Power Series (Mark 15)

In The End, We Win (Mark 15:1-15)

In this world, doing wrong will at times be rewarded and doing right will at times be punished. Those who break the law will on occasion get away with it, while those who obey the law will be occasionally wrongfully accused. Injustice will seem to prevail.
Jesus had done nothing wrong, Barabbas was a murderer, yet Jesus is the one going to be crucified while Barabbas goes free. Not fair, not right, but that is the way it is for many in this unjust fallen world.

The good news is, just as Jesus crucified became Jesus resurrected, "God works all things for good to those who love Him." Eternal judgment will take place, Justice will ultimately be served. In the end, God wins. Satan and his followers will forever be punished, while the followers of Christ will be forever rewarded.

So be encouraged what is wrong will be made right. What is evil will be removed. The blood of the martyrs will be avenged on the enemies of God.

Mock Worship (Mark 15:16-20)

The Roman soldiers added insult to injury towards the Son of God, dressing Him up as a King, placing a crown of thorns on His head, and saluting Him “Hail! King of the Jews!”  They then kneeled before Him mocking Him in worship until they got tired of it.   How cruel and wicked and yet how powerful Jesus was to withstand this treatment and not command His angels to stop it.

The entire history of this fallen world proves how evil mankind is separate from God.  It is the only amount of days before another senseless attack is on the news, the latest being the killing of at least 58 people at a concert in Las Vegas.  It makes me sick we think how can anyone do such a thing but we have seen it throughout history since the fall of Adam and Eve.

Mock Worship takes place when people gather and claim to know God, even worshipping Him, but their hearts are far from Him, doing all kind of evil acts with no thought of repentance.  That is why we are to examine our hearts before taking communion.  It is a mockery to claim to be in communion with God when one’s life is not at all committed to Christ.

Let us ask God as we worship Him to purify our hearts so that we are truly worshipping Him in Spirit and in Truth.

The Crucified Life (Mark 15:21-32)

Remember when you lived without any thought of God.  You passed by churches and met Christians but you did not even consider your need for God. 

A man named Simon is just passing by coming from the countryside and he is grabbed and forced by the soldiers to carry Jesus’ cross.

We each were chosen by God to carry the cross.   To leave the self-indulgent path we once were on and go down the path of self-sacrifice.  We can sit around and complain but it really makes no sense because it is the only path though it is small, narrow, and difficult, that leads to the resurrection and eternal life.

Galatians 2:20 says “I am crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live but He who lives within me.”  We must choose to live the crucified life before we can walk in resurrection power.  Just like Jesus, we will be rejected, mocked, and ridiculed but isn’t it a price well worth it considering being saved from sin and having the power to partner with God to help save others.

The Sacrifice (Mark 15:33-47)

Jesus Christ the Son of God freely gave His life that others could be saved. This is the ultimate act of love.

Brave soldiers, 👮, firemen, risk their lives daily for the better good of others. Courageous individuals such as a husband in Las Vegas died sacrificing his life by laying on top of his wife to shield her from the bullet's being shot in the crowd at a concert. When the most horrific evil is displayed often the most beautiful acts of love are countered in contrast.

When it seems like God has abandoned you, just know one cry and He will come near. He has a way of turning the worst experiences into something good to those that love Him.

Jesus was tortured to death, the worst form of suffering. Yet through it, the veil was torn in two, sin no longer has to separate mankind from God. Those who accept what Jesus has done experience the forgiveness of sins, their guilt is removed, shame is gone, and a new identity is given, as sons and daughters of God, their heavenly Father.
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True power, true love, has no greater act than the laying down of one's life for others.