"BINDING THE HANDS OF JESUS"
                               Mark 15:1
INTRODUCTION
1. In Mk 15:1, we read of how the enemies of Jesus bound Him in
   preparation for sending Him  to Pilate:
   "Immediately, in the morning, the chief priests held a consultation
   with the elders and scribes and the whole council; and they bound
   Jesus, led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate."
2. As we read this, it is easy for our hearts to be filled with 
   sadness, and even with a touch of "righteous indignation" for that
   crowd that bound Jesus in such a way
3. And yet, there are few today who are not guilty of binding the hands
   of Jesus in a "figurative" way!
[To see what I mean, consider some of the various ways we can be guilty
today of "Binding The Hands of Jesus"...]
I. BY REFUSING TO OBEY THE GOSPEL
   A. IN HIS GREAT LOVE FOR US, JESUS STRETCHED OUT HIS HANDS AND DIED
      FOR OUR SINS...
      1. Even today, through His gospel, He pleads with all to take 
         advantage of His vicarious suffering
      2. He does not want us to suffer for the guilt of our own sins
      3. In truth, then, His "tender invitation" of Mt 11:28-30 is 
         still being offered today
   B. BUT WHEN ONE REFUSES TO OBEY THE GOSPEL...
      1. The hands of Jesus are bound!
      2. There is no way such a person can then receive the benefits of
         Jesus death!
      3. For him or her, the death of Jesus was in vain!
   C. IS THIS TRUE OF YOU?
      1. It is...if you have not yet accepted the gospel by obeying the
         commands of Jesus - cf. Mk 16:15-16; Ac 2:38
      2. And if it is, then you will one day have to face the righteous
         indignation of Jesus Himself! - cf. 2 Th 1:7-9
[But even those who obey the gospel can be guilty of "Binding The Hands
Of Jesus".  How?  One way is...]
II. BY REFUSING TO BE TRANSFORMED
   A. CHRIST'S WILL IS THAT WE BE TRANSFORMED...
      1. This transformation involves a renewal of the mind - Ro 12:
         1-2; Ep 4:20-24
      2. This renewal occurs as we read, study, and meditate upon the
         Word of God - 1 Pe 1:23-2:2; Ph 4:8
   B. BUT MANY CHRISTIANS NEGLECT THE INSTRUMENT BY WHICH WE CAN BE
      RENEWED!
      1. We do not "receive with meekness the implanted word, which is
         able to save your souls" - Ja 1:21b
      2. Allowing other things to take precedence in our lives, we so
         "bind the hands of Jesus" that we do not change!
   C. ARE WE GUILTY OF THIS?
      1. We are, if we neglect to study the Bible on our own!
      2. We are, if we fail to take advantage of opportunities to study
         with others!
      3. Neglect the transforming power of the Word of God, and we are
         just as guilty of "binding the hands of Jesus" as were those
         who delivered Him to Pilate!
[We can also be guilty of "Binding The Hands Of Jesus"...]
III. BY REFUSING TO PRAY
   A. JESUS HAS BECOME OUR "HIGH PRIEST"...
      1. He became man for this very purpose - He 2:17-18
      2. He has made it possible for us to boldly approach God's throne
         of grace in prayer - He 4:14-16
      3. As our high priest...
         a. He is able to save those who come to God through Him - He
            7:25a
         b. He "ever lives" to make intercession for us - He 7:25b
   B. WHEN WE DON'T PRAY AS WE SHOULD...
      1. Jesus cannot be our high priest, our intercessor!
      2. Figuratively speaking, we have taken the "praying hands" of 
         Jesus and "bound" them behind His back!
   C. ARE WE DOING THIS?
      1. If so, what a travesty this is!
      2. For here is Jesus...
         a. Who "lives" to intercede for us
         b. But Who can't, because we prevent Him from doing so by our 
            failure to pray!
[There is yet another way to be guilty of "Binding The Hands Of 
Jesus"...]
IV. BY REFUSING TO DO OUR PART IN THE CHURCH
   A. THE CHURCH IS DESCRIBED AS THE "BODY OF CHRIST" - Ep 1:22-23
      1. As His body, we are individually members of one another - 1 Co
         12:27
      2. As members of one another, we are to care for one another - Ep
         4:15-16
      3. It is through such "mutual edification", that Christ provides 
         much of His help for the members of His body!
   B. BUT WHEN WE FAIL TO DO OUR SHARE, AGAIN JESUS IS "BOUND"!
      1. Just as our physical head can do little if our bodily members
         fail to follow its leading, so it is with Jesus and His 
         church!
      2. Jesus could do so much more for His members, if only more of
         the members did THEIR part!
      
   C. HAVE YOU EVER CONSIDERED IT THIS WAY?
      1. That by failing to do our part, we "handicap" the body of 
         Christ?
      2. That because of our neglect, or apathy, or lukewarmness...
         a. Either the whole body of Christ suffers...
         b. Or others are forced to do "double duty" in order to make 
            up the difference?
[Yes, there are many ways we can be just as guilty of "Binding The 
Hands Of Jesus" today as were the religious leaders in delivering Jesus
to Pilate!  But consider just one more...]
V. BY REFUSING TO SHARE THE GOSPEL WITH THE LOST
   A. JESUS HAS MADE HIS DISCIPLES TO BE HIS "HANDS" IN TAKING THE
      GOSPEL TO THE LOST...
      1. Consider Mt 28:19-20; Mk 16:15-16; 1 Pe 2:9
      2. In every case of conversion recorded in Acts, Jesus used a 
         disciple to tell the good news
      3. Jesus works the same way today!
   B. BUT TO THE DEGREE THAT WE KEEP THE "GOOD NEWS" TO OURSELVES...
      1. We have "bound the hands" of Jesus once again!
      2. We hinder Jesus from telling others of His wonderful grace!
   C. ARE WE "BINDING THE HANDS OF JESUS" IN THIS WAY?
      1. Every day, countless souls die with no hope of eternal life
      2. This need not be, if more would make the sharing of the gospel
         the primary concern in their lives!
      3. Sadly, in too many cases the primary concern of Christians is
         the pursuit of pleasure and acquisition of worldly treasures!
CONCLUSION
1. Yes, one does not have to literally "bind the hands of Jesus" to be
   guilty of the same sort of offense that we read about in Mk 15:1;
   as we have seen, there are many other ways as well!
2. Why not today, resolve to "loose the hands of Jesus" so that IN us
   and THROUGH us He may accomplish His full desire?  Which is...
   a. To SAVE us!
   b. To TRANSFORM us!
   c. To USE us!