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Though Jesus is the King of all kings, no one in our passage is recorded here as recognizing it. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Jesus had been condemned to death for claiming to be the King of Jews. That was the final charge that warranted the Roman death penalty. And so in this passage, we finally see Jesus crucified. And in these last few scenes, we see Jesus mocked as king. We see him suffer and die as king. And sadly, we see people completely miss him as king. And so whether it was the mob mentality, or just plain the sinfulness of man, everyone in this passage seems to be turning against Jesus, denying that he is the Christ, and therefore denying that he is the King. The inscription that identified him in verse 26, “The King of the Jews” was ironically so right, and yet so fully denied. ANd yet even as the masses mocked and denied him as king, God’s Word was being fulfilled that foretold that this king would suffer exactly in this way.

Passage: Mark 15:16-32
Author: Rev. W. Reid Hankins, M.Div.
Sermon originally preached during the Morning Service at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 03/15/2009 in Novato, CA.

Manuscript: That We May See and Believe

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In our passage for today, we have three specific events all of which are very similar to things that have already happened in Mark. I mean, yes, they are new and distinct events in the history of Jesus’ ministry, but what’s going on and the general lessons that are being taught are some of the very same specific points that have just been taught in the last few chapters. And so our temptation today might be to zone out. We could say, yes, yes, I’ve heard these lessons before. And yet the fact that Jesus is reteaching even the disciples here some of the same lessons, shows that we sometimes need these lessons repeated. And so let’s look at what this passage has to say about Jesus’ mission of suffering, and even how we relate to that mission.

Passage: Mark 10:32-52
Author: Rev. W. Reid Hankins, M.Div.
Sermon originally preached during the Morning Service at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 10/12/2008 in Novato, CA.

Click here for the manuscript.

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