“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. (Mark 16:6, NIV)
What does it mean to follow Jesus? Mark’s gospel ends with an empty tomb, and the promise of Jesus’ resurrection. Mark doesn’t record the women at the tomb meeting Jesus, but they are told to believe his promises and to go and find him just where he said he would be.
What does it mean to follow Jesus? To believe what he said, and to know him.
I hope that you’ll be able to join us in-person or online this Sunday, as celebrate the resurrection of Jesus together.
Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate … had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified. (Mark 15:15, NIV)
Who is Jesus? Mark starts his gospel by describing Jesus as the Christ — God’s rescuing king. As we follow Jesus’ journey through Mark we see Jesus demonstrating his power and authority over nature, sickness, evil and death. This Sunday is usually called Palm Sunday, where we remember the crowds in Jerusalem welcoming Jesus as God’s king. We also Jesus betrayal, abandonment and arrest. The only crown Jesus wears is one made of thorns.
Who is Jesus?
I hope that you’ll be able to join us in-person or online this Sunday, as we look at Jesus Christ together. Is he really God’s king?
Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: ‘Before the cock crows twice you will disown me three times.’ And he broke down and wept. (Mark 14:72b, NIV)
The apostle Peter: bold, brave, rash and often seems to speak before he thinks. He has boldy proclaimed Jesus to be the Messiah. He has bravely promised to follow Jesus to his own death, even if everyone else falls away. Yet here here he is, having disowned Jesus three times. Has he gone too far this time? Can this ever be put right?
I hope that you’ll be able to join us in-person or online this Sunday, as we look at what happens next for Peter. It will show us that we are never too far from God, and that he can always put things right.
Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”
“I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven. (Mark 14:61b-62, NIV)
As we get closer to the cross, Mark slows down the account of Jesus’ life. Because of that, we’re able to see some of the detail of those final few days. Jesus stands alone before the Sanhedrin, betrayed and abandoned, just as he said would happen. He answers the high priest honestly, but is condemned to death. This is what must happen — it is the fulfillment of the scriptures — and Jesus willingly dies for those who desert him.
I hope that you’ll be able to join us in-person or online this Sunday, as we look at the next part of Mark’s gospel together.
“Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. ‘Abba, Father,’ he said, ‘everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.’” (Mark 14:35-36, NIV)
Jesus has shared the Last Supper with his disciples, and he now goes out to pray in Gethsemane. His prayer reveals that he knows what is about to happen, but that he also knows that his death on the cross is the only way for us to be saved.
I hope you’ll join us online at 10:30am for our Sunday morning service, as we look more at Jesus’ prayer, and as we see how God’s love for us is demonstrated in, and by, Jesus.