Scripture:
Mark 15:21-32
Thu, 14 April 2022

The Crucifixion of the Messiah

Observation:

In this passage, the words “crucified” and “cross” occur repeatedly. What is most striking to you about the crucifixion of King Jesus, the Messiah (Christ) or Anointed One (vv.26, 32)?

Deeper Reflection
PEOPLE GENERALLY DO NOT WELCOME KNOWING THE END of a story before it unfolds completely. Unless, of course, you were one of the disciples who deserted Jesus after His arrest. Living on the preresurrection side of the cross without any foreknowledge that Jesus would rise again on the third day, Golgotha22 meant for the disciples a brutal finality and certainty. Jesus died. Naked and broken. Shamed and cursed on a tree. End of story, end of hope. All their experiences with Jesus – their three years spent together – amounted to a disappointing nothing. What a cruel joke from heaven, it seemed! If only they understood and believed that Jesus would indeed rise again three days later.23One can perhaps never fully appreciate the hope and joy of resurrection until one wrestles with the depth of anguish and despair over the fact that Jesus was crucified by both the Jews (His own people!) and the Gentiles (represented by the Roman soldiers). Crucifixion – the most severe and cruel form of capital punishment that man had devised – meant that Jesus had zero chance of surviving the horrifying ordeal. The Messiah, the Godman, needed to undergo death in order to make the Gospel available to the whole of broken humanity.The crux of Christian discipleship is that death to self is the spiritual terrain we must traverse before we can attain the peak of spiritual victory and freedom in Christ Jesus. He invites us, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me” (Lk 9:23). Are you willing to follow Jesus to the very end?
22 Also known as Calvary, which is derived from the Latin translation of “Golgotha”. 23 Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:34. Cf. Mark 14:58; 15:29.
Application:

In what ways must I carry my cross and follow Christ in the current season of my life?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for Outreach/Missions/New Life leaders: To deny themselves, take up their cross daily and follow Jesus to the very end
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self

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Daily Devo
Daily Devotional Journal
Sun, 31 December 2023

Sunday Journal

Past Week’s Review
  • What was my high point and my low point for the week?
  • What gave me life and what drained me?
  • How was the Spirit of God at work?
Reflect

What is one key thing that God said to me this week in light of what has happened?

Respond

What is one thing I need to do in light of what God is saying?
Commit in prayer.

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