Athey Creek | Audio Podcast

Jesus’ journey to the cross begins in Mark 15:1-20 as He faces questioning by Pilate, is sentenced to be crucified instead of an actual criminal, and is then scourged, mocked, and beaten by a garrison of soldiers. Yet as we watch this horrible situation unfold, we find prophecy perfectly fulfilled and Jesus willingly enduring it all out of His great love for us.

We reach the pinnacle of why Jesus came to earth in Mark 15 as He is condemned to death and subsequently hung on a cross. As we solemnly stop to consider the cross, we look at three important facts that make it so noteworthy, paramount to our faith, and transformative for all who will believe.

The final hours of Jesus' earthly life begin in the Garden of Gethsemane in Mark 14:26-72. As the scene unfolds, we see Jesus' humanity and resolve as He prays, Judas' betrayal, the religious leaders' crookedness, and the faltering of the disciples in the face of these things.

Is Jesus the only way to eternal life, or will following any religion do? Or what about just simply being good or sincere enough? As we study Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane before going to the cross in Mark 14:34-42, we think through the fallacies of multiple paths, learn that there is absolute truth, and see why Jesus proves Himself to be the only way.

Things are escalating quickly as Jesus and His disciples gather to celebrate Passover in Mark 14:1-25. From a worshipful burial preparation to a brutal betrayal, numerous prophecies are fulfilled, and we see Jesus emerge as a perfect picture of our Passover lamb.

After insisting he would never forsake Jesus in Mark 14:29-31, poor Peter has a series of missteps that culminate with him weeping and feeling like a massive failure for denying Jesus. However, luckily for Peter, this wasn’t the end of his story. As we watch how Jesus deals with Peter following these events, we see His unconditional love and forgiveness, the importance of repentance, and we learn that failure is never final in God’s economy.

In Mark 13, Jesus has much to say about the perilous days that will usher in the end of the world and what will happen during the coming time known as the Tribulation. As we study His discourse on these things, we see what we should watch for so we are not deceived, learn key events that will occur, and hear how we should live as the end approaches.

The disciples question Jesus about the end of the world, and as He answers in Mark 13:32-37, He provides a directive of how we should live as we anticipate these things. As we see what Jesus wants us to do as we watch prophetic signs fulfilled before our eyes, we learn to live with expectation, urgency, and joy.

After stumping the scribes with a tricky theological question, Jesus makes scathing remarks against their religious practices. As we study these interactions in Mark 12:35-44, we learn how to avoid doing things for show or status like the scribes and instead do them with pure motives like the poor widow who gave her all.

Several different groups of people come to question Jesus in Mark 11:27-12:34 with queries ranging from authority to taxes, to the afterlife, to the law. As Jesus deftly responds, He silences His critics and makes them – and us – think about who He really is and how we will respond to Him.

A lot is happening as Jesus journeys back and forth between Jerusalem and Bethany in Mark 10:31-11:33. As He travels, He tells His disciples exactly what will happen to Him, teaches them about humility, and fulfills prophecy as He borrows a donkey to ride into Jerusalem on a long-ago precisely determined day.

A blind man named Bartimaeus cries out to Jesus for healing from his affliction in Mark 10:46-52. As we look into his beautiful act of faith, we see a model of how to come to Jesus, what we can expect when we ask Him for help, and how our lives can be radically changed when we follow Him.

Marriage, divorce, children, and wealth are all extremely hot topics in our modern culture – but did you know they were also highly controversial and debated in Jesus’ day? As Jesus addresses these issues in Mark 10:1-30, we hear His paradoxical responses and learn how to view them biblically despite current views and narratives.

A rich young ruler comes to Jesus in Mark 10:17-27 asking what he must do to be saved. And the answer Jesus gives is astounding! As we hear what Jesus says, we see what the rich young ruler lacked, how various snares can keep us from Jesus, and why we should accept His free gift of salvation.

Jesus and three of His disciples ascend a mountain in Mark 9 and what happens next – known as the transfiguration – is a fascinating event that raises many questions. As we seek to break down what happened, we learn important information about Jesus’ kingdom, see the disciples' reactions, and hear what happened after they came down.

We join Jesus as He travels around the Decapolis region and makes more headlines by feeding 4,000 people, curbing the Pharisees' intrigues, and healing another blind man. As we study these events in Mark 8, we see Jesus as our provider, Messiah, and one worthy of following boldly.

After the disciples failed to help, a man with a demon-possessed son comes to Jesus in Mark 9:14-29 asking for healing and relief from the tormenting spirit. As Jesus addresses the situation, we see how demonic activity manifests in our day and how we – especially fathers – should respond.

After calling out the Pharisees on their vain traditions, Jesus has more to say about the condition of our hearts and what defiles us in Mark 7. Then we find Him traveling through the region, healing people to demonstrate His love and compassion for everyone, showing us how to minister to others, and doing all things well.

The Pharisees confront Jesus after finding fault in His disciples for violating their rules and question Him as to why they are not following their traditions. As Jesus answers in Mark 7:1-13, we learn how to think about traditions, if, when, and how we should cover or expose sins, and how the Word of God is always the authority on our actions.

Have you ever had a golden opportunity? Did you take advantage of it, or did you miss it? In Mark 6, we see people presented with opportunities to experience what Jesus has to offer in forgiveness, salvation, and healing. As we watch how they respond, may we be those who don’t miss out on the opportunity to know Jesus.

Jesus returns to His hometown of Nazareth in Mark 6:1-6 to a chilly reception and an outraged community that prevented Him from performing miracles there. As we learn why Jesus faced such rejection from His hometown, we find many of the same reasons people still reject Jesus today.

In a risky move, a religious leader falls before Jesus to ask Him to come heal his sick daughter. This request sets off a chain of events in Mark 5:21-43 that will show Jesus’ power over sickness and death, His compassion upon everyone, and that we can trust Him to keep His promises through delays and interruptions, despite ridicule and risk, and in the most extreme circumstances.

After years of suffering, pain, and failed medical treatments, a woman hears about Jesus and hatches a plan to touch the hem of His garment, hoping for healing from her condition. As she carries out her bold action in Mark 5:25-34, the woman not only receives the healing she needs but also serves as an example for us to come to Jesus for salvation and to seek Him first, no matter what we are facing.

Jesus’ ministry is in full swing in Mark 4:21-5:20 as He travels about teaching parables and demonstrating His power over demons. As we hear what He has to say and watch events unfold, we learn important lessons on compromise, caring for others, sharing the Word, and identifying good and bad seeds.

Jesus and His disciples are crossing the sea of Galilee in Mark 4:35-41 when a fierce storm threatens to swamp and sink their boat. As we watch Jesus calm the wind and waves, we learn how to face the storms we will all undoubtedly encounter by placing our trust in Jesus and the peace only He can provide.

Jesus shares the parable of the sower and the seeds in Mark 4:1-20, emphasizing the importance of listening to what He is saying with an ear to understand. As we try to do just that by digging into some underlying concepts, pictures, and theology, we see common threads that span the Bible and unlock essential truths about God’s plan for humanity and how we should live as Christians.

As Jesus gains notoriety, He begins to attract the attention of the public and the indignation of the religious leaders. As we watch how He interacts with both groups in Mark 3, we see Him respond to the crowds with compassion and love and to the religious leaders with logic and righteous anger as they accuse and criticize Him.

Jesus has assembled His team of 12 disciples in Mark 3:13-19 – but they aren’t exactly the dream team. So then, why did Jesus select these men? As we study, we see what Jesus saw in them, learn what it means to be chosen, and why we, too, are the perfect picks when we decide to follow Jesus.

As Jesus travels around the region preaching, healing, performing miracles, and associating with known sinners, He begins to gain fame among the crowds ­and draw the ire of the religious leaders. As we watch Jesus’ ministry unfold in Matthew 1:35-2:28, we see His model for prayer, how He interacted with sinners, and learn that love supersedes the law and tradition.

As Jesus preaches to a jam-packed house in Capernaum, four enterprising friends dig through the roof to lower a paralyzed man to Him for healing. As we watch the story unfold in Matthew 2:1-12, we see what the participants' perspectives teach us about friendship, faith, and forgiveness and how this scene serves as a model for the church today.

We begin our study in the Book of Mark by being introduced to its author, identifying its unique characteristics, and learning the underlying themes and purpose. As we jump into the rapid-fire narrative in Mark 1:1-34, we see the beginning of Jesus’ ministry and how various witnesses validated it.

Jesus calls four men to leave everything behind to be His disciples in Mark 1:16-20. As we watch them walk away from their fishing nets, we learn what it costs to follow Jesus, what we will get out of it, and how to avoid falling away when we encounter tough times.

As we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, we look to the empty tomb in Matthew 28:1-6 as we explore how Jesus conquered death. As we study, we learn how we respond will lead to everlasting life for those who confess their sin and believe in Him or eternal doom for those who reject His free gift of salvation.

It’s an astounding scene in Mathew 28 as a group of women find Jesus’ empty tomb and learn from an angel that He has risen, and they are to start spreading the news. As we wrap up the book of Matthew, we clear up controversies, rejoice in our risen Savior and Messiah, and receive our marching orders to tell others about Jesus.

In Matthew 28:1-8 we see a group of women arriving at Jesus’ tomb only to find it empty and an angel declaring that Jesus was no longer there because He had risen – just as He said He would. As we prepare to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, it is important to understand what this really means and why it matters so much to the Christian faith.

As we arrive at Jesus’ final moments of suffering on the cross in Matthew 27:39-66, we find a series of astonishing events, see various reactions from the witnesses, and watch as the religious leaders think they’ve put an end to Jesus once and for all. And while it may appear so for a moment, what seems to be the end is only the beginning.

As Jesus dies, some incredible phenomena occur in Matthew 27:50-54 including the thick veil of the temple being torn in half from top to bottom. And while it may initially just seem like an interesting side note, as we dig deeper into what this signifies, we find the deep theological implications of what Jesus’ death means for us.

After hemming and hawing, Pontius Pilate finally gives in to pressure from the mob and sentences Jesus to scourging and crucifixion. As we watch Jesus endure the cross in Matthew 27:15-43, we see what He willingly went through because of His love for us and desire that all may be saved.

Tucked away in Matthew 27:36 is a little verse about people sitting at the foot of the cross and watching Jesus die. We take a similar posture as we look upon the cross and pause to see just how much Jesus endured on our behalf so that we could obtain salvation through His amazing grace.

Jesus is shuffled through a series of pseudo-trials in Matthew 27:1-14 — complete with lying witnesses, disregard for actual law, and judges with minds already made up. As we watch Him face the accusations, we see numerous Old Testament prophecies fulfilled, how Jesus responded, and the horrifying demise of his betrayer, Judas Iscariot.

As Jesus is betrayed, arrested, and faces a sham trial, we find four key players with four very different mindsets within the narrative. As we watch these events unfold in Matthew 26:55-75, we see what these people were thinking about Jesus while we also examine our own minds, hearts, and motives concerning Him.

We find Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane in Matthew 26:31-54 in fervent, anguished prayer as He awaits His imminent betrayal, arrest, and what He knows will come after that. As we watch these events unfold, we see a beautiful model of how to face trials from Jesus, learn what not to do from the disciples, and discover how important knowing Scripture is as we put our trust and hope in Jesus Christ.

Poor Peter keeps making mistake after mistake in Matthew 26:31-58. As we study, we see where Peter went wrong and how we tend to fall into the same traps today. But most importantly, we learn how we can all receive the forgiveness of Jesus Christ when we trip up and turn away.

Things are escalating quickly as the religious leaders hatch a plot to kill Jesus — and find assistance in the betrayal of one of His very own disciples. As we watch the beginning of His journey to the cross in Matthew 26:1-30, we see Jesus preparing for this, instituting the act of Communion, and fulfilling numerous Old Testament prophecies.

Mary of Bethany performs a radical act of worship in Matthew 26:6-13 when she anoints Jesus with costly oil— but not everyone is on board with what she is doing. As we learn who Mary is, why she did this, and how others responded, we see how we can emulate Mary’s heart for Jesus and devote ourselves to worshipping Him.

Jesus tells parables in Matthew 25 that illustrate different behaviors and actions of people in the Last Days. As we study, we try to determine who these people may represent and what their conduct means and hear Jesus’ instructions on how to live as the end draws near.

Jesus tells a parable in Matthew 25:14-30 about a man who gave his three servants “talents” before departing on a journey and the outcome of what his servants did with them while he was away. As we look further into this parable, we learn who the master and servants are, what a talent is, and how we can use what has been given to us while we await Christ’s return.

Jesus gives us some details and parables in Matthew 24:32-51 that describe people in the End Times – but there is debate on exactly who and what He is talking about. As we look into the theories, we may not come up with a definitive answer, but we still gain valuable insight into End Times prophecy and how we should live in light of what Jesus is saying.

Jesus remarks in Matthew 24:36-39 that in the Last Days the world will look a lot like it did in the time of Noah. As we search the Scriptures, we piece together a picture of the world’s condition before the flood and see how the circumstances and behavior of the people in that time mirror what we see today.

In Matthew 24:15-31, Jesus tells about a coming time called the Tribulation when the world will experience great calamity, destruction, and turmoil like never before. As we hear what He has to say about this seven-year time of trouble, we learn what will take place and why it will be particularly brutal for the Jews.