King's Cross Church King's Cross Church

What does Jesus say is beautiful? This week we come to a passage in Mark where Jesus uses that term - and yet the very thing he regards as beautiful, others in the room angrily criticize as wasteful. A woman anoints Jesus with a very expensive bottle of ointment. And ironically it is Jesus' own disciples who are most indignant. But Jesus comes to her defense, and even stresses that what she had done would be told throughout the world wherever the Good News of Jesus went. So what is so beautiful about what she did? And why do such 'beautiful' acts often get misinterpreted, even among Jesus' followers? Let's talk about "A Beautiful Thing" (Mark 14:1-11).

We come to a passage often avoided in intellectually-inclined circles. That's probably because so many of us just aren't sure what to do with it. Jesus throws out cataclysmic images of the sky falling, with a sense of immediacy, all while giving a stern warning. It is clear he wants his followers to stay alert and prepared - but for what? To do what? How could all this sense of judgment actually be incredibly good news for us? Let's talk about this “Heads Up” from Jesus (Mark 13:24-37).

What gives us confidence that our sins no longer condemn us, and that Christ the Savior King has redeemed us? Our confidence is not in us or in anything that needs to be done by our own doing. But we have this hope and truth because of the love, grace, and sacrifice of Christ our Savior King. He took our sins, as the greater High Priest, so that we who were sinners, can be called righteous. He is our blessed assurance. This Sunday we will learn from Hebrews 10:19-25 about the full assurance of faith we have through the Redeeming love of our Savior. Join us as we celebrate and sing out, “Oh what a Savior, isn’t He wonderful?!”

Jesus presses us with what it means for him to be "Lord." First Jesus surprises the scribes with his reading of Scripture, and then he surprises his disciples with a poor, overlooked widow as the model for their discipleship. Let's talk about what it means for him to be "Lord of Lords & Widows" (Mark 12:35-44).

Our Easter passage comes from Mark 12, where Jesus emphasizes the hope of the resurrection, even when some religious leaders openly mocked the idea. Let’s celebrate our “Hope Stronger Than Death.” 

It has often been said of Palm Sunday that "the people who shouted 'hosanna!' on Sunday would yell 'crucify!' on Friday." While many scholars have objected that the crowds were probably substantially different, it is worth noting: the loud supporters disappeared. What happened the week of Easter that would lead joyful supporters to fade into the background like the famous meme of Homer Simpson fading into the hedges? What kind of king would willingly die for Homers like me? How can people who laid the palm branches down and slinked away begin to take them back up again? Let's talk about the joy of the Palm Sunday: “God of the Hypocrites” (Mark 11:1-11).