It's Never Too Late
Series: The Gospel of Mark
December 08, 2024
Pastor Landon Henry
Episode Notes
The Gospel of Mark - 50
It’s Never Too Late
Mark 15:42-47 And when evening had come, since it was the day of
Preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath, 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a
respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the
kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body
of Jesus. 44 Pilate was surprised to hear that he should have already died.
And summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he was already
dead. 45 And when he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he
granted the corpse to Joseph. 46 And Joseph bought a linen shroud, and
taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud and laid him in a tomb
that had been cut out of the rock. And he rolled a stone against the
entrance of the tomb. 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses
saw where he was laid.
● To understand the magnitude of how GOOD the good news is we
first have to understand the magnitude of the MESS we’re in.
The Gospel In A Nutshell
Ephesians 5:5-6 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is
sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no
inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you
with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes
upon the sons of disobedience.
● We all have a problem we can’t FIX.
Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual
immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife,
jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy,
drunkenness , orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you
before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not
inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually
immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice
homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers,
nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
These People Can’t Go to Heaven
Immoral, impure, greedy, debauchery, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, discord,
jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envy,
drunkenness, orgies, adulterers, men who have sex with men, thieves,
drunkards, slanderers, swindlers
● Jesus paid the price to FIX IT.
● The resurrection is the proof He FIXED IT.
1 Corinthians 6:11 And such were some of you. But you were washed,
you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus
Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Joseph’s Story
Isaiah 53:8-9 By oppression and judgment he was taken away;
and as for his generation, who considered
that he was cut off out of the land of the living,
stricken for the transgression of my people?
9 And they made his grave with the wicked
and with a rich man in his death,
although he had done no violence,
and there was no deceit in his mouth.
Matthew 27:57-61 When it was evening, there came a rich man from
Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. 58 He went
to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be
given to him. 59 And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen
shroud 60 and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock.
And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away. 61
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.
● Joseph was a RICH DISCIPLE.
● He was a PROMINENT member of Jesus’s chief accusers.
Mark 15:42-47 And when evening had come, since it was the day of
Preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath, 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a
respected member of the council...
● He disagreed with the council’s decision, but DIDN’T SPEAK UP.
Luke 23:50-56 Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish
town of Arimathea . He was a member of the council, a good and
righteous man , 51 who had not consented to their decision and action;
and he was looking for the kingdom of God. 52 This man went to Pilate
and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 Then he took it down and wrapped it
in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had
ever yet been laid. 54 It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was
beginning. 55 The women who had come with him from Galilee followed
and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. 56 Then they returned and
prepared spices and ointments.
Mark 14:61-65 But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the
high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” 62
And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right
hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” 63 And the high
priest tore his garments and said, “What further witnesses do we need? 64
You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?” And they all
condemned him as deserving death.65 And some began to spit on him
and to cover his face and to strike him, saying to him, “Prophesy!” And the
guards received him with blows.
John 19:38-42 After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple
of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take
away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and
took away his body. 39 Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by
night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five
pounds in weight. 40 So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen
cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. 41 Now in the
place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new
tomb in which no one had yet been laid. 42 So because of the Jewish day
of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.
● He kept silent because he FEARED what he’d LOSE.
● Despite his horrible start, God didn’t WRITE HIM OFF.
● Despite their great start, the disciples were AWOL.
Three Incredibly Important Life Lessons
1. A GOOD START doesn’t guarantee a HAPPY ENDING.
2. A BAD START doesn’t preclude a HAPPY ENDING.
3. Never write OFF ANYONE – including YOURSELF!
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