This Sunday as the events move to the cross, the plot against Jesus is already in motion. And in the middle of it all, an woman walks into a room with a quiet act of costly devotion.Mark 14:1–11 demonstrates the difference between rejecting Jesus, using Jesus, and truly worshiping Him.

What does it mean to live with hope in an anxious world? Psalm 24 answers by lifting our eyes to a King who comes. Not a distant or fragile king, but the King of glory, who owns all things, who makes a way for sinners to come near, and who has already won the decisive battle over sin and death.

In Mark 13, Jesus speaks about a world that will feel unstable, disorienting, and overwhelming. He does not hide the reality of difficulties we will face, nor does He leave us without hope. Instead, He fixes our eyes on what is certain. His Word will not pass away, and He Himself will come again in power and glory.

Jesus begins preparing His disciples for a future they were not expecting; leaving the temple in Jerusalem, the disciples marvel at its beauty and permanence. But Jesus responds announces that the temple will be torn down and warns of the turbulent time between His first coming and His return, a time marked by deception, upheaval, persecution, and hardship.

Jesus, teaching in the temple during the final days before the cross raises an important question about the identity of the Messiah, offers a sobering warning about a kind of religion that looks impressive but misses the heart of God, and then draws attention to a quiet act of devotion that most people in the room would have completely overlooked.

A scribe asks Jesus a question: which is the greatest commandment? Jesus answers: love the Lord your God with all that you are, and love your neighbor as yourself. This answer feels simple until you realize how deep it runs. This passage shows us the life God seeks, a whole-hearted life that knows Him, treasures Him, and shares His love with others.

Jesus faces the Sadducees, who devise a calculated trap designed to make resurrection appear absurd and to embarrass Him. Instead, Jesus exposes their flawed argument and failure to know either the Scriptures or the power of God.

In Mark 12:13-17, strange allies gather in the temple courts with a single aim: to defeat and destroy Jesus. They approach with a simple but loaded question about power, loyalty, and who truly holds authority. What unfolds is far more than a clever escape, but showcases the beauty of our Savior.

In the parable of a vineyard, Jesus exposes God’s generous provision, humanity’s refusal to give Him what He is owed, and the judgment that follows when the Son is rejected.We’ll consider whether we live as grateful tenants under God’s care or resist His rightful claim on our lives.

Every life is lived under authority; the real question is whose? In Mark 11:27–33, Jesus is confronted in with a question meant to trap him: “By what authority are you doing these things?” When Jesus’ authority collides with our autonomy, how will we respond? Jesus’ authority is not a threat to our joy, but the very means of our salvation.