The Sword & The Cross
Sunday, August 4th, 2024
Christ Covenant Church – Centralia, WA
Mark 14:43-52
43 And immediately, while he yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. 44 And he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him, and lead him away safely. 45 And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to him, and saith, Master, master; and kissed him. 46 And they laid their hands on him, and took him. 47 And one of them that stood by drew a sword, and smote a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. 48 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Are ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and with staves to take me? 49 I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me not: but the scriptures must be fulfilled. 50 And they all forsook him, and fled. 51 And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him: 52 And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked.
Prayer
Your law O Lord is perfect, converting the soul. Your testimony is sure, making wise the simple. Teach us now the simplicity of Christ, that we might become wise, and attain unto that vision of God, wherein faith becomes sight. We ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Introduction
Well for the last two weeks we have been studying this most intimate scene in Gethsemane. And we have been doing so with an attentive eye to how we might imitate our Lord Jesus as he 1) prepares himself to suffer, 2) endures suffering, and then, 3) eventually dies in his suffering.
- And the reason we are so interested in the death and sufferings of Christ, is first and foremost because it is the means of our salvation.
- It says in 1 John 2:1-2, “If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the whole world.”
- So there is no forgiveness of sins apart from Jesus. There is no resurrection from the dead apart from Jesus. And therefore, the sufferings of Christ are the most beautiful and potent expression of God’s love.
- For as Jesus Himself says in John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”
- And also in Romans 5:7-8 the Apostle says, “For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
- So to suffer and die is the supreme purpose for which the Son of God took to himself a true humanity (a human soul, and human flesh).
- And therefore, as a perfect man, full of grace and truth, Christ could become a once and for all sacrifice to cover all of our sins.
- And furthermore, as one possessing our humanity, except without sin, the life of Jesus also becomes our life. Our sufferings become a participation in His sufferings. Our death becomes a participation in his death.
- This is what the Apostle Paul means when he says in Colossians 3:3, “you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”
- Likewise in Galatians 2:20 he says, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
- And so the reason this scene in Gethsemane and everything that follows is of utmost importance to us, is first 1) because it effects our salvation, but also 2) because we too are going to suffer and eventually die.
- And therefore, we want to learn from Christ how to walk those same three steps. To 1) prepare ourselves for suffering, 2) to learn how to endure our suffering, and 3) finally, to be faithful in suffering unto death that we might receive the crown of life (Rev. 2:10).
- This the Lord Jesus perfectly teaches us in the gospels.
Outline of the Text
- Our sermon text this morning has three basic movements to it:
- 1. In verses 43-46, Jesus is betrayed and arrested.
- 2. In verses 47-49, there are two different responses to his arrest.
- 3. In verses 50-52, all the disciples forsake Jesus and run away (one of them naked!).
- Now I want to look at this passage from two different perspectives:
- 1. First, from the perspective of flesh, and then
- 2. From the perspective of the spirit.
- Recall that just before our text, Jesus told his very sleepy disciples, “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” And now here we have played out before our eyes, living illustrations of what flesh does and what the spirit does.
- We have negative examples, cautionary tales from those who live according to the flesh (who are carnally minded), but then we also have a perfect and positive example of how to live by the spirit.
- So let us consider this passage first by observing four portraits of the flesh.
Verses 43-46 – Flesh Betrays & Arrests God
43 And immediately, while he yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. 44 And he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him, and lead him away safely. 45 And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to him, and saith, Master, master; and kissed him. 46 And they laid their hands on him, and took him.
- We have named here two different examples of those who live by the flesh. Judas, and the armed multitude sent from the Jews.
- First, let us consider the chief priests, scribes, and elders who send this armed multitude.
- This is the group we met earlier in Mark’s gospel, whom Jesus argued with and refuted in the Temple, and they are the highest Jewish authorities (also known as the Sanhedrin).
- What was their motive for wanting Jesus’ dead?
- In the next chapter Mark tells us explicitly, “Pilate knew that the chief priests had delivered him because of envy” (Mark 15:10).
- What does flesh do when it sees someone else enjoying some good that it wants but does not presently have?
- Sinful flesh becomes sad. Sinful flesh begins to covet. And while sinful flesh would be happy to have that thing for itself, sinful flesh would also be happy simply to see that person lose the good they have.
- Envy in its most proper sense is sorrow at another’s good. Envy therefore despises all superiors, and only wants to have equals and inferiors. In this sense envy is form of pride.
- Envy is one of the driving forces behind our modern spirit of egalitarianism, of socialism, of feminism, of transgenderism, and of the cult of victimhood.
- It says in Proverbs 27:4, “Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; But who is able to stand before envy?”
- The demonic spirit of our age is envy. And where does envy lead? Eventually to murder.
- In Galatians 5 when Paul is enumerating all the works of the flesh, where does he place envy and murder? Right next to each other (Gal. 5:21). Envy and murder hold hands.
- Envy is what drove Cain to murder his brother Abel. Envy is what drove Joseph’s brothers to attempt to murder him. Envy is what drove Haman to wipe out the entire Jewish nation. And envy is what motivated the Jews to crucify their own Messiah.
- When envy discovers the power and opportunity to get it what it wants, murder is not far off. And so it is with these chief priests, scribes, and elders. Even Pontius Pilate “knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy.”
- So that is one ugly portrait of flesh that has to die in all of us. And if you can conquer envy, you can overcome just about every other sin. Because to crucify envy is to crucify your pride. And to crucify pride is to deny yourself, take up the cross, and follow Jesus.
- So instead of envy, of sorrowing at another’s good fortune, or status, or skill, or looks, or whatever superior good we might want for ourselves, God would have us be content, and to rejoice with that person instead.
- It says in Hebrews 13:5, “Let your lifestyle be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave you, nor forsake you.”
- Summary: That is our first example of flesh, the envious Jews as represented by the chief priests, scribes, and elders. They are Cain, Christ is Abel.
- Now the second negative example is that of Judas.
- Judas is what we might call today an ex-vangelical pastor. Judas was not merely a follower of Jesus; he was an ordained apostle. Judas had authority, he had clout. He had been taught by the very mouth of God and yet his heart was hardened from love for money.
- The case of Judas then is a most fearful warning to all those who profess faith, but especially to leaders in the church.
- Judas is foremost amongst those Jesus describes in Matthew 7:21-23, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
- The life of Judas is a perpetual warning sign to those who hear the word but do not do it. It is a warning to those who teach the word, but do not do it.
- It is also a warning to those who desire to be rich. For as Paul says in 1 Timothy 6:9-10, “Those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
- Judas saw Christ as a mere steppingstone to earthly riches and earthly power. And he chose that in spite of hearing Jesus preach, “You cannot love God and money, you cannot serve two masters, for either you will hate the one and love the other.”
- And so the kiss of Judas upon the face of Christ, was no kiss of love but of hatred. And because Christ is very life itself, by betraying Jesus with a kiss, Judas simultaneously betrays his own soul.
- To give the “kiss of death” to another is really to wrap the noose around your own neck (as Judas would later literally do).
- This is the insanity and irrationality of sin: It is always suicidal. “The wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23).
- God says in Proverbs 8:35-36, “Whoso findeth me findeth life, And shall obtain favour of the Lord. But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: All they that hate me love death.”
- To love money more than God is to love death.
- To love any created good more than God is to harm your own soul.
- And this is because God created you for Himself. Jesus says that life consists in knowing God and Jesus Christ whom he has sent.
- So what kind of Christian are you going to be? The kind that uses God as a means to earthly gain? Or the kind the honors God as the beginning, middle, and end of all our existence?
- Summary: Judas shows us that sinful flesh is ultimately unintelligible (it don’t make no sense). Sin is always myopic and shortsighted, because it latches on to what is temporal and fleeting and forsakes what is eternal.
- Consider: Judas kissed the face of God and exchanged what is infinitely precious for 30 pieces of metal, and then he doesn’t even spend it, instead he goes and hangs himself. Does anything about that make sense?
- This is what I mean by the irrationality of sin. And it is why Christ and the apostles, and the prophets are so insistent that you make zero provision for the flesh. And it is why the Lord Jesus taught us to pray regularly, “lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
- You and I need to constant and regular deliverance from the evil that remains within us, and the myriad temptations to sin. No man on this side of glory ever graduates from praying the Lord’s Prayer.
- Continuing in Verses 47-49, we behold a third portrait of flesh, which is the disciples’ response to Jesus’ arrest.
- And while the disciples are far from the sin of Judas, and far from the sins of the Sanhedrin, they are still being merely carnal.
Verses 47-49 – Flesh Takes Up the Sword
47 And one of them that stood by drew a sword, and smote a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. 48 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Are ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and with staves to take me? 49 I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me not: but the scriptures must be fulfilled.
- We are told in John’s gospel that it was Peter who cut off this man’s ear. And knowing Peter’s zeal, we aren’t really surprised.
- And so while self-defense can be good and righteous in many cases, and Jesus himself approved of them taking two swords with them, nevertheless this was not one of those appropriate occasions.
- For as Jesus himself will say to Peter, “all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword” (Matt. 26:52).
- So we see in here in Peter’s actions the natural desire of our flesh when we suffer or witness injustice. When our flesh feels wronged, it desires to get even, it desires to defend itself and take vengeance on the evil doer. And that is actually a good and virtuous passion, but only when it is governed and regulated by the law of God.
- Recall that earlier in Jesus’ ministry, James and John, two sons of thunder,were ready to call down fire upon the Samaritans for not welcoming them. But what did Jesus say to them?
- It says in Luke 9:55-56, “But He turned and rebuked them, and said, ‘You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.’ And they went to another village.”
- So Peter, like James and John, does not know what spirit he is of. And why? Because he still does not understand the way in which evil shall be overcome.
- The flesh thinks that evil can be overcome by the sword, by horses and chariots and the strength of men.
- But Christ teaches us that we overcome evil by doing good. For as it says in Romans 12:19, “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.”
- So unless you are a civil magistrate, to whom the sword of vengeance has been given to punish the wicked on God’s behalf (Rom. 13), then the law of God requires you to do as Christ did, and to overcome evil by doing good.
- There is a time to stand up and lawfully defend ourselves, and there is a time to turn the other cheek. But because Peter was thinking carnally, he could not discern the times.
- Paul teaches us the ordinary way of calling down fire upon our enemies. He says in Romans 12:20, Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” That is how our God who is a consuming fire destroy the evil.
- So the flesh wants to get even, it wants to hit back, and sometimes (like James and John) it even uses Bible verses to justify taking vengeance. But to those who from carnal passion take up the sword, Jesus says, by the sword they shall perish.
- And at the same time, to those who deny their flesh, and take up the cross and follow Jesus, to them belongs eternal reward.
- Summary: So there is the way of the sword, and there is the way of the cross. And remember how the saints in Revelation are said to defeat the devil?
- It says in Revelation 12:11, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”
- If our war was with flesh and blood, then the sword would be our weapon. But because our warfare is with principalities, and powers, and the forces of darkness in high places, therefore our weapons are not carnal but spiritual. They are the weapons of faith, hope, and love. The same love the Lord Jesus used to conquer death itself.
- Finally, in verses 50-52 we have a fourth portrait of flesh and we see what all flesh does when it is uncovered.
Verses 50-52
50 And they all forsook him, and fled. 51 And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him: 52 And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked.
- Now there is endless speculation about who this young man was, and why Mark even includes this detail (none of the other gospels have it).
- And of the many options put forth by the commentators, I think the most likely candidate for who this young man was is that he was either Mark, the author of this gospel, OR, it was just some anonymous disciple (not one of the twelve), who Mark uses to signify various spiritual realities.
- In either case, the young man is said to be wearing linen around his naked body. And these are two curious details that have important resonance in the Old Testament.
- Linen is the fabric associated with the priests, and nakedness recalls our first parents, who like this young man, were found naked and afraid in a garden with God.
- So what is going on here?
- Well for starters, we have signified in this naked young man the failure of Adam’s priesthood.
- Recall that Adam’s first task was the priestly duty of guarding and keeping God’s sanctuary (The Garden of Eden).
- But Adam allowed the serpent to creep in, and deceive his wife, and because Adam chose to serve his flesh instead of God, from that point onward, the human race has been dominated by fleshly desires that lead to death.
- However, in God’s mercy, Adam and Eve were made to feel in their bodies a sense of shame. This is the universal feeling of nakedness, of being uncovered and exposed for what we really are. And so the grace of shame is that we all look for something to cover us.
- When our flesh feels exposed, we (like this young man) run and hide and look for cover. And what we have here in this man, dressed in linen (the priestly garb), is a picture of the law’s failure to provide that covering.
- Paul says in Romans 7:5, “For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.”
- In other words, the law of the old covenant was good and right and spiritual, but because we were fleshly, knowing the law only made things worse. It made us feel even more naked than before. And therefore, the linen cloth of Adam’s priesthood, of the Aaronic priesthood, had to be replaced by something better, the blood of Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit.
- So that is just one aspect of what I think is suggested here by the naked young man.
- When our flesh is exposed, we look for cover, and the question is where will you find that covering?Or as Paul says in Romans 7:24, “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?”
- So those are four portraits of our flesh:
- 1. Flesh is envious and murderous like the chief priests, scribes and elders.
- 2. Flesh is irrational and suicidal like Judas who betrayed our Lord.
- 3. Flesh desires to take up the sword instead of the cross, like Peter in his misguided zeal.
- 4. And flesh fears being uncovered and when it is exposed, it runs and hides.
- Now I want to close by considering this whole scene again but from the perspective of Christ in the spirit. How does the Lord Jesus teach us to walk?
Conclusion
Four Contrasts of Spirit to the Flesh
- First, when Jesus is the object of envy from the chief priests, scribes, and elders, Jesus counters with brotherly love.
- He does this first by rebuking the mob that arrests him. Love is willing to confront and rebuke sinners: “Are ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and with staves to take me? I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me not: but the scriptures must be fulfilled.”
- So Jesus loves them by telling them their sin.
- Second, Jesus shows brotherly love by using their evil actions to bring about their good. This is the same thing that Joseph did for his brothers, but in a more marvelous way.
- Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, but God used Joseph to save those same envious and murderous brothers, and the whole world from starvation. And so at the end of Genesis, we have this scene: “And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants. And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.” (Genesis 50:18-21).
- How kindly has God treated us who have transgressed against him? How kindly does Christ treat those who envy and murder him?
- Love and kindness are the fruit of the spirit. This is something the flesh cannot produce.
- And so we also ought to love one another, even those who might are envious. As my pastor Doug Wilson taught me, “we ought to pray that God blesses our enemies with really cute grandkids.” If you can honestly pray for that, you are on your way to walking in the spirit of Christ.
- Second, Jesus treats Judas with that same love and kindness.
- Betrayal is one of the worst pains we can ever suffer. Worse than physical pain is the emotional and relational pain that betrayal can deal out. Adultery, divorce, abandonment, abuse, prodigal children. Betrayal can leave scars that only God can heal.
- But that is exactly why Jesus went to the cross and suffered this betrayal from Judas. Because as it says in Isaiah 53:5, “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: The chastisement of our peace was upon him; And with his stripes we are healed.”
- Where does the power to forgive our betrayers come from? It comes from the bleeding side of Christ, and from the acknowledgement that however badly we have been treated, we have treated God far worse. And if Jesus can forgive me, I can forgive anyone.
- So Jesus overcomes betrayal by loving his enemies, even Judas.
- Third, while Peter takes up the sword against the mob, Jesus restrains himself.
- In Matthew’s version of this same scene, Jesus says, “Do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?”
- It was not that Jesus lacked the power, it was that Jesus uses his power for the greatest spiritual good, namely our salvation.
- If Jesus had fought back, no cross and no redemption. But because he entrusted his soul to God, and was obedient unto to death, his death secured our everlasting life.
- Fourth, and finally, whereas the young man ran away naked, Jesus stood his ground and was willing to be exposed on the cross in order to provide a permanent and perfect covering of our nakedness.
- That is the hope of the gospel to all who trust in Christ, and so I close with words of Hebrews 12:2 which says, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
- Look to Jesus and he will clothe you in resurrection glory. In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
