God Knows You!
15 April 2018 AM – Mark 14:12-31 – Mr17 – Scott Childs
Introduction: Jesus Christ was the God/Man. Though we do not fully comprehend it, He is the second person of the godhead. He, the Father, and the Holy Spirit are three persons in one being. Because Jesus is God, He knows all about you and me. He even knows things that are future.
In our text this morning, Jesus revealed that He knew things about the disciples that were yet unknown to His disciples.
Transition: As we study this passage, I want to point out three things that Christ did that shows that He is able to know you.
The first thing Christ did that shows that He is able to know you is …
1. He Predicted the Betrayal (v.18-21)
a. He knew He would be betrayed
1) Jesus mentioned this several times during His ministry. (Matthew 17:22) “And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men:” (Matthew 26:2) “Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.” (Luke 9:44) “Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men.”
2) Jesus knew from the beginning who would betray Him. (John 6:64) “But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.” (John 13:11) “For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.” He knew Judas was a traitor.
3) For three years, Judas travelled with Jesus. He heard Him preach. He ate meals with Him. He walked the dusty roads with Jesus. Yet Jesus treated Judas no different than the other disciples. Jesus loved him as He loved the others.
4) Since Jesus, as God, knew the secrets of Judas’s heart, we are assured that He also know our secrets.
a) (Psalms 44:21) “Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.”
b) (Jeremiah 23:24) “Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.”
c) My friend, God knows the secrets of your heart. He knows every lie, every evil thought, every unkind word, every hateful bitterness, and every wicked deed you have done. The truth is we have all sinned. (Ecclesiastes 7:20) “For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.”
d) Yes, Judas betrayed Jesus, but it was really for my sin and yours that Jesus went to the cross. We are the guilty ones.
b. Not all who claim to be Christians truly are
1) Judas was one of the close followers of Jesus, yet he was not truly a believer. That is also true of many today.
2) Note Jesus’ words in (Matthew 7:21) “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.” (22) “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?” (23) “And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
The second thing Christ did that shows that He is able to know you is …
2. He Prompted the Forgetful (v.22-26)
This portion of the supper that night is often called communion or better stated, the Lord’s Supper. Read carefully to avoid the many misconceptions that have arisen about this ordinance.
a. The tokens were symbolic
1) Jesus took bread. It was the flat, unleavened bread of the Passover meal that He held in His hand. He broke it and said, “Take, eat: this is my body.” It was not literally His body. It was literally unleavened bread.
2) Jesus took the cup. In the cup Jesus said was the “fruit of the vine” (v.25). It was not wine. It was unfermented grape juice. Jesus said, “This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many”. It was not literally His blood. It was literally unfermented grape juice.
3) Jesus’ body had not yet been broken and His blood had not yet been shed. These tokens of bread and juice were only symbolic.
b. The tokens were a memorial
1) Jesus knew that His followers would be tempted to forget the details of His death. Death is not something that we enjoy pondering; thus, God knew that Christians would need a memorial.
a) It is exciting to recount the stories of Jesus’ miracles. He walked on water. He healed the blind, lame, deaf, and lepers. He raised the dead. He calmed raging storms of on the sea. He fed thousands with a little boy’s lunch.
b) On the other hand, Jesus’ death was terrible. He was mocked, spit upon, whipped, beaten, and then nailed to an old rugged cross. There on that cross he hung for six hours awaiting dehydration and suffocation. Unseen to human eye, the worst part of His death was paying for my filthy wicked sins and yours. Christ’s death and resurrection was the most important part of His 33 years as the God/man on earth. That is the whole reason He came to earth.
2) God gave us this symbolic Lord’s Supper as a needed memorial or reminder of His death. Luke’s Gospel clearly states, “this do in remembrance of me” (Lu 22:19).
3) Jesus did not give this memorial out on the hillside for the general public. It is not for unbelievers. He did not give it at the Bethany supper for believers in general. He gave it to the twelve disciples who would become the core of the first local church. I believe that God gave further details to the local church at Corinth because this is a local church ordinance for local church members.
The third thing Christ did that shows that He is able to know you is …
3. He Previewed the Denial (v.27-31)
a. He saw that all the disciples would be offended
1) Though it has not happened yet, Jesus saw the future. He previewed what would happen late that very night.
2) He said that every one of the disciples would be offended. The word “offended” means they would trip and fall. They would be enticed to sin. They would desert one whom they should have trusted.
3) Jesus knew that when the Jewish leaders would capture Him, the disciples would flee for their lives out in the dark and be scattered (v.27).
4) Jesus lovingly reassured them that after His resurrection He would go before them to Galilee (v.28). Their denial would not be permanent.
5) Peter strongly denied that he would deny Christ (v.29).
b. Christ detailed Peter’s denial (v.30-31)
1) Jesus said it would take place in that very night.
2) He said that Peter would deny Him three times.
3) He said that it would be before the cock or rooster crowed twice.
4) Again, Peter passionately said he would never deny Christ. We note that the other 10 disciples said the same (v.31).
c. This is a warning to every Christian
1) Even the closest disciples of Christ are capable of denying Him in time of fear. We must never think that we are so spiritual that we could not fall into sin. That is why the Scriptures warn, (1 Corinthians 10:12) “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”
2) Later that same night as Jesus prayed, He gave another warning to them. He said, (Matthew 26:41) “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Conclusion: Yes, God does know you and me. He knows if we are a true believer or a fake like Judas. He knows that local church Christians are forgetful and need the Lord’s Supper as a memorial of His death. He knows even committed Christians are capable of any sin. We must continually watch and pray to avoid temptations.
Christ died on the cross to pay for my sins and yours. Have you admitted your sin and need of His cleansing? Have you repented and believed on Him to save you from hell? If not, He offers you that gift, but you must receive it (Jn 1:12). Do it today.
Song: Have You Any Room – 241