On last Lord’s day, Pastor Fisher was teaching how that there are many forms of denial for which all of mankind are guilty with respect to the righteous standards of God and that only Jesus was in a position to satisfy God’s holy requirements, and that Jesus Himself willingly chose to offer His Holy Father all that He desired so that sinners without hope of ever meeting God’s standard would have a way to be made right in God’s sight. This week as we continue through the gospel of Mark in chapter 15, we are beginning to approach the cross, the most strange place in the earth where God has dealt with justice and mercy for all who believe.
As we continue our trek through St. Mark, open your Bibles, listen, take a few notes today as we return to our study as our teacher Pastor Fisher shares in a teaching which he calls “Justice, Mercy and Righteousness”.
Old Testament Scripture Reading: Leviticus 16:1 – 10 (KJV)
Lev 16:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered before the LORD, and died;
Lev 16:2 And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the veil before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.
Lev 16:3 Thus shall Aaron come into the holy place: with a young bullock for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering.
Lev 16:4 He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: these are holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on.
Lev 16:5 And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.
Lev 16:6 And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his house.
Lev 16:7 And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
Lev 16:8 And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat.
Lev 16:9 And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD’S lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering.
Lev 16:10 But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.
New Testament Scripture Reading: Mark 15:1 – 20 (KJV)
Mark 15:1 And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate. Mark 15:2 And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering said unto him, Thou sayest it. Mark 15:3 And the chief priests accused him of many things: but he answered nothing. Mark 15:4 And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they witness against thee. Mark 15:5 But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled. Mark 15:6 Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired. Mark 15:7 And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection. Mark 15:8 And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them. Mark 15:9 But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews? Mark 15:10 For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy. Mark 15:11 But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them. Mark 15:12 And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews? Mark 15:13 And they cried out again, Crucify him. Mark 15:14 Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him. Mark 15:15 And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified. Mark 15:16 And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band. Mark 15:17 And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head, Mark 15:18 And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews! Mark 15:19 And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him. Mark 15:20 And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him.
Transforming Power Statements:
#1) If we understand that Almighty God is Holy, then we must conclude that He is also Just and that He therefore demands a Justice far beyond the capability of fallen men to ever achieve being in a fallen condition and therefore, unable to do all things perfectly and never transgress God’s Law, as it is testified within the Law itself which had requirements for sacrifices as an element of God’s deep mercy toward the human family of hopeless sinners.
#2) Being sinful is an impossible problem for man to ever have means to solve, since God does rightfully demand justice that man cannot pay proving the need for continual mercy from God and reliance upon God by man who must trust in God to supply such mercy since only God knows exactly how much we owe.
#3) The gospel is God’s proclamation that He has made every provision to satisfy His own requirement for justice to be rendered by His Son Jesus alone so that He can furnish the righteousness acceptable to Him to all who trust Christ Jesus by God’s own grace on their behalves.
