underestimate the significance of this moment. James was responsive to the call of Jesus, despite not knowing fully what lay ahead. He wasn't just leaving his job, this potentially was his livelihood, his family, and everything familiar to him. Yet he made an immediate decision. He knew this was the right way to go. He simply trusted Jesus, responded and went for it! James' instantaneous decision to follow Jesus teaches us the urgency and commitment required when answering God's call. James teaches us that God's calling on our life is often disruptive, immediate, and warrants our full attention and action! His immediate "Yes" to Jesus is a powerful example that we need to be responsive in our spirit to the words of Jesus. When we respond, our lives are changed forever. James' example raises some big questions: Are we willing to make changes in our lives? Are we willing to leave our comfort zones? Are we willing to simply trust, follow and live by faith? 2. James became a powerful witness for Jesus: James was not a background character; he was a witness to significant events in Jesus' ministry as part of Jesus' close inner circle of three. He, Peter, and John were the only ones Jesus permitted to go with Him when He raised Jairus's daughter from the dead (Mark 5:37). The same group of three witnessed Jesus' glory on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1). James was among four disciples who questioned Jesus privately on the Mount of Olives (Mark 13:3). And he was included again with John and Peter when the Lord urged those three to pray with Him privately in Gethsemane (Mark 14:33). So as a member of the small inner circle, he was privileged to witness Jesus' power in the raising of the dead, he saw His glory when Jesus was transfigured, he saw Christ's sovereignty in the way the Lord unfolded the future to them on the Mount of Olives, and he saw the Saviour's agony in the garden. Being a Christian is about having a personal encounter with Jesus. It is not about religion or just knowing about God. It is about a personal experience of the transforming power of Christ and how he shapes and guides our lives. Going all in for Jesus means being a powerful witness for Jesus just like the disciple James (Acts 1:8). 3. James was passionate about Jesus: James was filled with zeal for Jesus although his passion and approach needed shaping. His zeal was such that James and his brother even earned a nickname from Jesus: He called them the ‘sons of thunder' (Mark 3:17). Perhaps, unlike Peter's name change that was intended to shape his character and mark his life, this nickname was a nod to their passionate temperaments whilst offering a humorous and gentle correction. James even wanted to call down fire on a Samaritan village for refusing Jesus a place to stay (Luke 9:55-56). His passion needed refinement, but it was there and it was at root a passion for Jesus. This is a powerful example to us. The life of a believer is meant to be a life of love, passion and a fire that burns within our spirit and soul (Mark 12:30-31; Romans 12:11). These verses show the kind of love and passion we are called to have for living for God and for people. They show the kind of spirit and experience we should have when we're building our relationship with Jesus and following after Him in life. 4. James had to humbly learn what it meant to follow Jesus: This meant dealing with his pride and selfish ambition. He once famously sought the greatest seat of honour in Jesus' Kingdom along with his brother John, much to the annoyance of the disciples. They were still arguing about this all the way up to the last supper (Mark 10:35-45). Jesus led James on a journey to see that true greatness is found in serving one another. If James was to truly follow Jesus, he had to be willing to lay down his life to lift others up. Going all in for Jesus isn't about our glory but about becoming more like Him in love, service and sacrifice. 5. James gave his life for Jesus: The only time James is mentioned by himself outside of the core group is in the book of Acts where his martyrdom is recorded. He had the distinction of being the first apostle to give his life for Jesus. He was "all in" to the point of giving his life for the sake of the Gospel (Acts 12:1-2). James didn't just talk the talk; he walked the walk, even if that walk led him to the point of death. His martyrdom stands as a testament to his unswerving faith and devotion. He was "all in," fully committed, not holding back anything from the Lord. For most of us, our devotion to Christ may never be tested in such an extreme manner. Yet, James' life challenges us to consider: What are we willing to give up for Jesus? It may not be our physical lives, but are we willing to die to our desires, our ambitions, our comfort zones, for the sake of His Kingdom? All of us have one life to live. None of us will be here forever. What matters is how we live our lives (Philippians 1:2). We too can follow in James' example and truly give our whole lives to Jesus (see also Jim Elliot following God's call to reach the people of Ecuador). Be quick to respond to Jesus. Follow after Him. Become a powerful witness for Jesus. Be passionate about Him. Humbly learn what it means to let Him shape your character. Give everything for Jesus. When we do, we will witness the amazing things He will do shaping our lives and guiding us in every season.
The Book of Mark is one of the four Gospels in the New Testament of the Bible, and it provides a fast-paced and concise account of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. It is believed to be the earliest Gospel written, likely around 70-75 AD. Mark begins with the ministry of John the Baptist, who prepares the way for Jesus. Jesus is baptized by John and then embarks on a public ministry, performing miracles and teaching about the Kingdom of God. Mark emphasizes Jesus' authority and power, showcasing His ability to heal the sick, cast out demons, and calm storms. The central theme of the book is the identity of Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God. Mark highlights the gradual revelation of this truth to His disciples. Along the way, Jesus faces opposition from religious leaders, who ultimately conspire to have Him crucified. The Gospel of Mark culminates in the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. He is arrested, tried, and crucified on a Roman cross, but on the third day, He rises from the dead, demonstrating His victory over sin and death. Mark's Gospel is known for its brevity and action-oriented style, focusing on the deeds of Jesus rather than lengthy discourses. It ends with the Great Commission, where Jesus instructs His disciples to spread the Gospel to all nations. This Gospel serves as a foundational text for Christians, providing insight into the life and mission of Jesus and emphasizing the importance of faith and discipleship. It is a valuable resource for those seeking to understand the Christian faith and the life of Jesus Christ. You can explore various aspects of Mark's Gospel in your podcast, such as its distinctive features, key themes, and its significance in the context of the New Testament. Certainly! Here's a brief character study on Mark: Name: Mark (Also known as John Mark) Background: - Mark was a significant figure in early Christianity, often referred to as John Mark in some biblical texts. - He was a Jewish Christian and a cousin of Barnabas, another prominent figure in the early church. - Mark is believed to have grown up in Jerusalem and was possibly present during some of Jesus' ministry. Key Traits and Contributions: 1. Authorship: Mark is traditionally attributed as the author of the Gospel of Mark, one of the four Gospels in the New Testament. His Gospel is known for its concise and action-oriented style, focusing on the deeds of Jesus. 2. Disciple and Companion: Mark is mentioned in the New Testament as a disciple of Jesus and played a role in some significant events. For example, he is thought to be the young man who fled naked during Jesus' arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mark 14:51-52). 3. Ministry and Missionary Work: Mark accompanied the apostle Paul and his cousin Barnabas on their first missionary journey but left them in Pamphylia, causing a dispute between Paul and Barnabas. Despite this, Mark later proved himself valuable in ministry, as evidenced by Paul's positive mention of him in later epistles (e.g., Colossians 4:10, 2 Timothy 4:11). 4. Growth as a Leader: Mark's journey from early setbacks to becoming a trusted companion of prominent Christian figures demonstrates personal growth and resilience. 5. Gospel Contribution: Mark's Gospel, while the shortest of the four Gospels, provides a unique perspective on the life and ministry of Jesus, emphasizing His authority and power. Mark's writing style is noted for its vivid storytelling and focus on Jesus' actions. In summary, Mark was an important figure in early Christianity known for his role as the author of the Gospel of Mark and as a disciple and companion of Jesus and prominent apostles like Paul and Barnabas. His journey reflects personal growth and resilience, and his Gospel continues to be a valuable resource for Christians worldwide. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/irtwbey365/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/irtwbey365/support
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Have you ever gone through a traumatic time in your life when you felt like your troubles or trials were choking you to death or tearing out your insides? Perhaps, the stress from your situation was so intense it robbed you of your ability to sleep and your desire to eat anything because your stomach was tied up in knots. People who have lost a loved one in death, suffered a divorce, lost a friend, or have a wayward, child understand the gravity of grappling with grief. This is where we find the Lord in this portion of Mark. With a holy hush, we will witness the most traumatic, gut-wrenching moments in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ up to this point in His holy life. We will see His divinity as well as His humanity as He grapples with the grief caused by fear, isolation, loneliness, willfulness, and the contemplation of the horrors of crucifixion. Watching the Lord grapple with grief in Gethsemane will provide for us insights and Biblical principles that we can put into practice in our own lives when we grapple with grief in our own Gethsemanes. Let's take our time and learn as much as possible from the Lord.
Mark 14:32-42 (NASB) 32 They came to a place named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, “Sit here until I have prayed.” 33 And He took with Him Peter, James, and John, and began to be very distressed and troubled. 34 And He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch.” 35 And He went a little beyond them, and fell to the ground and began praying that if it were possible, the hour might pass Him by. 36 And He was saying, “Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will.” 37 And He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? 38 Keep watching and praying, so that you will not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 39 And again He went away and prayed, saying the same words. 40 And again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy; and they did not know what to say in reply to Him. 41 And He came the third time, and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? That is enough. The hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Get up, let's go; behold, the one who is betraying Me is near!” Sermon Theme: Jesus prayed in agony for God's will to be done as He prepared to receive God's wrath against sinners on the Cross. Outline: 1. Mounting Pressure (v. 32-35) 2. Multiplied Prayers (v. 35-36; 39, 41) 3. Misplaced Priorities (v. 34; 37-42)
The latest in my Gospel of Mark Series --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/corytruax/support
January 11, 2023 Daily Devotion: "Hear the Voice of Your Father" Ephesians 6:18 Pray in the Spirit at all times with all kinds of prayers, asking for everything you need. To do this you must always be ready and never give up. Always pray for All God's people. If you read through the four Gospels you can't help but notice how people and crowds were drawn to Jesus. If He Went up a hill to pray alone, the crowds would be gathered below awaiting His return (Luke 4:42). If He jumped into a boat to slip off to the other side of a lake, word of His movements would race Him to the other side (Matthew 14:13). He interacted non-stop with military officers, widows, children, the seriously ill, the demon-possessed, religious leaders, close friends, prophets, and sinners. At the beginning of His ministry at age thirty, despite having so much to do in such a short amount of time, Jesus pulled away from everyone to spend forty days in the wilderness to pray and fast. While alone, Jesus was tested three times by Satan, but each time answered the challenge with Scripture and a profound sense of His purpose in life (Matthew 4:1-11). Again, at the end of his earthly life, Jesus pulled away from the crowds to pray alone in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mark 14:35-36). It was there, with the agony of the cross just Before Him, that He reaffirmed His most earnest desire: “Not My will, but Yours, be done" (Luke 22:42 NKJV). If Jesus Christ sought solitude and quiet, how much more important is it for us? We can come to the end of the day-or week or even month-and discover that we made no time at all to be alone with God. Television, radio, meetings, chores, and a cacophony of other “noises” crowd out prayer and silent reflection. You don't have to take a forty-day trip to the desert to create ways to spend quiet time alone with God. In fact, once you recognize what distracts you from hearing God's voice, it's just a matter of giving yourself some quiet time. Your soul will thrive as you pull away from the noise to hear the voice of Your Father. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/gerzon-etino/message
What's GoodOpen Your Heart to Sing PraisesRead or WatchI like musicals, but some people really, really don't. America's founders bursting into song in a tavern? Gang members dancing through a knife fight? And let's not even start on those people dressed up like cats! It's all too much!We can debate the virtues of Broadway shows, but Scripture leaves no doubt about the value of singing. In songs of victory (Ex. 15:1-21), lament (2 Sam. 1:17-27), and praise (Ezra 3:11), the saints of old opened their hearts and participated in God's gift of singing.The Big IdeaSinging expresses what's inside us — what we believe, feel, and decide. God's grace brings out grateful praise (Col. 3:16) as we sing with our "spirit" and our "mind" (1 Cor. 14:15).Singing is a heavenly art we get to practice on earth (Rev. 5:9; 14:3; 15:3). It can make joyful worship a habit (Phil. 4:4). So God says, "Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise" (James 5:13). But our songs also express our sorrow and help us find hope in the night, like Paul and Silas singing in prison (Acts 16:25), or Jesus before heading to Gethsemane (Mark 14:26).Melody and harmony can lift or comfort us, but in Scripture, the purposes of singing come from the words. We learn them "by heart," and their messages become portable, guiding wisdom. When we sing — if we mean it — we take a stand for truths we believe in, like, "It is well with my soul." We make and renew commitments, like "I'm not ashamed to own my Lord." We can even discover deeply held longings as we sing of our hope, our need for mercy, and our desire for God's presence. But our songs also challenge, teach, and support one another.It's great to hear one person teaching, but you know what's better? Singing "together ... with one voice" (Rom. 15:6). It's a uniting bond. And when we sing together, we need to hear each other and heed the teaching (Eph. 5:19).The Big QuestionHow have psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs impacted your life?Support the Show
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Living on a Prayer, Part TwoPrayer is not just about us getting what we ask for but about creating intimacy with God. 1.Pray in My name for whatever you ask and it will be given to you. What does this mean? John 14:14 and John 15:7Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane: Mark 14:36“Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will but what you will.”Hillary Scott “Thy Will be Done”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAmh3yvmzXs“This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.”1 John 5:14-15 NASB1995https://bible.com/bible/100/1jn.5.14-15.NASB19952. What does the Bible say about fasting and prayer?Mark 9:29 and Matthew 17:20-21*You will have to check your footnotes for verse 21 because it was not in all manuscripts.*Matthew 6:16-18Jesus teaches us that WHEN we fast not IF we fast. Fasting is a spiritual habit that all Christians are expected to practice.Resources on Fasting:https://www.crosstownechurch.com/prayer3. What is Contemplative prayer?Contemplative prayer - retreating to a quiet still place to be with God with a focus more on God and his voice not mine (less talking). Quieting your mind in the presence of God, opening ourselves to hear His still small voice.The practice of contemplative prayer originated in Christianity and as seen in practices such as lectio divina. Today the term, contemplative prayer, has been used in new age mysticism and it does not mean the same thing as the original practice.Article by Marcia Montenegro http://www.christiananswersforthenewage.org/Articles_ContemplativePrayer2.htmlIsaiah 56:6-7Savor Moment:With your heart towards God, read John 17 - AKA “The High Priestly Prayer.”Staci's Favorite Drink:https://www.amazon.com/Bundaberg-Ginger-Beer-6-bottles/dp/B00K0Q7W7S/ref=asc_df_B00K0Q7W7S/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=563732617415&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17090428438099488208&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9010516&hvtargid=pla-1533864998340&psc=1Suzanne is boring and only drinks coffee and water so no need for a link ;)
David Burnetteno
“Agony in Gethsemane” / Mark 14:32-42 / Eric Dodson / March 27, 2022
Recorded Mar 16 1997
Recorded Mar 16 1997
In our passage today, Jesus goes away to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane with his disciples. For more information about our ministry visit commuterministries.org and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @commuterministries Music by scottholmesmusic.com
Sunday Morning Expositional Message