The following outline and discussion questions have been prepared to accompany the sermon on August 25, “The Divine Design in the Rejection of Jesus” (Mark 14:17–31). The questions can be used for discussion in small groups or for personal reflection.

Outline

1. Jesus Predicts Judas’s Betrayal (Mark 14:17–21)
2. Jesus Institutes the Last Supper (Mark 14:22–25)
3. Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial (Mark 14:26–31)

Main Point: Jesus was despised, rejected, and deserted as part of God’s sovereign plan for Jesus to purchase the new covenant. By his blood, Jesus has paid the price for our sins and brought us to God forever.

Discussion Questions

• How does the “sandwich” structure of the passage help us interpret what is happening in this passage?
• Can you see how this passage brings together the twin truths of God’s sovereignty and human responsibility? How do they fit together?
• How does the Lord’s Supper symbolize that Jesus is establishing the new covenant? How is it both similar to and different from the covenant God made with Israel?
• Why is the Lord’s Supper clearly not a meal for achievers, but for sinners?
• How does this text speak against the sin of spiritual presumption and pride and false bravado?

Application Questions

• Where in your life do you find apathy or a lack of diligence? Are you awake to the danger of drifting? Are there places in your life where you are saying “I’ve got this,” instead of saying “Lord, I need you”?
• How does the Lord’s Supper speak to you of the grace and perfect patience of Jesus? Can you believe that Jesus receives you in your sin the way he received the disciples with all of their false bravado and failures?
• What part of this message do you need to share with someone this week?

Prayer Focus
Pray for a grace to receive the perfect love and patience of Jesus. Pray for a grace to not take his grace for granted and thus fall into spiritual apathy and presumption.