Preparation for the Passover Meal

In this part of the sermon: Martin introduces Mark 14 as the beginning of Christ's betrayal, crucifixion, and resurrection narrative, highlighting the contrast between the murderous intentions of religious…

Mary of Bethany's act of anointing Jesus for His burial is presented as a beautiful contrast to the murderous intentions of the chief priests and Judas' treachery, challenging listeners to devotion.

Of the religious leaders. But sandwiched in between These manifestations of the hellish nature Of the human heart When devoid of the operations of divine grace Is the moving account Bounded by verses 3 through 9 Of this memorialized act Of Mary of Bethany Anointing our Lord beforehand For his death. This burial And this moving act of devotion Some four days prior To the other events Described in this section Is set here As a beautiful contrast Between the murderous intentions Of the chief priest And the treachery And the betraying intention of Judas That we might, as it were, Be challenged To ...

6:21 - 7:49 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin analyzes Christ's response to the disciples' question, noting His selection of Peter and John (and the exclusion of Judas) for this task, likely due to their future…

The significance of a man carrying a water jug is explained by noting that this was typically a task for women, making the man a distinctive and easily identifiable sign in a crowded city, demonstrating Christ's precise foreknowledge.

For us Now the directives given Are very straight forward They are to go into the city That is into Jerusalem When they do Our Lord tells them That they will be met Notice it doesn't say You will meet But there shall meet you A man bearing of water The word I'm translating jug Is the word from which we get Our word ceramic So it's a word that we use As referring to an ordinary water jug Now we ask the question With multitudes thronging into Jerusalem Others making last minute preparations For the Passover feast What would be so significant About a man passing by them With a water jug Well the ...

28:23 - 29:50 Read in full sermon

The point: Recognize that only a Savior who is God can rescue you from being dead in trespasses and sins.

Martin vividly imagines Peter and John's conversation and thoughts as they follow Christ's unusual instructions, highlighting their initial uncertainty and eventual awe as each prediction comes true, reinforcing Christ's omniscience.

Who saw what the disciples Did not yet clearly see And anointed him beforehand For the burial My time is at hand But you see Our Lord could only know These things If he were the God He could only predict them With certainty If he controlled all things By the word of his power Put yourself in Peter and John's place Your Lord's orders Are lodged in your ears And tucked away in your heart And you start going out the city And Peter says John, what did he say Would be the first thing that happened Would it be a man? Would meet us?

44:27 - 45:11 Read in full sermon

The point: Recognize that only a Savior who is God can rescue you from being dead in trespasses and sins.

The incident in Gethsemane where Jesus declares 'I am' and His captors fall back is used as another example of Christ's glory bursting forth, similar to His display of omniscience in the Passover preparation.

What thoughts must have flooded their minds As they made their way Into the temple precincts And completed the further preparations But surely, if not then After the Spirit of God was given They began to look back And reflect upon the Lord And reflect upon the true identity of their Lord They could not help but come to the conclusion Oh, how dull we were then But it's all so plain now He was giving us This undeniable manifestation Of his true identity Just as he would do later on in the garden When they come and say We are coming to seek Jesus And he said, who do you seek? I am your Savior I a...

47:26 - 48:51 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not be indifferent to a Savior who voluntarily humbles himself and becomes poor for your sake.

The image of God being born amidst the 'pungent smell of dung and animal urine' in a cow barn emphasizes Christ's abject poverty and humility from birth.

There was no room for him In the Kattaluma When God Into our first world In the person of Jesus Expelled for his womb There was no room for him In the Kattaluma No room in the inn. He comes in poverty. Born amidst the pungent smell of dung and animal urine.

51:47 - 52:23 Read in full sermon

The point: Exercise implicit obedience to Christ's word, being concerned only with what He commands and leaving the consequences to God.

Martin imagines Peter and John being questioned by someone on their way, highlighting how their implicit obedience meant they didn't ask 'what if' questions, but simply followed Christ's seemingly illogical instructions.

and then in the implicit obedience of Peter and of John what a wonderful example of true discipleship a true disciple doesn't ask what if a true disciple is only concerned to know what Lord will you have me to do and he's prepared to leave the consequences of his obedience with God he's prepared to step out in obedience to the word in what appears to be a silly course if someone were to have stopped Peter and John on the way and said where are you going he said we're not quite sure he said we're going in the city what's going to happen well a man's going to meet us with a water pot on his head...

64:20 - 65:49 Read in full sermon