Are You Giving God Lip Service? (Mark 14:43-52)

Are you giving God lip service? Do your actions today reflect your relationship with Jesus?

• Even when we are close to Jesus, sometimes our actions do not reflect it. Actions not consistent with our position in Christ
• If you are married you have experienced this. Yes? Our actions don’t always line up with our vows to honor and cherish. Momentary lapses for sure.  

Mark 7:5-6 (NLT) So the Pharisees and teachers of religious law asked him, “Why don’t your disciples follow our age-old tradition? They eat without first performing the hand-washing ceremony.” Jesus replied, “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.’”

• • We studied this last year. Jesus was calling out Pharisees and teachers of religious law – basically the same group we see in today’s text in the Garden of Gethsemane.
    • Expand on hypocrites: The word “hypocrite” originates from the Greek term “hypokritēs,” which referred to an actor or stage player. It is derived from the verb “hypokrinomai,” meaning “to play a part, pretend.” In ancient Greek theater, actors would wear masks and play various roles, portraying different characters. Over time, the term “hypocrite” evolved to describe someone who pretends to be something they’re not, particularly in terms of morality or beliefs. This evolution reflects the idea of someone playing a role or putting on a false appearance, much like an actor on stage.

The Pharisees gave religious lip service – following rules and traditions but missing the point. Genuine faith changes people from the inside out.

• Jesus is not being sold out to a ragtag group of ruffians, but to the religious elite. They had already proven that their religion was a farce. They had already been called out for giving nothing more than lip service to God.
• Today we’ll see other types of lip service  This one will sting more.

Mark 14:43-45 (NLT) And immediately, even as Jesus said this, Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived with a crowd of men armed with swords and clubs. They had been sent by the leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders. The traitor, Judas, had given them a prearranged signal: “You will know which one to arrest when I greet him with a kiss. Then you can take him away under guard.” As soon as they arrived, Judas walked up to Jesus. “Rabbi!” he exclaimed, and gave him the kiss.

Talk about lip service! 

• Should we name this second kind of lip service? Judas’ lip service was outright betrayal, using a kiss – a gesture that typically signified love and loyalty. The manner of betrayal becomes the first example of the mockery of Jesus.
• Mark says, “the traitor”. Notice his bold betrayal:
  • “As soon as they arrived…” He didn’t wait
  • “Rabbi!” Was he serious?
    • (Pillar New Testament Commentary) The manner of betrayal becomes the first example of the mockery of Jesus, which will play a key role in the crucifixion narrative of chap. 15.
  • The kiss
    • Gives a “prearranged signal” a kiss. The significance of this act lies in its symbolic nature. A kiss is often a gesture of affection, friendship, or loyalty. Judas’ use of a kiss to betray Jesus adds a layer of betrayal and deceit to the act. It symbolizes the depth of betrayal, as Judas betrays Jesus with a gesture that typically signifies love and loyalty.
    • (Pillar New Testament Commentary) When Judas approaches Jesus he kisses him not with modesty and reserve, but lavishly, even passionately, according to the Gk. kataphilein.
• What was Judas’ reward for his betrayal?
  • 30 pieces of silver
  • Respect of religious leaders
• Have you betrayed Jesus? What are you getting for it? Worth it?

Mark 14:46-47 (NLT) Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him. But one of the men with Jesus pulled out his sword and struck the high priest’s slave, slashing off his ear.

(Pillar New Testament Commentary) A comparison of the account of the arrest in the Gospels shows how some details were heightened in the retelling. Mark, the earliest evangelist, says simply that “one of those standing near” drew his sword and cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant (14:47). Somewhat later Matt 26:51 sharpens the designation to “one of Jesus’ companions.” Later still, Luke 22;50 identifies the servant’s wound as “the right ear”; and near the close of the first century John 18:10 identifies the swordsman as Peter and gives the servant’s name as Malchus!

Mark 14:48-49 (NLT) Jesus asked them, “Am I some dangerous revolutionary, that you come with swords and clubs to arrest me? Why didn’t you arrest me in the Temple? I was there among you teaching every day. But these things are happening to fulfill what the Scriptures say about me.”

Isaiah 53:12 (NLT) I will give him the honors of a victorious soldier, because he exposed himself to death. He was counted among the rebels. He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels.

Should we name this third kind of lip service? Peter’s lip service was misplaced zeal – he pulled out a sword when Jesus promoted peace. History is full of these kinds of zealots. 

• Taking revolutionary action in the name of Jesus when he is not behind it.  Not supporting. Distorting Christianity to justify hatred, violence, and oppression. 
  • Abortion clinic bombing
  • Those ready to take up arms if political party does not win and their candidate that says they stand for righteousness, morals, Christian ethics
• Look back at Jesus’ words: “Am I some dangerous revolutionary?”

Mark 14:50 (NLT) Then all his disciples deserted him and ran away. 

(Pillar New Testament Commentary) All drank the cup (14:23), all pledged to die with him (14:31) . . . and all desert! The “all” in v. 50 is made emphatic in Gk. by placing it at the end of the sentence: the betrayal of Judas is thus multiplied by the wholesale failure of the disciples; they all abandon Jesus and flee.

Lip service litmus test: they all deserted him!

• Walk away when things get tough in our lives
• Walk away when Jesus doesn’t save us from situation
• Walk away when it no longer is comfortable and we could be labeled or arrested.

Mark 14:51-52 (NLT) One young man following behind was clothed only in a long linen shirt. When the mob tried to grab him, he slipped out of his shirt and ran away naked.

• • Our passage ends with a mysterious young man whose actions were a little different. Unclear as to how close he knew Jesus. Could have been Mark.
  • Amos 2:16 (NLT) “On that day the most courageous of your fighting men will drop their weapons and run for their lives,” says the LORD. 

All his disciples deserted Jesus and ran away, even after pledging to die for him. It’s embarrassing, yet it’s the story of all of us. Mark 14:50-52, Romans 3:10-12

Romans 3:10-12 (NLT) As the Scriptures say,

“No one is righteous—not even one. No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. All have turned away; all have become useless.No one does good, not a single one.”

Close:

Are you giving God lip service?

• What do our actions, not our words, but our actions, reflect about our relationship with Jesus today.