In Hebrews 12:3, we are invited to “consider Him”. Jesus—the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross (Hebrews 12:2). As we encounter the cross in Mark 15, we consider Him—we wonder together what (or who) that joy is that empowered Jesus to endure the cross.

In our previous study in the Gospel of Mark, Peter and the other apostles made a bold declaration to Jesus that they didn’t live up to. No one felt this failure more than Peter. His failure taught him some important lessons—lessons we can learn so that we don’t repeat his mistakes.

Imagine what it would be like to have been in Bethlehem at the time of Jesus’ birth. Then to see and hear Him teach and preach as a man on the Judea hillsides. Picture what it would have been like to witness His crucifixion and death just outside of Jerusalem—and wonder what it all meant.

In the final hours leading up to His death, Jesus celebrated Passover with His disciples. For them, what was coming would give rise to fear, anxiety, and uncertainty. For Jesus, the crushing emotional weight of what was about to happen caused His soul to be exceedingly sorrowful. Nevertheless…Jesus was obedient to the will of God. He looked beyond the shame and suffering of the cross to a greater joy that allowed Him to endure it all.

Join us Sunday at 10am as we worship the Lord and continue our study in the Gospel of Mark. We gather in-person at 912 W. St. Germain Street, St. Cloud, MN; online at https://live.refuge.mn; and on the radio at http://refuge.fm or 96.1 FM (in the St. Cloud area).

Herod’s Temple was massive and brilliant—it’s white marble and gold exterior could have been seen for miles. But Jesus cares more about the temple of the Holy Spirit (our hearts) than He does about any temple made with human hands. He is coming soon—and He wants us to be ready!

The religious rulers of Jesus’ day didn’t always get along, but they all had the same enemy—Jesus. They found a common purpose in discrediting Jesus in the eyes of the public. In Mark 12 we see their bold and brazen attempts to disgrace Jesus and vilify Him. But Jesus was well aware of all of their tactics. In His wisdom, He turned these traps into opportunities to teach and to address both the heart of the matter and the heart of the person asking the question.

Scripture quoted out of context can become a pretext for whatever you’d like it to say. That’s why it’s so important to consider what comes before and after a passage. Context was especially helpful in this study as we encountered several scenes that may have left us scratching our heads if considered one-by-one. But when read and study together, we have a clearer understanding of what is going on and what God is saying.

“This is the day that the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.” This is something we say and even sing to ourselves and to each other to remind us that God is still on His throne. He made this day, He saw this day approaching, and He prepared for this day from before the foundations of the world. It’s more than a verse from a song—it’s scripture! This declaration of providence is from Psalm 118 and describes the coming of the Messiah on a very specific and special day.