Wednesday in the Word

Most of the Old Testament references to the Holy Spirit involve his work empowering the leaders of Israel to protect the nation. But a second way we see the Spirit of God working in the Old Testament is giving revelation to the prophets.

Passages: Numbers 11:14-29; 1 Samuel 10:5-11; 1Samuel 19:18-24; 2Samuel 23:2; Acts 1:15-16; Acts 4:23-25; Hebrews 3:7; Zechariah 7:12; 2 Peter 1:21; Isaiah 11:1-4; Isaiah 42:1; Isaiah 62:1-2; Zechariah 4:6. 

Series: Who is the Holy Spirit?

One of the main themes in the Old Testament regarding the Holy Spirit is that God empowers Israel’s leaders through His Spirit to bless the nation and keep His covenant promises.

Passages: Isaiah 63:7-14; Judges 3:7-11; 1Samuel 16:13-14; Psalm 51. 

Series: Who is the Holy Spirit?

 In 1Corinthians 2, we learn two more important works of the Spirit: 1) The Spirit reveals the thoughts of God to His chosen messengers. This is revelation. 2) The Spirit gives understanding to all believers so that we embrace the claims of the gospel.

Passage: 1 Corinthians 12. 

Series: Who is the Holy Spirit?

1 Corinthians 12 teaches an important distinction between the type of work the Holy Spirit does. The “universal” work of the Holy Spirit is a work that he does for all believers to bring about the inner transformation of faith. The “individual” works of the Holy Spirit are works he does in some believers but not others.

Passage: 1Corinthians 12. 

Series: Who is the Holy Spirit?

In John 3:1-8, we learn two themes that we will see repeatedly in this series: 1) The Holy Spirit is God’s agent of change, and 2) one of his most crucial works is the inner transformation of believers.

 Passage: John 3:1-8. 

Series: Who is the Holy Spirit?

On the cross in Mark 15:22–41, Jesus cries out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” This episode walks through the illegal trials, the brutal crucifixion, and that agonizing question—not as a moment of divine breakdown, but as the clearest revelation of what it cost God to save people like us: priests and politicians, bullies and cowards, deniers and betrayers, the openly hostile and the quietly religious. 

In this week’s episode, we explore:

• How Mark frames the cross as the climax of Jesus’ mission and the final question in our series on what Jesus asks
• The contrast between Jesus’ faithful confession before the Sanhedrin and Peter’s tear-filled denial in the courtyard—and why both men still need a Savior
• The injustice of Jesus’ trials: false witnesses, illegal procedures, and a predetermined verdict dressed up as righteousness
• Pilate’s political calculations, the crowd’s disappointment, and why they choose Barabbas—the violent rebel—over the Prince of Peace
• The soldiers’ vicious mockery, the crown of thorns, and how racial hatred and contempt find their target in a bruised and bound Jewish king
• The three things no one could force Jesus to do—speak to save himself, drink to dull his pain, or die before he chose—and what that reveals about his willing sacrifice
• What it means for Jesus to experience forsakenness and darkness under the “cup” of God’s wrath so repentant failures like Peter can be welcomed, restored, and loved forever
• The tearing of the temple curtain and the centurion’s confession, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”, as signs that the way to God is now open through Jesus’ death
• The searching question left for us: will we harden our hearts like the priests and scoffers, or weep like Peter and trust the crucified Son of God to redeem us?

After listening, you’ll see the cross in Mark not as a tragic end to a beautiful life, but as the deliberate, loving center of God’s plan to rescue sinners of every kind. You’ll be invited to hear Jesus’ cry—“Why have you forsaken me?”—as the cost of your forgiveness, to bring your own failures and hardness of heart into the light, and to rest in the staggering truth that he would not save himself in order to save you.

Series: Questions Jesus Asked