King's Cross Church King's Cross Church

We are almost finished with our series in Mark. This week we come the burial of Jesus. What is striking in the New Testament is how much we hear of the death of Jesus -- and not just his resurrection -- as something for us to remember. Certainly the resurrection is our joy, but the death that precedes it (including the accompanying mourning) is a definite part of the Christian experience, especially in how we are practically changed. As painful as death and grieving are, something about it is radically transformative. It marks us. In our passage, you see Jesus' death actively changing a centurion, the women, and even a Pharisee. How does that happen? Let's talk about "Burying Jesus" (Mark 15:39-47).

Walk in Him. Walk by faith. Walk on. We hear these phrases often in Christian circles and understand the general premise of what it stands for. But what are we walking for? What holds it all together? We look to Jesus Christ who holds the cosmos, the church and everything together, or else it all falls apart. We can walk in Him because of who He is, what He has done, and what He will continue to do. Join us this Sunday, as we will look into Colossians 2:6-7, and learn what this means, as we walk in Him, the One who holds all things!

The poet Mary Oliver says, “Attention is the beginning of devotion.” We often become what we behold and give our attention to. We hope to give our time and dedication towards Christ, yet we sometimes struggle to give our attention fully to Him. Luke 19:1-10 introduces us to Zacchaeus, and we see the attention he was able to give to Jesus, even climbing up a tree to get a better view of Him. What stirred him to want to get a clearer view of Christ? What was he looking for? As we look forward to our time together this Sunday, what are we seeking and are we looking for a clear line of sight to the One we call our King? May we come together to turn our eyes to Him, the One who came to seek and save the lost and is worthy of praise!

We are nearing the end of our series in the Gospel of Mark. This week we come to the cross. Darkness falls. Jesus cries out. The world is unraveling. This is not just having a bad day. It is despairing of life itself. Have you ever been there? St John of the Cross called it the 'dark night of the soul' - when you utterly lose all your bearings and any sense of hope. You are stripped bare and feel undone. It is astounding that Jesus descended into such darkness. What hope is there for us in such a time? Let's talk about the "Dark Night of the Soul" (Mark 15:33-39).

"Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice call out among the scoffers." English hymnwriter Stuart Townend penned that line almost thirty years ago in the modern classic How Deep the Father's Love For Us. It puts us in the shoes of mockers and scoffers as Jesus walks to his death. And it's a hymn of praise! It's not meant to crush us, but to lift us into joy - as we consider how God transforms both the humiliated and the mockers. Our society features heavy doses of both, but soul-stirring joy is rarely a part of it. If God can so transform Jesus' ultimate walk of shame, how might He do that in our lives now?

This week as we continue our series in the Gospel of Mark, Jesus is handed over to Pilate. And as Pilate asks questions, the motives of everyone involved begin to surface. Not only does that reveal particular fears, but it demonstrates why so many perceived Jesus as a threat. Much like the workplace or even our romantic lives, when we become envious or fear losing control, bad things tend to follow. The inner turmoil of our fears often leads us to lash out at others, making them pay outwardly for what our fears are doing to us inwardly. It perpetuates a cycle of pain. As the old saying goes, "hurt people hurt (other) people." So what hope is there for healing? What will heal not just the outward injuries, but begin to address the inward fears as well? Let's talk about Jesus being "Handed Over to Pilate" (Mark 15:1-15).