Category: Mark

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

One practice over the centuries for Christian families has been to read one of the four resurrection accounts out loud to the family every Sunday. It strengthens the soul to hear these wonderful words again and again.

SJA Notes

* Holy God, Your word is a two-edged sword – Please cut through the dross of the world in our lives, the hardness of our hearts, so that we would be Your people in spirit and in truth.

“Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here.”

HE HAS RISEN!

These are the wonderful words that we hold tight and remember each week as we meet together on the Lord’s day.

He has risen – He is not still on the cross and is not in the tomb!

The hold of death was done away with, and instead we God’s people have been gifted, as we read in Romans 6,

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

In Christ we have eternal life, not death.

That is the good news we are to bring to the nations, to those around us.

* Mighty God,

Your plan was always Jesus, the Lamb slain for us.

Through Him we have life, and life to the full – Thank You!

Please help us to be bold and courageous in telling people about this wonderful good news of Jesus.

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Mark’s account of the Temple curtain is given in a way that would tell most with Romans – as witnessed by the Centurion’s testimony. The torn curtain showed most effectively that in Jesus’ death and abandonment sin had been atoned for in a most remarkable and eternal way.

SJA Notes

* Dear God, thank You for Your word that teaches us we must be saved, and that we must be saved through and only through Jesus.

“Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself, and come down from the cross!”

It shouldn’t come as a surprise the lengths people will go in order to stay secure in their blindness.

We see stubborn hearts and blind eyes clearly today as we see them back at the hill called Golgotha.

People walked past and shook their heads at Jesus!

The King of Kings – Made a mockery as though He was of little importance.

“Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself, and come down from the cross!”

How thankful we can be that Jesus chose to save us instead, to die on the cross, be buried then rise again – The true heavenly reality, temple rebuilt in three days.

Instead of saving Himself He saved us.

* Father God,

Please open the eyes of those around us we pray, may Your King grow, Your word spread around.

Please continue to save and sanctify Your people Lord.

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

In this Gospel for Romans, Pilate is drawn in stark colours. His decision to crucify Jesus was formed by political expediency, and was against his understanding of Jesus’ complete innocence. How does Jesus fare today in our media and from our political leaders?

SJA Notes

* Dear God, please teach us from Your word today, as we see the Saviour of the World led away to be killed.

“But they shouted all the more, ‘Crucify him.'”

Can you hear the crowd as they bay for blood – Ragged voices screaming for the murder of the Righteous One, the Son of God?

This was the crowd that only a week before had cried out “Hosanna!” with joy.

This was the crowd that listened to Him teach and preach, that benefited from His healing work, that watched and consumed as He poured Himself out in pastoral ministry.

This is the crowd that cried loud for death.

In the book of Romans, chapter 3, we read,

“For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

We were all as the crowd, separated from God by that great chasm that pays no heed to wealth of power – Our sin.

Later in Romans, chapter 5, we read,

“For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.”

Jesus died to save His enemies. We were His enemies. Our sin took Him to the tree.

This is our King. Our Lord.

Hallelujah, what a Saviour!

* God Above,

While we were still enemies You reconciled us to You through the death of Your Son.

Thank You!

Amen.