Jesus lived a cross-formed life. The cross was pressed into his life, and with it he changed the world. His followers must do the same and press cross into their lives so they can look like Jesus. This is what the Apostle Paul teaches the early Christians at Philippi. He urges them to press the cross so deeply into their hearts and minds that they know Jesus above everything else and experience the joy and peace that come from him alone.

When Jesus’s body was placed in the tomb, Everything looked hopeless. But after three days, a group of unexpected women showed up at the grave and discovered he wasn’t there. He was risen! Everything in the world now hinges on that fact.

Karson and Finley shared with us at the 9:45am service. Ryland shared with us at the 11am. Both sermons turned our attention to Jesus and the kingdom of God.

The early Christians told a fundamentally different story about the world and its king. They declared Jesus, not Caesar, as the true Son of God, the king of the world. The story of his crucifixion forces us today to evaluate where our allegiance lies: with the crucified one or someone else?

The story of Jesus on trial before Pilate and the release of a criminal named Barabbas highlight Jesus’s role as the Servant-King of the world. He is the suffering servant who gives his life as a ransom for many. His love changes our story, if we let it.

At his trial, for the first time, Jesus reveals that he is the Messiah and God will vindicate him. Up until now he has not allowed himself or others to openly declare this truth. But here in the middle of his suffering, Jesus reveals himself fully. He bursts with the light of who he is in the middle of darkness. This has application for us because suffering is often the place where God shows himself most fully.

In the events that follow the Last Supper, everyone abandons Jesus. But in the middle of it all, Jesus remains faithful to his Father in heaven and to his mission to rescue humans from the kingdom of darkness. It was love that motivated him to stay faithful. That has application for us today because he still loves us, even in our struggles.

When Jesus celebrates the Passover meal with his disciples and breaks the bread, pours the drink, and says the cup is the blood of the covenant, he is declaring the final exodus. He is fulfilling the story of Israel and leading humanity out of exile through his death and resurrection. This story becomes the story of all those who follow Jesus.

The story of the unnamed woman who anoints Jesus with oil reveals that those who are weak and marginalized are often the ones who receive the kingdom of God with humility. The proud cannot enter. The story also highlights Jesus's humility, which points us to the cross. All of this has application for our lives.

Ever since Jesus turned over tables and drove out money-changers from the Temple in Mark 11, the disciples have been wondering when Jesus would finish the job. When would he purify the Temple, remove God’s enemies, and vindicate Israel? Jesus gives an answer in Mark 13 that is full of Old Testament imagery and very practical.