As the life of Jesus draws to a close, we see his humanity wrestle deeply with the realities of the cross. It's in the garden of Gethsemane that we see Jesus' faithfulness in Peter's abjuration, his endurance amid agony, and his courage to face our abandonment and fear.

The final hours of Jesus are upon us. Jesus prepares to celebrate the Passover meal with his disciples, but tells them that one of them will betray him. He then declares that he is the Passover’s ultimate fulfillment and his body and blood would soon be poured out for them. It is through this meal that we see Jesus, the Lamb of God, prepared and provided for us as a ransom for many. Throughout the centuries, men and women have reflected deeply on this meal, but we might think nothing of it. Communion is a meal that helps us remember that life isn't found in anything else but Jesus. Through this meal, we come and find rest for our hearts through the provision of the Lamb for our sins.

The time for Jesus' crucifixion is nigh. Mere days away from completing the task he was sent to accomplish, Jesus is met by an unnamed woman who reveals her devotion to Jesus. Mark highlights that the revelation of the Son of Man requires a response. How will we respond to this depiction of devotion? Will we respond by laying everything down at the feet of Jesus? Or will we respond like the religious leaders and Judas?

We look at the world around us and can only come to one conclusion: things aren't what they are supposed to be. But even if we try to improve them, our efforts don't last. As Jesus concludes his Olivet discourse in Mark 13, we see astounding realities announced: we see the end of the world, the Son of Man coming in glory and power, and the ultimate restoration of all things. These are not just declarations; they are promises. It's through these final verses of Mark 13 that we see three promises of Jesus' return and what it means for our lives today.

When you bring up the words "end times," people have a lot of different opinions about what this means. Though the end times are important for Christians to consider, many have taken this idea to create false Messiahs and damaging theologies. The aim of Jesus' Olivet teachings in Mark 13 is not to create speculation for tomorrow, but to fuel faithful obedience today. The overarching idea is that Jesus' future return shapes how we live now.

What are the things we are leaving behind? Some of us remember leaving stuffed animals behind when we were younger. Maybe we desire to leave a good first impression on people. But have we considered what it means to leave behind a legacy? In Paul's final address to Timothy, he gives him a charge to preach the word and uses his life as an example of enduring faithfulness. For our church, this means that a gospel legacy will require our lives, deaths, and eternities to be transformed by Jesus.

People have a lot of opinions about Jesus. But what does Jesus say about himself? In the final question he poses to the religious leaders, Jesus makes clear that he is not just the Messiah, but he is Lord. Submitting to Jesus’ Lordship now will be our commendation, but our rejection of it will be our condemnation later.

One of the most well-known and often misunderstood Bible passages is Jesus' teaching on the greatest commandment. It's well-known for its brevity, but often misunderstood in its meaning and application. So what does Jesus mean by this teaching? Authentic love for God and neighbor only exists through the transforming power of the gospel.

What are the biggest questions facing your life? They could be mundane or deeply serious. One of the biggest questions many people have is what happens after they die. The Sadducees have their opportunity to trap Jesus on a question of the resurrection, but Jesus will reveal it's a question rooted in ignorance and pride. Pride in thinking they know better than God, and ignorance about what God has clearly spoken. But why trust God's Word and power? We can trust God's Word and power, even when we face death, because the tomb is empty.

In 1789, Benjamin Franklin popularized the phrase: In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes. But in Mark 12:13-17, we see a third reality: God's ownership. In debates about politics, government, and taxes, we forget the powerful truth Jesus drives home: God owns everything; therefore, we owe him everything.