Session 1 of College Camp 2015

As we finish Mark, and continue to look at why we can trust our Bible, we will see why the final verses of Mark don’t belong. There will be some theology, Church history, exegesis, and an understanding of how the Bible was formed, and so much more.

Our four-year study of the gospel of Mark is done, but not quite. There are still some verses in your Bibles at the very end of Mark, verses 9 to 20, which need to be explained. So we will look at how we got our Bible, can we trust our Bible, and why we love our Bible. I am confident you meet people with funny views about the Bible--you will grow in trust and be equipped to answer concerns about the Word of God.

You love victory, and nothing in this life or the next comes even close to the ultimate victory of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is how Mark ends his gospel in Mark 16:1 to 8—with the most important moment of history. Jesus needed to die for us, but if He didn’t rise from the dead then it was all for naught. The resurrection is not merely one truth, one feature of Christianity--it’s the main event. If Christ is not raised, then your faith is worthless and you are still in your sins. The Church doesn’t meet on Friday--we meet on Sunday. We’re thankful for the cross, but we celebrate the resurrection, which makes the cross meaningful.

Throughout history, Christians have suffered for their faith. Even here some are abused for being Christians. Do you expect persecution as a Christian in America? How do you encourage believers suffering for their faith in Christ? I pray that we as a church are prepared to stand for Christ no matter what, that Peter will motivate us to live in light of the Gospel no matter what, and to gladly proclaim the good news of Christ, following in the footsteps of Jesus, Peter, Paul, and every other martyr who has given their life for the Gospel.

Christ said that the world would hate his disciples because they were not of the world, and we should expect the same. The desire to have everyone speak well of us often leads to compromise - if we never speak of Christ or only speak of the things we know others won't object to, we end up compromising our loyalty to Christ. However, God promises great reward to those who are willing to suffer for His name - He tells us we should even leap for joy when we are insulted and persecuted! Join us for this great message and be both challenged and encouraged.

Now at the end of Chapter 15, Mark clearly declares our Lord Jesus Christ truly and certainly dead, through Pilate, the centurion, and the details of His burial it is clear. But in the midst of this at great personal cost, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus boldly make their love for Christ public, so even in this sad hour there is reason for rejoicing. Plus, during all the events of late Friday night, you will see God’s providence in a new way.

Immediately after Christ dies, God demonstrates what has changed. Access to God is now open. Belief and salvation are possible for the Gentile. And now deep commitment to Christ is a reality for every disciple, man or woman. Allow the Lord to impact you with this message through the radical reactions to the death of Christ.

Mark 15:33 and following describes the final three hours on the cross--the greatest moment of history, when Christ bore our sin on the cross, when the Father poured out His wrath on the Son, when Christ became our substitute, took our place and provided salvation. This is the greatest sacrifice and deepest agony. This is what we have been waiting for, studying for, and longing for in our study of this great gospel.

We focus on the physical suffering of Christ, but Mark and the other gospel writers emphasize the humiliating mockery of Christ--the blaspheming of the people, the scoffing by the religious leaders, even the insults from the crucified thieves. But at each and every moment, there is a clear manifestation of hope, a display of grace, an expression of mercy, and a demonstration of God’s love as we study the first three hours of the crucifixion in this passage.