It’s funny isn’t it, the things we say when someone dies. We say that our loved one “didn’t make it.” But friends, they did make it, they got to exactly the place where they were meant to be and the place we are hoping to reach one day. We talk about “losing a loved one.”… Continue reading He is not here
Category: Bible Study
Risen (Mark 16:1-8)
Mark gives the briefest of details as we come to the empty tomb. All of the other Gospel writers provide more detail which fleshes out our understanding of Resurrection Sunday. The crucial facts are given though. It’s the women who are first to the tomb. They find it empty and are greeted by a man… Continue reading Risen (Mark 16:1-8)
The sheep with a broken leg? The danger of embellishing Scripture
I’ve only heard the claim once from a pulpit but perhaps that was already one time too many. I’ve since come across other people who have heard the claim. A preacher talking about the Lost Sheep in Luke 15 claimed that after finding the sheep, the shepherd would then break one of its legs. The… Continue reading The sheep with a broken leg? The danger of embellishing Scripture
Preparation
Joseph of Arimathea requests the body of Jesus and arranges to have it buried. Read Mark 15:40-47 Jesus’ execution has happened on a Friday, the day before Sabbath. Properly speaking, the sabbath would commence from the evening of that day. It was not considered good for the bodies to be left hanging or the execution… Continue reading Preparation
Forsaken
Jesus’ crucifixion will have lasted several hours and we know from the other Gospels that he has a number of significant things to say. Read Mark 15:33-39 Mark focuses in on one specifically, the cry “My God, my God why have you forsaken me.” This is a quote from the start of Psalm 22. … Continue reading Forsaken
A helpless saviour?
Jesus is crucified outside of the city. This means that he is forced to carry his own Cross. When Jesus said that we must take up our own crosses on a daily basis, he wasn’t saying that we must simply put up with difficult days. He was calling upon us to die to self. Weakened… Continue reading A helpless saviour?
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice
Stuart Townend’s hymn “How deep the Father’s Love for us” says: Behold the man upon a crossMy sin upon His shouldersAshamed, I hear my mocking voiceCall out among the scoffersIt was my sin that held Him thereUntil it was accomplishedHis dying breath has brought me lifeI know that it is finished The aim of Pilate’s… Continue reading Ashamed I hear my mocking voice
Who are you?
This is Pilate’s question for Jesus. Not in the sense that he didn’t know the name of the person standing before him or anything about the details of his life. It’s a question about identity. Read Mark 15:1-15 It’s the night before his crucifixion and Jesus has been handed over by the Jewish leaders to… Continue reading Who are you?
Crucified (Mark 15)
Jesus is handed over to Pilate because the Jewish leaders don’t have the authority to order his execution. Given their hesitancy around a public showdown with Jesus themselves, it also neatly hands the problem over to the Romans. Note the cowardice of a night trial and then passing the issue so that they don’t get… Continue reading Crucified (Mark 15)
He’s the good good shepherd
I love Psalm 23 and it was really helpful to hear a speaker talking about this at a recent church leaders’ retreat. On Sunday I shared my own attempt at a paraphrase of the Psalm. It’s been particularly on my mind over the past few days as it seems to link with a few particular… Continue reading He’s the good good shepherd
Faithroots 