Category Archives: Jesus

Mark 15- The Death of Christ

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And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias. Mark 15:33-35

The darkest moment in the history of the world, when Christ was abandoned on the cross and the wrath of God was poured down upon him for the penalty of our sins! Jesus was the only one who could take this cup, he was the only one who could be an atonement for our sins. And while it was the darkest day, it was also a day of victory as Christ crushed the head of Satan, defeating sin and death forever!

As prophecied in Psalm 22, My God, My God , why have you forsaken me? The moment Jesus became the sacrificial lamb for the wages of our sins. The fulfillment was being paid, as Jesus would justify us before The Father , by being the ransom of sin for his elect

And one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down. And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. Mark 15:36-38

And when Christ fulfilled the debt for our sins, the veil was torn. The veil that separated us from God has now been removed because we have been washed clean by the blood of Christ. We have now been reconciled back to God through Jesus, not only can we now stand in the presence of God, but God now lives inside of us!

And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God. There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome; (Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem. Mark 15:39-41

The blood of Christ that was shed for the world, even the Roman soldier confessed Jesus is the Son of God. The New Covenant is not just for Israel, but for everyone who calls upon the name of The Lord, Jew and Gentile. The veil has been torn, the ransom has been paid, we are now children of God through Jesus Christ

If you want salvation, you must come to the cross of Christ, you must repent of your sins, have faith that Jesus is your Lord, and receive the Holy Spirit, It is finished in Jesus name Amen!

Mark 15- The Cross of Christ

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And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull. And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not. And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take. Mark 15:21-24

When we look at the crucifixion of Christ, there are so many details that have symbolic meanings. First we see a man named Simon who helped Jesus carry the cross with him to Calvary. This is symbolic of ourselves as Jesus commanded us “ To deny ourselves, carry our cross, and follow him” (Matthew 16:24) Remember Jesus took our place on that cross, we deserve that punishment on the cross, but Jesus took our place

All the details were prophesied hundreds of years ago in Psalm 22, the offering of a drink, the crucifixion, and dividing of garments, all the details were foretold by God before this even ever happened. 

And it was the third hour, and they crucified him. And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS. And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left.And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors. Mark 15:25-28

Again more prophecy is fulfilled which was foretold in Isaiah 53, Jesus, the sinless Lamb of God was killed with the sinners. Jesus became our curse,  so we can be redeemed for our sins! One thief mocked Christ even to his death, while the other thief confess Christ and received amazing grace, salvation that could only be earned by Jesus

And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, Save thyself, and come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save. Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him. Mark 15:29-32

The religious leaders of Israel taunted and mocked as they crucified their own Messiah. The blindness of their eyes and hardness of their hearts was fully displayed, as Jesus told them “These people honor God with their lips, but their hearts are far from him” (Matthew 15:8) If the religious leaders truly knew God, they would have known Jesus is their Messiah

All this took place to give us eternal life, to reconcile us back to our Heavenly Father. Jesus took our place on the cross, Hallelujah to the Lamb of God, Amen!

Mark 16- The Ascension of Christ

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So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. Mark 16:19

As Christians we often celebrate the different events of Christ’s life, such as the Incarnation at Christmas, His death on the cross on Good Friday, and of course the Resurrection of Christ on Easter. The Ascension of Christ is one of those important events that is often overlooked by the Church today

The early Church felt it was a central doctrine as it was in the early Creeds (Apostles and Nicene) however how many Churches today are celebrating and teaching about the Ascension today? Christ being Ascended into Heaven is an essential doctrine because it was a sign and accomplished several things

First we notice in verse 19, Jesus The Lord is sitting at the right hand of God the Father. The right hand of God is the highest place of exaltation, there is no other position higher that anyone could obtain, and there is nobody else who could ever obtain this position except Jesus the Christ

And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen Mark 16:20

As we notice in the next scripture, when Christ was ascended, then his disciples went forth and preached the gospel everywhere! The responsibility of teaching went from Jesus to his disciples, we are responsible as Christians to preach the gospel to everyone and everywhere as stated in the Great Commision!

Jesus is the Head of the Church and we are the Body of Christ (Ephesians 1) The Ascension completes the exaltation of Christ! Also because Christ has ascended , he sent the promise of The Holy Spirit (Acts 1, Luke 24, John 16) The Holy Spirit has equipped the Church to be Christ Body and fulfill his work here on Earth

Because of the Ascension of Christ , we know that Jesus is sitting on the throne at the right hand of our Heavenly Father, Jesus is in complete control as King of Kings and Lord of Lords Amen

Mark 15- Crown of Thorns

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And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head, And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews! Mark 15:16-18

The Crown of Thorns was a symbol meant for shame and humiliation, but actually it was for our redemption. As the Roman Soldiers mockingly put that crown on Jesus head, they didn’t realize they were crowning the true King of King and Lord of Lords! Every drop of blood shed by those thorns and nails, was for the atonement of our sins. 

They mockingly saluted Jesus as the King of the Jews, what the Romans soldiers didn’t realize is one day, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and King! Every knee will bow in Heaven, on Earth, and in Hell, Jesus is Lord and King over ALL

And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him. And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him. Mark 15:19-20

Notice they put the color of purple on Christ, this is the color of a King. While the Roman soldiers were doing this mockingly , they were actually fulfilling prophecy and affirming who Jesus really is, the King of all Kings! Satan put the evil in their hearts to kill an innocent man, but God in his wisdom and glory used this moment to crush the head of Satan, and defeat sin and death forever!

Jesus took the punishment for our sins, he allowed the wicked to mock, beat, and crucify him, because Christ loved us enough to take our place! We deserve to be on that cross, not Jesus! Until you understand this, you will never understand the grace of God

As Jesus prophesied he is being led like a lamb to the slaughter, Jesus is the Lamb of God, who took away the sins of the world! Thank you Jesus! Amen!

Mark 15- We Are Barabbas

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Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired. And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection. And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them Mark 15:6-8

The trial of Jesus was such a sham, Pilate asked Israel to make a choice, either release a convicted murderer Barabbas or  release the Son of God Jesus Christ. You would think the decision would be easy, however because of the hardness of their hearts and blindness of their eyes, Israel choose a convicted murderer over their Messiah. Oh how the mighty have fallen

Now when we look at this event, I want you to see this from a spiritual and symbolic perspective. You are Barabbas! You might say well “I’m not a convicted murderer” Yes however we are all sinners and deserve the wrath of God. However Jesus took our place! We should be up there getting the death sentence on the cross, however Christ the sinless Lamb of God, took our place on the cross! 

But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews? For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy. But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them. Mark 15:9-11

Pilate in mockery called Jesus King, however he was correct! Jesus is the King of Kings, and by the evil Pilate and the religious leaders were performing, they were actually fulfilling prophecy. They were fulfilling scripture that Jesus the Messiah must be handed over to sinners and die for our sins. Notice the chief priests influenced the people to choose Barabbas, a convicted murderer! These men were supposed to be experts in the Law of God, but they were blinded and hardened by their own pride and arrogance.

And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews? And they cried out again, Crucify him. Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him. And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified. Mark 15:12-15

The same crowd that was shouting “Hosanna” a few days ago is now shouting “Crucify Him”  Israel turned on their own Messiah and killed him, Gods own people killed Gods Son, how the mighty have fallen!

Jesus willingly went to the cross to pay the penalty for our sins, behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world Amen!