The One and the Many

I will not deny you!

(Mark 14:26-31, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, March 1, 2020)

[26] And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. [27] And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ [28] But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” [29] Peter said to him, “Even though they all fall away, I will not.” [30] And Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” [31] But he said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all said the same.

The most common mistake that church people make: Can sincere people be saved by the power of their own covenant promise and the follow-through of their best efforts of godly faithfulness unto death? If this were really possible, what would be the point of the cross? What do the Old Testament Scriptures teach us about a coming day of salvation for many and the suffering of one Passover Savior? How can we be sure of our interpretations? Does Jesus interpret the sacred oracles of old?

The Passover Hymn (Psalm 113-118) on the way to the Mount of Olives

Psalm 113-118 – The one suffering sacrifice and a victory for many even beyond Israel

The Mount of Olives – David (2 Samuel 15:30) – A place of deep sadness

More on the Mount of Olives – Zechariah 14:4 – A place of great divine triumph, but also the place that Judas knew Jesus would go...

Zechariah, Jesus, and the New Testament Day

“On that day” in Zechariah 12-14 – Forgiveness for the many through the suffering of 1

Zechariah 13:7 and the scattering of the disciples as a sign of the beginning of the end

You will all fall away

How would he know that? It is written

“I will strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered.”

Jesus says more (v. 28), but they don't hear it because of their big mistake.

They all said Jesus was wrong about them (and therefore about the sign).

Peter: “I will not.”

Jesus: “Truly, I tell you, this very night...”

Peter: “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” – A covenant commitment...

And they all said the same.

THE POINT: Jesus will stand alone. (Mark 14:50) He is the perfect interpreter of the infallible Word of God and the One that saves the many.

Applying these verses:

1. Jesus is not wrong about the Bible.

2. It is absurd to boast of our loyalty to the Lord and then reject his Bible interpretation.

3. My hope and confidence is based not on my own ability to keep any covenant I have ever made, but on Jesus‘ ability to keep his covenant with the Father (Philippians 2:8-9 and all the Old Testament passages about the One working salvation for the many).

Old Testament Reading—Psalm 129 – Blessing, Curse, and the Victory of the Afflicted One

New Testament Reading—1 Corinthians 2 – The Spiritual Wisdom of Jesus Christ Crucified

Other passages:

Selections from Psalm 113-118

[113:4] The LORD is high above all nations,

and his glory above the heavens!

[7] He raises the poor from the dust

and lifts the needy from the ash heap,

[8] to make them sit with princes,

with the princes of his people.

[118:22] The stone that the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone.

[23] This is the LORD's doing;

it is marvelous in our eyes.

[24] This is the day that the LORD has made;

let us rejoice and be glad in it.

[25] Save us, we pray, O LORD!

O LORD, we pray, give us success!

[26] Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!

We bless you from the house of the LORD.

[27] The LORD is God,

and he has made his light to shine upon us.

Bind the festal sacrifice with cords,

up to the horns of the altar!

The Mount of Olives

2 Samuel 15:30 But David went up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went, barefoot and with his head covered. And all the people who were with him covered their heads, and they went up, weeping as they went.

Zechariah 14:4 On that day his [the LORD's—see v. 3] feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward.

Selections from Zechariah 12-14 “On that day”

Zechariah 12

[10] “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn.

Zechariah 13

[1] “On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness.

...

[7] “Awake, O sword, against my shepherd,

against the man who stands next to me,”

declares the LORD of hosts.

“Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered;

I will turn my hand against the little ones.”

Zechariah 14

[9] And the LORD will be king over all the earth. On that day the LORD will be one and his name one.