Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Prayer Meeting Lesson Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/pm/pm19970618.htm

MARK: GOSPEL OF THE SERVICE OF CHRIST, GOD'S SERVANT
Part XXIV: Learning To Stay Responsible As A Subordinate When Leaders Are Irresponsible
(Mark 15:37-41 et al.)
  1. If an overseer like a husband, parent, employer or Church leader becomes irresponsible in his duties, is it worthwhile for the subordinates involved to continue to keep up their responsibilities in the arrangement?
  2. This difficult and sensitive question is answered by Mark 15:37-41 when understood in context as follows:
    1. Learning To Stay Responsible As A Subordinate When Leaders Are Irresponsible, Mark 15:37-41.
    2. When Jesus died on the cross, all of the twelve but John were absent and unable to witness the event:
      1. All of the disciples at one point had fled, abandoning Jesus to His arrest in Gethsemane, Mk. 14:50-52.
      2. Only John apparently returned to witness the death of Jesus from a distance with Mary, Jesus' earthly mother as recorded in John 19:26-27. John later testified in his Gospel account the graphic evidence of Je sus' death in that he saw blood and water separately flow out of the side of the Lord's body when it was pierced by the soldiers. He also noted that the soldiers did not break His legs to hasten death as they were convinced that He was already dead, John 19:34-35.
    3. However, it was very important that somebody witness Christ's death, for without proof that Jesus had died, the claim of His resurrection from the dead was mute, and left the Gospel impotent, 1 Cor. 15:1-4:
      1. The Gospel of salvation listed by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 which people believe to be saved (15:1-2a) includes the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, 1 Cor. 15:3-4.
      2. However, if there were to exist no evidence that Jesus ever died, then claims that He effectively paid for the sins of the world would have been nullified. Then Jesus would be no Savior at all, and claims that He arose from the dead would be undermined, destroying His credibility as being sent from the Father, cf. v. 3!
    4. Now, though John's witness of Christ's death was true, according to the Scriptures, there would have been no way of verifying his witness as true unless others besides John had seen Jesus die: Deuteronomy 19:15 required that 2 or 3 witnesses establish important facts, not just one like John!
    5. Thus, the women who witnessed the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ from a distance formed the added necessary Biblical witnesses in the absence of the irresponsible disciples of Christ!
      1. There were two named women with "many other women" who saw Jesus die according to Mk. 15:37, 40-41: these two named women were Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of Joses.
      2. Both Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of Joses saw where Jesus was buried, Mark 15:47.
      3. It was Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James who were among those who came to the tomb on Sunday and witnessed the testimony of the angel that Jesus was risen, Mark 16:1-8. They also saw the risen Lord en route away from the tomb, and held His feet according to Mtt. 28:1, 9.
Lesson: Thus, the TESTIMONY of the single disciple, JOHN who saw Jesus DIE is ratified in accord with the BIBLICAL requirements of an accurate testimony, for though the OTHER disciples had all irresponsible fled from the cross, several named women were eyewitnesses of Jesus' death, burial and resurrection! Accordingly, our Christian faith has BIBLICAL validity.

Application: (1) Like Mary Magdalene and the other Marys, though SUBORDINATES in the program of God, it is important that subordinates uphold their sense of RESPONSIBLE vigilance regarding their activities and followship of Christ as doing so may m ean the whole program of God is carried by these "keepers of the flame" (cf. the nurse, 2 Chron. 22:10-12 who kept the Davidic line and thus the Abrahamic Covenant going by protecting the infant, Joash). (2) If a wife sees her husband is irresponsible, or if a child sees irresponsibility in the parent, or if an employee sees irresponsibilit y in the employer or a person in the pew sees irresponsibility in church leaders, instead of following their lead, he or she should keep functioning in obedience to GOD, For God may need to use him or her to carry the load of a crucial program.

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