Excite
As we prepare to look at the death of Jesus on Sunday morning, read through the passage, then slowly read through it again this time make a note of the things that stand out to you.
As I studied these verses 6 different events stood out to me, how many did you get?
What do you think is the significance of the events that stood out to you and why did Mark mention them?
Call to Prayer
This Sunday churches and other Christian organisations are calling for us to pray from 3-4pm. Below is a link with guidance as to how you can pray during the hour.
https://www.presbyterianireland.org/Blog/March-2020/Church-Leaders’-Palm-Sunday-Call-to-Prayer.aspx
Below is a link to another resource from PCI with several resources to help, equip and challenge us during this time.
https://www.presbyterianireland.org/thesethreeremain
Check back on Sunday at 10am when the Engage and Extent sections of the blog will be updated.
Engage & Extend
This week in the Excite section of this blog I asked you to read the passage and note down things that stood out to you.
I wonder how many you got?
I got 6, you can see them below.
We then need to ask, why did it stand out and what is its challenge to us/me right now?
1. 3 hours of darkness v33
12 – 3pm it should have been bright, why darkness?
Was this the supernatural symbolism of what happened on the cross?
On the cross Jesus took our sin, the judgement of God on Jesus the only sinless one.
2 Corinthians 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2. The words of Jesus v34
Psalms 22:1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Mark 14:22 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.” 23 Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them.
What challenges us/me? 3 hours of darkness, The words of Jesus
The reality of what Jesus did on the cross, the seriousness of our sin, the anguish and sacrifice of the Jesus for us. But the benefit to us.
so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
We must realise the important of repentance and confession.
We must seek to become more like Jesus.
3. Jesus’ loud cry
This was unusual because the person would have died of asphyxiation, they had no strength left at the end and couldn’t have done this, therefore why the cry?
The victory cry, it is finished.
Anticipating the resurrection, Jesus knew he would rise again. He had told his disciples and the people.
John 2:19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”
4. The curtain
How did it tear from top to bottom?
The division between the most holy place and the world, separating a holy God from a sinful people.
God removed the divide so that we, because of Jesus, can have fellowship with him.
Hebrews 10:19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
Hebrews 4:16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
What challenges us/me? Jesus’ loud cry, The curtain
To live fully in the victory Jesus has won for us.
What the world and satan saw as defeat, was a victory over sin, death and our separation from God.
God’s presence open to us.
In our current time of need Hebrews 4:16 should be especially important to us.
5. The Centurion
He had seen a lot of death, probably a lot of crucifixions but there was something different about this one, something different about how Jesus died.
Affirming the statement at the start of the book.
Mark 1:1 The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
6. The women
Why mention them when in society they were unimportant?
In the life and ministry of Jesus they were vital.
What challenges us/me? The Centurion, The women
See the wonder of the cross and acknowledge who Jesus is and that Jesus will use us all in his ministry, we just need to be willing.
Trinity Deeper 