MARK: Jesus #Unfiltered St Bart's Toowoomba

Three women returned to the tomb in which Jesus’ body had been laid. Just as women had provided for Jesus’ needs when he was alive, they remained faithful after his death despite the potential danger and the physical challenge of moving the stone from the entrance of the tomb.

When they arrived at the tomb, they saw that the stone had been rolled away and a young man in a white robe. Understandably, they were shocked. They must have thought of the possibility that Jesus’ body had been stolen. The stone was not rolled away to let Jesus out, but to announce that Jesus had risen for those who visited the tomb.

The angel tells the women the good news that Jesus was not there because he had risen. If the testimony of the angel was not sufficient in itself, the angel shows the women the place where Jesus had been laid. When we see the place where they laid him is now empty, we see that the Father did not forsake Jesus, death is conquered and that we have a living friend in Jesus.

The angel gives the women a message for the disciples. Even though they had deserted Jesus and Peter had denied him, Jesus demonstrates the forgiveness we all receive in him through the plan to meet them in Galilee. Here, Jesus meets with them and commissions them to continue his mission in the world. All who believe in Jesus’ death and resurrection are reconciled to God and sent out to share the gospel on their frontlines. DR

Questions


How can we be sure that Jesus is alive?
Why is Jesus’ resurrection so important?
How do we meet the risen Jesus and be sent out to proclaim the good news?

Prayer

Almighty Father, we thank you that Jesus’ resurrection shows us that he defeated sin and death. Help us to meet him and be transformed by him, so that we, too, might go out into the world and share the good news of salvation in Jesus. In Jesus name, Amen.

As Jesus endured the physical agony of crucifixion and the spiritual weight of sin, causing darkness to come over the land, he cried out the opening line of Psalm 22. Perhaps, someone misheard him and thought he was calling on Elijah. Some thought that Elijah might come and rescue Jesus, because it was believed that Elijah’s return would signal the coming of the Messiah. But, just as many had misunderstood Jesus’ life and ministry, they misunderstood him here, too.

Jesus died, but this was no ordinary crucifixion and no ordinary death. It should have taken much longer for Jesus to die even accounting for his physical beating leading up to his crucifixion. When Jesus died, the curtain of the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The curtain was a sign of the separation between humanity and God that sin caused. Only the High Priest could enter through the curtain once each year on the Day of Atonement to seek forgiveness for the sins of Israel. The curtain was torn from top to bottom to indicate that this was God at work and only God could deal with the problem of sin once and for all.

The centurion, who witnessed Jesus’ death, had most like seen many people crucified before, yet there was very different about Jesus that he said something he could not say about anyone else. The centurion saw Jesus for who he was and is an example of all who come to Jesus through the cross. The crucifixion appeared to be a terrible defeat, but, on the cross, sin is defeated. DR

Questions


What was significant about the darkness which covered the land?
What was significant about the tearing of the curtain in the Temple?
How do we help others to see Jesus the same way as the centurion at the cross?

Prayer

Gracious God, we thank you that Jesus became sin for us even though he did not sin. We thank you that Jesus endured the humiliation, shame and agony of the cross. Help us to be truly thankful for the cross and shape our lives by Jesus’ sacrificial love. In his name, Amen

Psalm 22 was written by King David at a time when he felt abandoned by God, and experienced great danger and deprivation. It begins abruptly, with a disturbing scene: someone who knows and trusts God is forsaken, and cries out to God in agony. We may readily imagine a situation in the life of King David where he experienced this. Many times he found himself in seemingly impossible circumstances and wondered why God did not rescue him immediately.

The real significance of this Psalm though is that it points to the Messiah, and the suffering Jesus would endure on the cross for our salvation. Jesus deliberately chose these words to describe his agony on the cross (Matt 27:46). It seems certain that Jesus was meditating on the Old Testament during the hours of his suffering and saw his crucifixion as a fulfilment of this psalm.

On the cross at that moment, a holy transaction took place. God the Father regarded Jesus as if he were a sinner who carried the sin of the whole world. As Paul would later write, God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Cor 5:21). Martin Luther wrote that this psalm describes the deep and heavy sufferings of Christ when agonising in the midst of the terrors and pangs of divine wrath and death which surpass all human thought and comprehension. Jesus’ agonised cry and the intentional identification of himself with these words are some of the most intense and mysterious descriptions of what Jesus experienced on the cross. DR

Questions


Why does Jesus quote Psalm 22 on the cross?
Why did Jesus feel forsaken (abandoned) by God?
How do you feel that Jesus became sin for us in order to save us?

Prayer

Almighty God, we thank you that the Psalms point towards the Messiah and the suffering he would willingly endure for us. Help us to grasp the cost of our forgiveness, the cost of our salvation. May this knowledge help us to be truly thankful and willing to share this on our frontlines. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Before Jesus was sent to be crucified, the Roman soldiers of the Praetorium humiliated him. The crown of thorns, their bending of the knee and the purple robe were evidence they held Jesus’ claim to be King in contempt. The soldiers struck him again and again, and they spat on him again and again. They treated Jesus the same way they would treat any condemned prisoner, even though he was not guilty.

Simon of Cyrene, who happened to be passing by, was forced to carry the cross for Jesus. This was a normal part of crucifixion to further humiliate the prisoner and to make them an example to others. The fact that Jesus could not carry the cross implies that he was physically unable to carry it due to the soldiers’ beating. Jesus was crucified with two other criminals, his charge reading: “the king of the Jews”. As Jesus is on the cross, it becomes crystal clear that Jesus is the true King and Caesar was not. The Roman Empire appeared to be benevolent but it achieved peace with an iron fist. Jesus is a King who saves by laying down his life for us. He is the Prince of Peace.

Once more Jesus is mocked and insulted by passers-by, witnesses, the two criminals and the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They referred to his previous teachings and miracles to challenge Jesus to ‘save’ himself. Jesus chooses the cross and all its pain and humiliation because it was necessary to atone for our sins and enable Jesus to be ‘a merciful High Priest’ who understood the human condition completely, and support us when we are tempted or suffer. DR

Questions


How do you react when people insult Jesus?
Why did Jesus need to suffer on the cross?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank you that Jesus endured humiliation and physical pain and suffering for us. We acknowledge Jesus not only as the King of the Jews, but as the King of the Universe and our King. We thank-you that Jesus meets us when we are tempted or when we suffer because of all that he endured. Thank you Jesus, Amen.

Jesus has been found guilty of blasphemy by the Sanhedrin and now is brought before Pontius Pilate, the Roman Governor of Judaea, because the Jews were not able to execute anyone who had broken their religious laws. Now, the religious leaders bring forward a political crime accusing Jesus of setting himself up as King in opposition to Caesar. Pilate asks Jesus if he is the “King of the Jews”, to which Jesus replies that Pilate had said so. Then Jesus remains silent as the chief priests lay out their accusations against Jesus.

In reply to Pilate’s question, Jesus is really saying that, as King of the Jews, he is not trying to take over as a political leader. Jesus’ silence in the face of these accusations was a fulfilment of Isaiah 53:7: “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth”. Jesus was in total control in this situation despite the outward appearances. Jesus could have effectively argued his case against these charges, but remains silent in order to fulfil the Father’s will.

Pilate appears to want to release Jesus because he recognises that Jesus has not committed a crime to warrant the death penalty. But, the crowds are stirred up to demand the release of Barabbas, an insurrectionary and murderer. Pilate hands over Jesus to be crucified because he wants to please the crowd. It is ironic that Pilate authorises Jesus’ death because he doesn’t want to upset the crowd in case news of this travels to Rome, but Pilate is happy to release someone who has actively opposed Roman rule. DR

Questions


How do you know that Jesus was in control during this political trial?
Why does Pilate release Jesus to be crucified?
Can you think of some situations in your life when it would have been better to have remained silent than to have spoken?

Prayer

Lord Jesus, we thank you that you were obedient to the Father’s will. Help us to recognise you as our true King, not a political leader or military leader. Help us to resist the pressure of others and follow your will for our lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Directly after Peter proclaims that Jesus is the Messiah, Jesus begins to teach his disciples what it means for him and what he will do. Jesus now teaches directly (plainly in the text) about his impending suffering, rejection and execution...and, his resurrection three days later.

Not surprisingly, Peter wants none of this to happen. Remember, he has only just realised who Jesus is. Peter wants him to be around with him and the disciples for longer. Jesus rebukes Peter because of this “human concern”, clearly implying that his suffering and death are part of God’s plan – God’s plan of salvation. Jesus tells them in advance what will happen so that they will know that his death was not a human victory or Satan’s victory, but God’s plan to deal decisively with sin and death.

It is completely understandable that Peter did not want Jesus to leave them and certainly did not want him to suffer and die. Peter and the disciples had heard Jesus’ teachings, witnessed many miracles and come to know the true identity of Jesus. In sporting terms, it would be like losing the team’s star player for the season – it would be devastating to the team’s prospects. Similarly, the disciples felt devastated that Jesus would leave them.

It is God’s will that Jesus saves humanity through his death and resurrection. The will of the Lord will not be accepted by everyone, even many who saw and heard Jesus firsthand walked away from him. We must open our eyes and ask the Lord to open our hearts to know his truth, his will, and his way. DR

Questions


Why did Jesus start to teach the disciples about his impending death and resurrection straight after Peter declared him the Messiah?
What is the difference between the concerns of God and human concerns?
How do we discern God’s will for our lives?

Prayer

Teach us, O God, to know your truth. Open our hearts to follow your will. Don't let Satan blind us to your way, your truth, and your light. In Jesus' name, Amen.