Honoring Jesus With Your Lips

This Sunday I preached on Mark’s account of Jesus’ arrest in Mark 14:43-52. Judas betrays Jesus with a kiss. Peter takes matters into his own hands. Everything seems to be coming undone. But Jesus steps forward the divine conductor, orchestrating his arrest, protecting his disciples, saving Peter. You can listen to it below:

Here’s an excerpt: The soldiers move forward. A disciple “47….drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear.” Mark doesn’t name the disciple. John does(18:10). But even if he hadn’t, you can probably guess who it is. Peter. He’s got something to prove. “You say I’ll deny you Jesus? You think I’ll scatter like the rest? Well, watch this…” Peter does not believe that Jesus is right about him. So he strikes with his sword to prove the point. More than that, all along Peter has tried to correct Jesus’ theology. “No Jesus, you’ve got it wrong, the Messiah doesn’t die. He conquers. You’re going to rescue Israel the way I want you to rescue Israel. You’re going to be my kind of King.” He strikes with his sword to force the point. The servant is Malchus, servant of the high priest. An important man. That will come back to bite Peter later. Peter, no doubt, aims for his head. But lops off his ear instead. Now you would expect the soldiers to pounce. They don’t. Why not? They aren’t in control. Jesus is. And he doesn’t allow it. Think about that for a moment. Here is Peter steeped in self-will, self-justification, rebellion and pride. There should be consequences. But Jesus protects Peter even in Peter’s act of defiance. This is grace. This is how Jesus protects and preserves his sheep despite themselves.”