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You Have Led Captivity Captive

Text: Psalm 68; Ephesians 4
10 December 2017

THE SUFFERING AND DEATH OF THE MESSIAH

The suffering and death of the Messiah foretold

1. First statement   (Mark 8:31-33)

a) This was declared at Caesarea Philippi
i) Caesar Augustus had given this city to Herod the Great
ii) Philip, the son of Herod rebuilt this city and named it after Caesar
iii) This city was about 40 km from Bethsaida
b) Peter had just confessed that Jesus was indeed the Christ   (Mark 8:29)
i) Peter could not understand this statement
ii) He resisted what Jesus had foretold
iii) He had to be rebuked for his folly
iv) This was not just Peter’s problem; the rest of the Disciples
had also rejected the idea of suffering and death   (Mark 8:32-33)

2. Second statement   (Mark 9:12-13)

a) No response was recorded
b) Jesus had to continue to teach and to warn His disciples
i) He would suffer
ii) He would be killed
iii) But He would rise from the dead

3. Third statement   (Mark 10:32-34)

a) This was declared as Jesus made His way to Jerusalem   (Mark 8:32)
b) The Disciples were afraid but they still followed Him   (Mark 8:32)

OUR VICTORIOUS SAVIOUR

1. The suffering

a) This had to be endured
b) A great battle had to be fought
c) The Disciples had not understood this spiritual battle

2. The battle was against Sin and Satan

a) It would appear that Jesus was defeated
i) He had been captured
ii) He had been killed
b) But Jesus had the Victory
i) Over sin
ii) Over death
iii) Over Satan

3. Jesus had the Final Victory

a) But Jesus had the Victory
i) Over sin
ii) Over death
iii) Over Satan
b) Jesus had now led captivity captive
i) The conquered had to surrender to the Victor   (Psalm 68:18)
ii) The Conqueror gave gifts to all who followed Him   (Ephesians 4:8)