Mark 15:1-15“Then everyone deserted Him and fled.”Mark 14:50The King is crucified as a criminal as the criminal is elevated to royalty. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish?I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint.My heart has turned to wax; it has melted within me.My mouth is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;you lay me in the dust of death.Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet.All my bones are on display;People stare and gloat over me.They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment. Psalm 22:1, 14-18

Mark 12:13-27I The enemies of Christ.II The motives of Christ’s enemies.Pharisees….envyDon't be so narrow that you cannot imagine God working in another's life in a way different from the way he works in your life.Sadducees (liberals/progressives)…unbeliefWhen I make a god of my own intellect and an idol of my own system of unbelief, I sin unto God.Herodians…carnal natureRomans…political and military PowerMob…emotionsIII Jesus’ response to His enemies.If the devil can destroy your support system then, in the moment of crisis, you won't have the protection you need to survive.

Mark 8:27-38I Jesus turns very serious (The fun part is over)II Jesus enters JerusalemIII Jesus makes a decision1. You must be in tune with God.The greater the decision, the greater your submission to God must be.2. You must be a person spiritually inclined rather than naturally inclined.The spiritual person operates out of conviction.The spiritual person operates out of obedience.The spiritual person operates out of courage.3. You must be a deliberate person.4. You must make your own decision.At the moments of the greatest decisions of your life, it's not really about the decision you make but rather who you are.

Mark 3:13-171. He encouraged Faith.2. He encouraged Vulnerability.3. He encouraged Honesty.4. He encouraged Approachability. 5. He encouraged Grace and Forgiveness 6. He encouraged Sincerity 7. He encouraged Intimacy Mark 16:9The more secure you are about yourself the less threatened you are in relationship with people who are different than you.

Matthew 11:25-3025 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26 Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.27 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”I. COME TO ME."I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me shall not hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.” – John 6:35 (NASB)."If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ’From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.” – John 7:37-38The cross is the place where… what I am is placed on Him AND what He is - is freely given to me!II. TAKE MY YOKE.III. LEARN FROM ME. “Give all your worries to him, because he cares about you.” – 1 Peter 5:7 So we must make every effort to enter that place of rest. Then no one will be lost by following the example of those who refused to obey.” – Hebrews 4: 11