Re: Sermon: Betrayed, Deserted, yet Resolved (Mark 14:43-52)

This past Sunday, we looked at Mark's account of Jesus's arrest. We saw how Jesus was betrayed, deserted, yet still resolved. How was it that Jesus could be betrayed by one of his very own disciples, deserted by the remaining eleven disciples, yet still remain resolved to go to the cross? As we consider this, I believe we find the key to responding in the same way when we experience great trials and temptations.

1. Prayer. The first key is prayer. In the previous passage (Mark 14:32-42), we discovered how Jesus spent His last hours of freedom . . . in prayer! If Jesus, who is holy and perfect, needs to pray in the face of trials and temptations, how much more do we, who are sinful and weak, need to pray? On top of that, we find out how Jesus prayed and instructed His disciples to pray. Pray that we would seek God's will and not our own (Mark 14:36) and pray so that we do not fall to temptation (Mark 14:38). This seems so simple, yet so often we neglect prayer or pray simply that things will get bettter and fail to ask how God can teach and grow us through this trial.

2. Remember God is in control and He loves you. God is in control even though everything going on may seem to say otherwise. God is working all things together for our good and His glory. We've seen this in Mark's gospel: how Jesus was betrayed, deserted, arrested, and will suffer, die, and rise again. The religious leaders meant it for evil, but God used it for good. This took place for our salvation and for God's glory! The same can be said for the trials and difficulties that you are experiencing today. These trials and difficulties are a result of living in a sinful world and having a sinful heart, yet God is using these situations to conform you to the image of Christ because He loves you, so much so that He would send Jesus to die in your place!

"Alone He faces his enemies, alone He suffers, alone He is going to lay down His life, in order that all those who accept Him as Savior may never be alone. Hallelujah, what a Savior!" -William Hendricksen

Discussion:

1. What trials and difficulties are you experiencing now?

2. Have you asked others to pray for you? Are you praying? How are you praying? Are you simply praying for the trial to pass and the situation to turn out how you want? I believe we can learn from Jesus' example and pray that we would strive to honor God, trust in Him, and seek to have the right attitude regardless of how the situation turns out so that we can glorify Him through our response and not fall to temptation.

3. Are you spending time in God's word? If so, what is He teaching you? If not, ask others for some recommendations of some passages to read, so that you can be reminded of God's promises and grow in your trust in Him while responding to your trial in a manner that is pleasing to God.