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A man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons.Ruth 1:1Here we come to a question that will affect how we understand and apply this story. Some commentators castigate Elimelech and Naomi for moving to Moab. Should they have stayed in Bethlehem and trusted God to provide?God’s Word offers other examples of faithful believers moving in times of famine, such as Jacob going to Egypt (see Genesis 46). The Bible makes no comment on this family’s decision. It simply tells us that this is what they did.A similar question arises over the marriages of Mahlon and Chilion. Were they breaking Old Testament law by marrying those who did not believe? The fact that both Ruth and Orpah accompanied Naomi back to the Promised Land seems to indicate that they had made some profession of faith.Swiss theologian Ludwig Lavater says, “When the Scriptures do not accuse men, neither ought we to accuse them. And when matters are ambiguous, we should rather believe better things about men.”That’s an important principle: Where there is doubt about another person’s actions, choose to believe the best. Take the most generous view possible. Always think the best, unless compelled by evidence that cannot be put in a better light.The focus in this story is not on Elimelech’s decision. It is on how God brings blessing to His people in every circumstance. Don’t waste time reassessing your choices. What is done is done. God works for our good when our decisions were wise. God works for our good when our decisions should have been wiser.Which of your own decisions have you been reassessing in the rearview mirror? Turn them over to God and trust Him to work out all things for your good.

There was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons.Ruth 1:1There was a famine… in the Promised Land! This was the land God gave to His people—a land flowing with milk and honey. And the famine was in Bethlehem, which means “house of bread.” The fields in the area were especially fertile, so why was there a famine? The first thing that comes to mind is that God must have held back the rain.But there could be another explanation. The book of Judges tells us that when the Israelites planted their crops, their enemies “would come up against them. They would… devour the produce of the land… and leave no sustenance in Israel” (6:3-4). One reason for thinking that this was the cause of the famine was that there was food in Moab, less than 50 miles away.During the famine, one family left their fields in Bethlehem, journeyed around the north edge of the Dead Sea, and went south to Moab. What follows is a story of two weddings and three funerals.First, we are told that Elimelech died, and Naomi was left alone with her two sons in Moab. Then we are told that Mahlon and Chilion married Moabite wives named Orpah and Ruth. Next, we are told that Mahlon and Chilion died, so that Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband (1:3-5).Naomi endured great sadness and loss in a triple bereavement. The lights in her life went out one by one. But this is more than a story about the lives, loves, and losses of ordinary people. It is a story about our extraordinary God.In what ways do your own loves and losses compare to those of this ordinary family? Have you seen evidence of our extraordinary God in the midst of it all?

In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land.Ruth 1:1The book of Ruth is one of the most beautiful stories in the Bible. It is a story about ordinary people, and it is a story about our extraordinary God. When you bring ordinary people and our extraordinary God together, what you get is a story of redemption.Many of the stories in the Bible are about unusual people who do remarkable things: Abraham offering his son on an altar, Moses leading God’s people out of Egypt, David slaying Goliath. These stories may leave us wondering, "When would I ever do anything remotely like that"? But everyone can relate to the story of the lives, loves, and losses of an ordinary family.The days when the judges ruled were terrible times. God’s people turned to idols and were oppressed by their enemies. When this happened, God’s people cried out to Him. That’s always the first instinct of those who believe. We may forget the Lord when things are going well, but when trouble comes, we ask God to help.In response, God raised up judges, who drove out the enemies. Peace was restored as long as the judge lived, but when the judge died, God’s people turned to idols, and enemies invaded the land again. God’s people were lurching from one crisis to another for 400 years.This story speaks to our times. Most of the judges were desperately flawed leaders. None of them made a lasting impact for good, and people felt that life in the Promised Land should be better than this.Have you noticed an instinct in yourself to forget the Lord in good times but cry out to Him when trouble comes?

“Behold, I and the children God has given me.”Hebrews 2:13The gospel story won't be finished until the day Jesus stands in the presence of the Father and says these words.Jesus has come to us. Now we must come to Him. The Gospels are given so that you will know this Jesus to whom you must come. The disciples came to Him in Galilee. We come to Him at the right hand of the Father. How are we to do this?The Bible invites us to come to Jesus through repentance and faith. Repentance and faith are two sides of the same coin:Come to Jesus in repentance. Repentance means that you recognise, “I have been living as if my life was my own; as if Jesus had never come.” It means admitting that you need to change. It means that you are ready to change. It means being ready to hand over the steering wheel of your life to Jesus Christ, to move in whatever direction He wants you to go.Come to Jesus in Faith. Faith means that you believe Jesus is the Son of God, that He died for your sins, and that He rose from the dead.Faith means you believe His promise to forgive your sins, and to cleanse your life, and you trust Him to do that now.Because you believe, you will ask Him to make you a real Christian. You will ask Him to change you from the inside. You will ask Him to help you overcome your fear. You will ask Him to give you the courage and strength to live a new life that will honour Him.Jesus has come to us. That’s the good news. But Mark ends his Gospel with an invitation for you to come to Jesus.Are you ready to come to Jesus in repentance and in faith?

“Go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.”Mark 16:7Mark ends his Gospel with an invitation for the disciples to meet Jesus in Galilee. This invitation is for you, not to meet Christ in Galilee, but to come to Him by faith. Notice, there is something for you to do.Imagine a family living in poverty. They have no money. They sleep in a shack with a leaky roof and scavenge for food. The childrens’ clothes are in tatters. Then a distant uncle dies, leaving them ten million pounds. That’s good news, but the ten million pounds will not change their lives.It’s what the ten million pounds can do that will change their lives: It can buy them a new home and a new wardrobe for the children, and it can provide a lifetime’s supply of the finest foods.But suppose the ten million pounds remained in the bank and was never used. That would be a tragedy! The family must go to the bank and draw on what has been given to them. They must use the money for the purpose it was given—to change their lives, and the lives of others.Jesus Christ died for our sins and rose to bring us into everlasting life. He offers forgiveness and new life by the power of His Holy Spirit. This is good news. But it’s an unfinished story.Draw on all that Christ has accomplished for you, all that Christ offers to you. Come to Him and receive from Him. Use to the full all the grace that streams to you from His death and resurrection, for your everlasting joy, for the good of others, and for His glory.Are you drawing on all that Christ accomplished for you?

“He has risen.”Mark 16:6Christian faith hangs not only on what God has done, but on God’s explanation of what He has done.If all we had at Christmas was the story of a baby born to a virgin, lying in a manger, we would never know who this child is, so God gives us the explanation: Jesus is the Son of God.If all we had on Good Friday was the story of Jesus dying on the cross, we would never actually know what it means, so God gives us the explanation: Jesus died for our sins.If all we had at Easter was the empty tomb, and we were left to our own interpretation as to what actually happened, we would never be able to figure it out. So, God gives us the explanation: Jesus has risen from the dead!The birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus are outside of the range of our experience. So how could we possibly interpret them? How could we understand these events, unless God explained them to us? So, God gives us the interpretation. God tells us what happened.Christian faith does not rest on personal feelings, insights, or interpretations. Christian faith rests on God’s explanation of His own actions, given to us in theScripture: “He has risen!” Who says so? God says so, and you can stake your life and your eternity on that!What does your faith hang on?

“Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him.”Mark 16:6Notice that it was an angel from heaven who tells the women that Jesus has risen. Mary did not go into the tomb, find it empty, and say to Salome. "Jesus must have risen from the dead.” That thought did not even occur to the women. It was the angel who told them.That’s important because some people think faith is about creating your own reality. The theory goes something like this: the disciples had such an intense desire for Jesus to be with them that they created this reality in their minds.But what Mark tells us here makes that suggestion impossible. The women went to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus. Their minds were not filled with thoughts of Him being alive, but with Him being dead. The issue that dominated their minds on the journey was, Who would move the stone? And even when they found the tomb empty, they had to be told that Jesus had risen. Then, even after the angel told them, they were bewildered, terrified, and silent.Maybe you’ve had the experience of sharing the gospel with someone, and afterwards they responded, “Well, that’s just your interpretation.” The resurrection was not the women’s interpretation. It was God’s explanation, revealed to them (and to us) by the angel.Have you ever said (or heard), “That’s just your interpretation.”?

Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?Romans 6:1If you’re asking this question, it means you’ve understood the gospel. In Romans 5, Paul explains what Jesus achieved on the cross. Then in Romans 6, he begins with this question. Once you’ve understood the gospel, this is the natural question.And the apostle Paul’s answer is: “No!” The free grace of the Lord Jesus Christ won’t lead you to a life of sin because, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Cor. 5:17).When you come to Christ in repentance and faith, He gives you new life. You want to please Him. You may fail many times, but if you’re a Christian, you love Christ, and you see what He has done for you as supremely valuable. He poured out His life for you, and now you want to pour out your life for Him. You want to live in a way that brings Him joy and honours His name.“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1). “Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect?” (8:33). No one, and that’s the assurance of the gospel. That’s the freedom and joy of the sons and daughters of God.If you’re not “in Christ” then the condemnation of your sin remains. But you can come to Him today. This Jesus was crucified for you. He entered the darkness and was forsaken by God for you. His blood is sufficient to save you. Come to Christ in repentance and faith. He will not turn you away. He’ll welcome you, and forgive you, and make you a new person in Christ.Are you enjoying the freedom and joy of a son or daughter of God?

He was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace.Isaiah 53:5Jesus suffered under the judgement of God so that, in Him, you would be saved from God’s judgement. There’s a movie called Double Jeopardy, in which a man fakes his own death and then frames his wife for his murder. She is convicted and sentenced to prison.While she is in prison, she discovers that her husband is not dead but very much alive and living with her son and another woman. At this point she learns about double jeopardy. The law cannot convict the same person twice for the same crime. Since she has already been convicted for her husband’s murder, she can bring him to justice without fear of the legal ramifications.Think about the principle of double jeopardy: the law cannot convict the same person twice for the same crime. When you come to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, you are “in Christ.” That’s how the Bible most frequently refers to Christian people—we are united to Christ. God does not view you alone. He sees you so identified with His Son as to be inseparable from Him.Christ paid for your sins. Sentence has been passed on them. The law cannot convict the same person twice for the same crime. So, if you are “in Him,” no further charge can be brought against you. God cannot condemn you for your sins, because that would be double jeopardy.Reflect on how God sees you, if you're a Christian today, or what it would mean for God to see you “in Christ.”

And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”Mark 15:34Here we come to the deepest suffering of our Lord Jesus Christ. We will never be able to fully take in what this meant for Jesus.The Father delights in the Son, and the Son delights in the Father.The love of the Son for the Father and the love of the Father for the Son was their joy before the creation of the world, and will be for all eternity. When Jesus prayed for His disciples, he asked the Father “that they may be one, even as we are one” (John 17:11).The Father and the Son have always shared one life, one love, one purpose, and one will. But now the Son becomes the sin bearer. That means the stench of our sin is upon Him, and the Father must turn away from Him.Here is Christ, under the curse, in the darkness, forsaken by the Father. He is bearing our guilt and enduring the punishment that would bring us peace. Jesus is under the judgement of God. He is enduring all the dimensions of hell on the cross: under the curse, plunged into darkness, and forsaken by the Father. And Jesus endured all this consciously for you and for me.How does this shape your view of God’s commitment to you, Christian believer?

And when the sixth hour [midday] had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.Mark 15:33At the birth of Jesus, we’re told that shepherds were watching their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them (Luke 2:9).When Jesus was born, there was light at midnight, but when Jesus was crucified, there was darkness at noon. Now whenever you come across something unusual in the Bible, it’s a good rule to ask: “Where have we seen something like this before?”When did darkness suddenly come over a whole land in the middle of the day? This is precisely what happened during the plagues that God poured out on Pharaoh, who made God’s people slaves in Egypt and refused to let them go.In the ninth plague: “The LORD said to Moses, ‘Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness to be felt.’ So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was pitch darkness in all the land of Egypt for three days” (Ex. 10:21-22). What was happening here?Peter tells us about false teachers who corrupt the church: “For them the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved” (2 Pet. 2:17). In other words, the Bible describes hell as a place of darkness.When darkness was over the land of Egypt, it was a sign that the judgement of God was being poured out. And this is what was happening at the cross: the judgement of God toward human sin was being poured out, and it was being poured out on Jesus.If God’s judgement toward human sin was being poured out on Jesus at the cross, what does this mean for us?

They crucified him.Mark 15:24Why crucifixion? Why did Jesus die this way rather than another way? No one was crucified in the Old Testament. Among the Jews, capital punishment was by stoning.The Old Testament had one rite that helps us to understand the meaning of crucifixion: "If a man has committed a crime punishable by death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is cursed by God” (Deut. 21:22-23).But if execution in the Old Testament was by stoning, why would anyone be hung on a tree? Because hanging someone from a tree was not a form of capital punishment, but of humiliation, since it followed death. Publicly exposing an executed person like this branded him as one who was cursed by God.The New Testament takes up this theme: “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us— for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree"' (Gal. 3:13). So, when Mark says, "They crucified him,' people who knew their Old Testament would immediately think: “He was under the curse of God!”A condemned man was put to death and then hung on a tree. But Jesus was hung on the tree before His death. He was consciously, publicly under the curse of God, and He did this for us.Why would the sinless Christ come under the curse of God? The Bible tells us that He was bearing our sins: “For our sake he [God] made him [Jesus] to be sin who knew no sin…” (2 Cor. 5:21). What happened when Jesus died? He came under the curse for us. He was nailed to a tree. They crucified Him.Jesus was under the curse of God, and He did this for you. How do you make sense of this in your own mind? What does this mean to you?

They brought [Jesus] to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull). And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it.Mark 15:22-23The wine mixed with myrrh had the same effect as a mild sedative. Crucifixion was so barbaric, and the pain involved so horrific, that according to tradition some relief was offered to the victim just before he was nailed to the cross.We don’t know who offered this drink to Jesus—most likely it was the women who followed Him to the cross: “Here is the possibility of at least some relief from the agonies that Jesus is about to endure.”The pain involved in crucifixion is reflected in the English word “excruciating,” describing pain that comes “out” of the cross. Any compassionate person would say “Drink! Take this small opportunity for relief. Let the sedative dull your mind to the searing pain in your body.”Notice what Mark says: “They offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it” (15:23). Our Lord Jesus was fully conscious throughout His suffering. Jesus endured the punishment for our sins. He endured our hell, and hell is a place of conscious torment.Once you know what God was doing at the cross, you can understand why Jesus refused the sedative, why He could not allow His consciousness to be dulled. What does it mean to you that Jesus refused the sedative?

“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”Mark 10:45Jesus gave His life as “a ransom.” You need to know that there are a growing number of teachers in the church today who deny precious truths like this. These folks think it is “unworthy” to speak about God’s wrath or judgement. If you don’t believe there is wrath or judgement for sin, then there’s no reason to think that Jesus endured these things for us on the cross.But the substitutionary atonement—that is, Christ bearing our sin, taking our place under the judgement of God, and offering Himself as a sacrifice, is clearly taught in the Bible. It is at the centre of His glorious achievement for us on the cross. Is there any evidence for this in Mark 15? Yes, but it may not be obvious at first.When you read Agatha Christie novels or watch CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, there are always clues in the account of what happened that help explain what was really going on. It’s easy to completely miss these clues: “Why did the light go out when Ms. Butters came into the room?" Sometimes we miss the significance of events, but once you know the explanation and you watch the story again, you pick up on clues you completely missed before. That’s how it is with the cross. You can read this story without seeing anything more than the suffering of an innocent man. But when you know the Bible’s explanation, you begin to see things you would have completely missed before.Respond to this statement: "You can read the story of the cross without seeing anything more than the suffering of an innocent man."

This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God…Acts 2:23The Bible gives us not only a description of what people heard and saw when Jesus died on the cross, but also an explanation of what God saw in Jesus' death. And in this explanation, God reveals what He was doing at the cross:Christ died for our sins (1 Cor. 15:3). If you had been there, you wouldn’t have known that Jesus was dying for our sins.He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree (1 Pet. 2:24). When Jesus died, Christian, your sins were transferred to Jesus, and He carried them away. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Cor. 5:21). What did God do? He made Jesus to be sin for us.The LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all (Is. 53:6). God was taking the initiative, moving guilt and iniquity. Christ was bearing our sins and our punishment.He was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace (Is. 53:5). Jesus endured our punishment on the cross.The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). Jesus paid the price for us to be set free from the awful judgement of God on account of our sins.Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith (Rom. 3:24-25). Notice how the sacrifice of Jesus becomes effective for you: "to be received by faith” in His blood.Thank God for one thing He was doing at the cross.

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”Mark 15:34The New Testament tells us about the death of Jesus in two important but different ways: God gives us both description and explanation. And it’s important to hold these two together.The Gospels describe what actually happened. Mark gives us an eyewitness account. If you had been there, here is what you would have seen: The soldiers dividing Jesus’ clothing by lots (15:24), the written notice over Jesus’ head that said, “The King of the Jews” (15:26), and the two robbers crucified with Him; one on either side (15:27).You would have heard people shouting insults at Jesus as they walked past the cross (15:29). You would have experienced the strange darkness that suddenly came over the whole land at midday (15:33). Three hours later, you would have heard Jesus cry out with a loud voice, “‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani,’ which means ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’” (15:34). Then, you would have heard another loud cry, as Jesus took His last breath and died (15:37).That’s what happened. This is what the people who were there at the time heard and saw. But what does it mean? What does this have to do with us today?Can you imagine the death of Jesus on the cross, based on the Bible’s description?

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.Hebrews 4:16Here are three things you can do when you are suffering:Come to Jesus for comfort. Your Saviour has been tested in every way, and yet He was without sin. He knows what it is like to be bound, to be falsely accused, to endure great pain, to be ridiculed and treated as nothing. Your Saviour knows what you are going through. So, don’t turn away from Him when you are going through this. He is the person you must turn to! Come to Him, as you are, in all your pain.Follow Jesus for direction. It isn’t every day that you are given to suffer. So, if you are suffering, determine before God today that you will follow Christ in your suffering. “Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps” (1 Pet. 2:21). The New Testament tells us about a man named Stephen whose face shone like an angel in his suffering (Act 6:15). It may be that the likeness of Christ will be seen in you more clearly, as you walk with Him through suffering, than at any other time in your life.Trust Jesus for strength. Christ suffered as no one else has ever suffered. But He endured it. He came through it. And now this Jesus says to you, “I will never leave you. I will never forsake you.”Who do you turn to when you’re suffering? Have you considered coming to Jesus in your suffering? Why or why not?

When they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak…Mark 15:20The charge against Jesus was that He claimed to be king. The soldiers picked up on this, and they put a purple robe on Him (15:17). This was not a bright purple robe. It was an old, worn-out cloak rubbed in the dirt. Mark said it was purple. Matthew said it was scarlet. Either way, it was faded, and its true colour could hardly be recognised.And a king must have a crown, so someone went and got some thorny branches, twisted them together, and placed this makeshift crown on Jesus’ head. A king should have a sceptre, so someone put a stick in His hand (Matt. 27:29). “They were striking his head with a reed and spitting on him” (Mark 15:19).Jesus won’t participate in their charade. They put a stick in His hand, but He wouldn’t hold the stick, so it kept falling to the ground. Someone picked it up, “If you won’t hold your sceptre, here’s what we’ll do to you...” And they hit Him over the head with it repeatedly.The Son of God sat in a tattered robe, crowned with thorns, while men fell on their knees, bowing down in laughter. Jesus endured all this for us. Today we would rightly say, "Jesus was abused." The lacerations lacerated His body. The mocking lacerated His heart. A gang humiliated Him, stripping Him of all dignity: “You call yourself a king? You’re nothing!”Maybe you’ve endured terrible abuse. Perhaps you’ve been told, “You’re nothing!” Maybe you think God doesn’t know what this is like. The Son of God has been there, and He would say to you, “I will walk through this with you. I am your comfort, your direction, and your strength.”How can you draw comfort or strength today from Jesus’ experience of abuse?

Pilate… having scourged Jesus… delivered him to be crucified.Mark 15:15Jesus endured unspeakable physical pain. And His physical suffering speaks into our lives today. Some of us have experienced physical pain inflicted by another person. It’s a terrible thing.Most of us have experienced physical pain at some point in our lives, perhaps through an accident, or an illness, or even through an ongoing condition—you live with pain. Some of us have never experienced anything like this, but one day you will. Physical pain is a part of life.If you’ve ever sat at the bedside of someone who was in real physical pain, maybe a friend or a family member, then you know how helpless that feels. Those of you who are doctors or nurses, or who are in the helping professions, know exactly what this is like.When you experience physical pain, you may be tempted like Job’s wife was. When she was in the agony of grief and loss, she said to Job, “Curse God and die” (Job 2:9).If you are in great pain, you may find within yourself an antagonism toward God that you did not see before. And Jesus is saying to us, “Don’t go there. Don’t go there.” The Lord Jesus Christ comes to us in our physical pain, and He says, “I’ve been there, and I will be your comfort, your direction, and your strength.”What is the greatest physical pain you have ever endured?

The chief priests accused him of many things.Mark 15:3Roman law is one of the great legacies of the Roman Empire. And the governor, Pontius Pilate, was responsible for upholding justice by protecting the innocent and confronting the guilty.But when Jesus came before Pilate, there was no protection. The crowd was calling for Jesus to be crucified. And Pilate asked, “Why? What evil has he done?” (15:14). There was no answer, just a growing chorus calling for His death.The law was supposed to protect people from this kind of mob rule. But Pilate handed Jesus over to the soldiers, who gathered around Him in a charade of brutality (15:15- 20). This is the kind of thing a proper legal process should prevent.Even the best systems of law and order are operating in a fallen world. Sometimes the guilty are charged, sometimes they’re set free. Notice, Jesus made no reply to the accusations made against Him. Why? Because this was not a court seeking truth. You can expect to face some situations in your life where you are falsely accused. You may be able to answer. You may be able to clear your name. And if you can, you should do so.But there may come a time when you cannot undo the damage of a false accusation, or where the sheer number of falsehoods spoken against you makes an answer impossible. You find yourself crying out to God. "How is this possible?” The risen Lord Jesus Christ would say to you, “I have been there, and I will be to you comfort, direction, and strength.”How can you draw comfort, direction, or strength from Jesus’ experience of being falsely accused?

They bound Jesus and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate.Mark 15:1Try to take this in: The hands that healed were bound, and so were the feet that brought good news. The Son of God was delivered into the hands of those who hated Him and wanted to hurt Him. And God allowed it to be so. Doesn’t Jesus have all power? Couldn’t He break those bonds? No, and here’s why: God had determined that at this moment Jesus should be bound.The Bible says that God cannot deny Himself. He cannot contradict Himself. There is no confusion in Him. So, heaven itself could not break these bindings, that were the will of God, for Jesus at this moment. And Jesus said that His will is to do the will of the Father. He is committed to this. So even Jesus could not break these bindings.Klaas Schilder, in his book, Christ in His Suffering, says, “Speaking generally, God can break all bonds.” Then he points out that “speaking generally” is irrelevant to what was happening here. There was nothing “normal” about the sufferings of Jesus. They were utterly unique. This was God redeeming the world in Christ. Christ really was bound and in the hands of His enemies.You may find yourself facing someone who wants to ruin you professionally, financially, or personally. Someone who sees a world without you is given power over you, and you can't do anything about it. You are bound. And you find yourself crying out to God, “How is this possible?” Jesus says to you, “I’ve been there. I’ll be your comfort, direction, and strength.”How does Jesus’ experience of being bound enable Him to identify with you?

Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.Hebrews 12:3The Bible is such a practical book. It speaks to the realities of our lives. And it’s saying to us: Look, here you are as a disciple of Jesus and you're living in a difficult world. Following Christ isn’t easy, and ministry brings many pressures.Here’s what that means: You’ll be in constant danger of growing weary. And when discouragements begin to pile up, you’ll feel that you’re losing heart. How do you face up to that feeling of being worn out? How do you overcome the perpetual battle of the Christian life and the ongoing struggles and pressures of ministry?Here’s how you sustain yourself. Here’s how you make sure that you do not grow weary. Here’s how you make sure that you do not lose heart: You consider Christ and all that He suffered. You ponder the opposition and the hostility that Jesus faced from sinful men, and all that He endured, and all that He persevered through.The practical effect of doing this in your own life is that you will not grow weary and you will not lose heart. Meditation on the sufferings of Jesus will sustain you in ministry, and it will strengthen you as a follower of Christ.Have you ever intentionally pondered the sufferings of Jesus? If so, what kind of impact did this exercise have on you?

Christ… suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.1 Peter 2:21At some point in your life, people will oppose you. They may even hate you. You may experience this in the context of business or in your family. Peter says the suffering of Jesus gives us a model to follow. What is His example?No retaliationWhen he was reviled, he did not revile in return (2:23). When someone hurts you, your first instinct will be to hurt them back. Jesus did not retaliate. When someone undermines confidence in you, your instinct will be to undermine confidence in them. Jesus did not do that.No threatsWhen he suffered, he did not threaten (2:23). If anyone was in a position to threaten those who opposed Him, it was our Lord. He could have threatened hell, fire and damnation. But He chose not to do that. And, Peter says, “Neither should you.” Never make threats. Don’t threaten to get even. Don’t threaten to resign. Don’t say, “If you do this, I’ll do that.” Jesus made no threats.Trust God[He] continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly (2:23). When Jesus faced extraordinary injustice He said, “I know that my Father is just, and He knows all things. So, I entrust myself to Him, knowing that one day He will make all things known.” And in this, Jesus is our example.We live in a world where the truth is often not known, and if it was, people wouldn’t believe it. How do you live in a world like that? You hold on to the justice of God.Reflect on the past month or two of your life: How are you responding to injustice?

It was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.Hebrews 2:10The word 'perfect' here means complete. Jesus became the saviour He is through His suffering. Suffering shapes a person. It builds character, depth, and sensitivity into your life.A saviour who had never suffered would have something lacking. There would be a whole realm of life to which he could not relate. But there is nothing lacking in Jesus.When you suffer, you are drawn to someone who has been there. There is all the difference in the world between talking to a person who’s been through the same kind of experience and talking to someone who has not. Jesus has been there.The Bible tells us, “We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (4:15-16).Study the religions of the world and you will find that they all teach about suffering, but Christianity has a person who says, “I have been through it, and I will walk with you.” God wants you to find comfort in the experience of Jesus.Do you feel drawn to Jesus today, to bring your sufferings to Him?

So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.Mark 15:15In this description there are no gory details, just the facts. Notice how the Bible shows great restraint in describing the physical sufferings of Jesus. This is important because there’s a real temptation for every teacher of the Bible to use the violence of what Jesus suffered to shock people. But you don't find that in the Bible.There is no attempt to have an impact by making people squirm over the sufferings of Jesus. There are no grotesque descriptions of the violence to get people’s attention. In a world of manipulation, God speaks the truth. He never manipulates.While the Bible gives us restrained descriptions of Christ’s suffering, it also gives us explicit applications of the sufferings of Jesus. We are given very little by way of descriptive details, but we are given lots to answer the question, How does what Jesus suffered touch our lives today?We often focus on how the death of Jesus touches our lives: He bore our sins. He took our judgement. He died our death. That’s what Jesus did in His death. But the question before us is not, How does the death of Jesus touch our lives? The question is, How do the sufferings of Jesus touch our lives? The Bible has some very distinct and clear and powerful applications of the sufferings of Jesus to our lives today as His followers.How do you think the sufferings of Christ touch your life today?

“After I am raised up, I will go before you...”Mark 14:28What about Judas? He wasn’t with the disciples in Galilee. He had already taken His own life. The problem for Judas was not that he committed a sin too great to be forgiven, but that he would not come to Christ for forgiveness. Don’t let that be true of you.Jesus went on ahead of them to Galilee, but they had to come to Him. Peter and Judas stand before us as two men who failed Christ. Peter was restored, so no one should ever despair. And Judas was lost, so no one should ever presume. If you will not come to Christ in repentance and faith, then you are identifying with Judas. This can happen while you’re sitting in church (at a distance from Christ). Not one person who turns to Christ in repentance and faith will ever be turned away.The risen Lord has a wonderful invitation for you: “Come to me with all your sins and all your guilt. You haven’t watched or prayed, and you’ve fallen into temptation. It makes you feel like you’re at a distance from me, like a scattered sheep, and that’s what you are. But it was for these things that I went to the cross and paid the price. I did this for you, and for all who will come.”Stop running from Christ. He’s gone ahead of you, not to Galilee, but to heaven, where He is at the right hand of the Father. Come to Him in repentance and faith today, and He will restore you.Today, do you identify with Peter, who came to Jesus in repentance and faith? Or do you identify with Judas, who refused to do so?

“After I am raised up, I will go before you...”Mark 14:28What does this mean for us? If you belong to Jesus, He won't leave you in the misery of your failure. The risen Christ is in the business of gathering His scattered sheep. Your giving into temptation isn't the end of the story. Your falling away isn't the last word.Here's the hope of the gospel: The risen Christ is gathering His scattered sheep. Those who have fallen into temptation can come to Him, and those who have been running away can return.Did you fail to watch and pray this week? Did you fall into temptation? You can come to Him! Don't be afraid to come. The risen Lord Jesus Christ knows you and He will not give you up because of your sins or your failures.Jesus knew you before you were converted. He knew about your sin, He knew your nature, and He loved you then. He knows what you have been since you were converted. He knows your weaknesses, He knows your failures, He knows your inconsistencies, and He loves you now. This was true for the disciples in their failure, and it is wonderfully true for us today.The scattering of the sheep reminds us how far a real Christian can fall. But Christ knows His sheep, and even if they are scattered, they are still His: "After I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee" (14:28). What happened in Galilee? That's where Peter was restored. And if you are willing to come to Christ today, He will restore you too.Try and identify anything that would hinder you from returning to Jesus wholeheartedly today.

“I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.”Mark 14:27Thank God this is not the end of the story: “‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee” (14:27-28).The striking of the shepherd will not be the end of the story. Nor will the scattering of the sheep. Why not? Because Jesus speaks here about His own resurrection. And though Jesus stood alone in His suffering, He was not, like the disciples, overcome by it. Then Jesus gave this great promise to His disciples: “After I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”The sheep may be scattered, but they are still His sheep. And this Jesus will not let one of His sheep be lost. The failure of the disciples will not be the end of the story. The shepherd will gather His scattered sheep. There will be a reunion in Galilee after the resurrection of Jesus.This looks like a clear promise to us, but the disciples didn’t really grasp it. It seems to have gone right over their heads. They didn’t latch onto the resurrection or to the hope of Him gathering the disciples in Galilee. But we need to latch onto this promise today.We have failed Christ in many ways. We have fallen into temptation. We have run from Him when we should have run to Him. Maybe you feel defeated. You need to hear this word of hope: “After I am raised up, I will go before you.”What do these words of hope mean to you?

“Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”Mark 14:38In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was warning the disciples about the temptation that they were about to face. Notice the “you.” He was talking about their battle.Jesus was not asking them to somehow support Him in His trial. No, He was telling them, “Soon you are going to face a great trial. If you are going to stand, this is what you must do: You have to watch and you have to pray.” But they did not watch, and they did not pray, so when temptation came, they were overwhelmed by it. So, they all deserted Him and fled.God said, “I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered” (14:27). We are the scattered sheep, and our sins have brought His sufferings.The work of bearing our sin and paying our ransom is something that Jesus did for us, but this work of watching and praying is something that He calls us to do for ourselves: “This is what you must do. You must watch and you must pray, so that you will not fall into temptation.”We’re the ones who have not watched. We’re the ones who have not prayed. We’re the ones who have fallen into temptation. We’re the ones who have backed away from the full cost of following Jesus. We’re the ones who often run from Him when we should run to Him.In what ways have you run from Christ, instead of running to Him?

Peter… followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priestMark 14:54There was still a flicker of hope. One man felt that he wanted to be close to Jesus on this night. You have to love Peter’s devotion. He ran, but he couldn’t stay away. Maybe this man will bring some comfort to Jesus in His suffering.Then someone recognised him: “You… were with the Nazarene” (14:67). Peter denied it, but she wouldn’t be put off: “This man is one of them” (14:69). “The bystanders again said to Peter, ‘Certainly you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.’ But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, ‘I do not know this man of whom you speak’” (14:70-71).God orchestrated three events to converge at the same moment: (1) As Jesus was being dragged across the courtyard, He heard Peter swearing, “I do not know this man.” (2) The cock crowed (Luke 22:60), and at that same time (3) Jesus turned and looked straight at Peter (22:61).There was great pain in that moment for Peter, but what kind of agony was there for Jesus? This last man standing, Christ’s bravest friend, was taken from Him. Why did this have to happen?Because Jesus bore the sins of the world alone. The disciples couldn’t help Him. There was no role for them to play. No one could contribute to what Jesus was doing here.No one can ever say, “I had a part in this. I helped him.” Jesus didn’t do His redeeming work with us, He did it for us. He was utterly alone.Why do you think Jesus had to go to the cross alone?

“You will all fall away.”Mark 14:27It wasn’t just Judas. Jesus said to the disciples, “You will all fall away.” Feel the weight of that.Peter couldn’t imagine this happening to him: “Even though they all fall away, I will not” (14:29). You can see what he is saying, and you have to admire his courage and determination: “Lord, you can count on me! Even if all the rest of them abandon you, I want you to know, Lord, that you’ve got at least one friend in the world who will not let you down, even if I’m the last man standing!” Surely, he meant these words with all his heart.But when the crowd arrived with swords and clubs, fear got the better of faith for all of them, as it so often does for us, and Mark tells us that “They all [Peter included] left him and fled" (14:50). Notice that word "fled." The disciples didn’t slink away from Jesus—they ran from Him!The Dutch author, Klaas Schilder, in his book, Christ in His Suffering, writes of the pain this brought to Christ: “Isolation is always painful, for a human being instinctively seeks company… [Jesus’] sensitive heart craved company, yearned for understanding, for sympathy, for someone to share His experiences and fully understand His soul. But Jesus must watch them go, one by one: See, there goes Peter. And now John. James too, is leaving, as they tear themselves away.”Jesus was left alone in the presence of His enemies, deserted by all His trusted friends.How does reflecting on Jesus' humanity change how you approach Him?

While [Jesus] was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper...Mark 14:3While Jesus was reclining at the table in this man’s home, a woman expressed her love for Him by pouring a jar of perfume (worth a year’s wages) over His head. Some of the guests thought this was wasteful. They thought that something so valuable could have been put to better use.After this, Mark tells us that Judas, “one of the twelve” (14:10), went out to betray Jesus. The phrase, “one of the twelve,” is repeated three times in this chapter, emphasising the pain for our Lord that this betrayal came from one of His closest followers.Jesus had appointed the twelve to “be with him” (3:14). In other words, Judas was in Christ’s inner circle, one of His closest friends. Jesus loved this man, and yet this man resisted that love. He had been with Jesus for three years. He had been trusted in leadership and sent out in ministry, but this man would be lost forever.Judas went to the Garden of Gethsemane to betray Jesus, and he kissed Him (14:45). The kiss was his last goodbye, a final parting that will never be reconciled. Judas will spend eternity away from Christ. He didn’t know this, but Jesus did.There was unique pain in this moment for Jesus. Christ knew He would see the other disciples again. After He had risen, He would go ahead of them to Galilee (14:28), but Judas would not be there.Try to imagine the pain in the heart of Jesus as He receives the kiss of a man on his way to an eternal hell.

Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’”Mark 14:27We come to holy ground today as we take this first step into the passion of Jesus: Christ suffered at the hands of His friends. Let’s take in the sweep of Mark 14.This chapter begins with a dinner in the home of Simon, and it ends with a trial in the house of the High Priest. It begins with Jesus surrounded by His friends; it ends with Jesus surrounded by His enemies. It begins with Jesus surrounded by love; it ends with Jesus surrounded by hatred. It begins with Christ being worshipped, as a woman poured perfume over Him; it ends with Christ being condemned, as men blindfolded Him and then beat Him with their fists.This is the stripping away of all the human comforts that Jesus enjoyed in His life and all the blessings with which He had been surrounded. What we have here is the breaking up of Christ’s inner circle, the unravelling of His ministry. He poured years into these men, and they’re all gone.There is much for us to learn from the experience of the disciples, but the big story here is not what happened to Peter, James, and John. Nor is it what happened to Judas. The big story here is what happened to Jesus. Mark’s story is about the suffering of the Son of God, and the failure of His friends is the beginning of His suffering.What is your reaction to Jesus’ suffering at the hands of His friends?

He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things…Mark 8:31We’re following the story of Holy Week. On Palm Sunday, Jesus entered Jerusalem. On Monday, He ran the money changers out of the temple. Tuesday was taken up with questions from Jesus’ opponents, who were trying to trap Him. On Tuesday evening, Jesus taught His disciples about the glorious hope of His second coming.The Gospels do not record any events on Wednesday, so we can safely assume that our Lord rested in preparation for what He was about to endure. Then we come to the events of Thursday, the night of the Last Supper, when Jesus prayed in the garden of Gethsemane, and He was betrayed and arrested.The suffering of Christ came in three stages: First, He suffered at the hands of his friends—Judas betrayed Him, Peter denied Him, and all the disciples ran away from Him. Then, in the second stage, Jesus suffered at the hands of His enemies—they mocked Him, tortured Him, condemned Him, and crucified Him. But the deepest level of Christ’s suffering was not at the hands of His friends or His enemies, it was what He suffered at the hand of God.Darkness came over the whole land and Jesus bore our sins, endured our judgement, and experienced all the dimensions of hell for us on the cross. And in the agony of this suffering, He lost even the help of God: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”What do you think was the deepest level of Jesus’ suffering on the cross—from His friends, from His enemies, or at the hand of God?

“With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”Mark 10:27Today we see one final lesson from the young ruler's life: Real change is impossible with man but not with God. God can change the selfishness that would keep you out of heaven. How does He do that? Being good like God is possible through Christ’s life for you and Christ’s Spirit in you. Christ's life for you “Not having a righteousness of my own… but that which comes through faith in Christ” (Phil. 3:9). Jesus lived the life of perfect goodness that you have not lived and cannot live. Then He laid down that life on your behalf. God counts the life and death of Jesus as if they were yours when you come to faith in Jesus Christ. Being good like God is possible through Christ’s life for you. Christ's Spirit in you “He was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich” (2 Cor. 8:9). Jesus did precisely what He asked the rich young ruler to do. If Christ’s Spirit lives within you, you will have a growing desire to pursue radical generosity, extreme self-giving, and unusual sacrifice for the gospel. Perhaps you have a son or daughter who is a long way from God. You can’t imagine any change. As Christians, we count on God doing what we can’t. Or maybe you have an unhappy marriage. It’s been like that a long time, and change seems impossible. As Christians, we count on God doing what we can’t. We cannot be good like God. It is beyond our power. We hang on the good and righteous life Christ lived for us. We depend on the gracious work of Christ’s Spirit in us.For what impossible thing could you depend on the gracious work of the Holy Spirit today?

“Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible.”Mark 10:26-27This is our third truth from the story: Real change is impossible with man. Pause a moment to take this in. The rich young ruler thinks he can produce the goodness needed for entering heaven. Jesus knows that He can’t. What does this man need to be saved from to become good like God? His life is all about himself. He needs to be saved from the power of selfishness. Jesus exposes this when He says, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven” (10:21). God is the creator of all wealth. He owns all the resources of the world. What does God do with this wealth? He gives it away. He entrusts it into your hands. Jesus says to this man, if you want to be good like God, go and do the same. Sell everything and give to the poor. Then you will be reflecting the goodness of God. The man’s face fell, and he went away sad. Jesus was calling for a change that was beyond this man’s power. His love for himself was too strong. He didn’t have it in him to be good like God. And neither do you. Jesus is not saying that we must give everything away to be saved. What He is saying is simple: Selfishness keeps people out of heaven. The reason it is hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God is that he or she has more to be selfish about. It’s not just the rich who have a problem here. Selfishness is in us all. Jesus does not say, "It's much easier for the poor.” He says with man this is impossible.What are the things that you have struggled to give up for the kingdom of God?

The disciples said to him, “Then who can be saved?”Mark 10:26Here is the second truth we see in this story: Salvation involves a real change in which a person becomes good like God. One major problem that we face in the church today is that we have separated what God joined together. Salvation is reduced to a formula that is believed without making a difference to a person’s life. It is a change in your destiny without a change in your soul or in your behaviour. One reason the word “evangelical” is held in such disrepute is that to many people, evangelicals are people who think that they are saved by holding certain beliefs, even though these beliefs make little or no difference to their lives. You won't find that in the Bible. It's not what we believe. We need to demonstrate real change through lives that are distinctively marked by goodness that reflects the character of God. Christ died so that we might be forgiven. He died to make us good, that we might go at last to heaven, saved by His precious blood. Too often the gospel has been reduced to forgiveness and heaven. What happened to “He died to make us good?” Dr. Alan Redpath put it this way: If you have an unclean life, you have an unchanged heart. If you have an unchanged heart, you have an unsaved soul. Beware of reducing salvation to a decision, especially in the way that you teach your children. Salvation involves a real change in which a person becomes good like God.In what ways might you be separating what God has joined together? How might your life better reflect the biblical teaching of both forgiveness and real change?

“Good Teacher… what must I do to inherit eternal life?”Mark 10:17The first lesson we learn from the rich young ruler is this: To enter heaven, you must be good like God. When the rich young ruler asks his question, Jesus takes him up on the goodness thing: “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone” (10:18). How do you measure goodness? All measurements are made against a particular standard. You can use a yardstick, but how do you know that the one you are using is accurate? If we measure goodness by Adolf Hitler, we come out looking pretty good. If we measure goodness by Mother Teresa, we come out looking pretty bad. It’s easy to talk about goodness, but Jesus says, “You need to understand that no one is good except God alone. Good means good like God.” Jesus says that to enter heaven you must be good like God. In Matthew, Jesus puts it like this: “Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Mat. 5:48). Another way to say this is “keep the commandments.” The problem with saying it that way is that a lot of people think they have done that. This man was one of them. “All these I have kept from my youth” (Mark 10:20). This man completely missed the point. The first lesson we learn from his story is that to enter heaven, you must be good like God. Anything less would ruin heaven. And God won’t let that happen, which is why we will see in the next few days that it is only possible through Jesus.Are you living as if salvation was “impossible” for you, or "difficult" for you?

As [Jesus] was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him.Mark 10:17This man who came to Jesus had a great deal going for him. Here are four things: He was successful. He is successful financially (Mk. 10:22). He is also successful professionally—he is a ruler, in a position of influence (Lk. 18:18). And he had achieved all this while he was young (Mat. 19:22). He was moral. There’s no reason to doubt his sincerity when he says that he has kept the Ten Commandments. He is a person folks would look up to. He was spiritual. He has an intense desire to meet with Jesus. He comes running. There is urgency here. He falls at Jesus’ feet. There is great respect here. He is concerned about eternal issues: “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Mk. 10:17). He was loved by Christ. Mark tells us, “Jesus, looking at him, loved him” (10:21). It seems that this man has everything going for him. Yet this story ends badly. He came with great enthusiasm. He walks away with great sadness (10:22). He does not become a follower of Christ. After this, Jesus mentioned three times how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God (10:23, 24, 25). The disciples were amazed, and they asked, “Then who can be saved?” (10:24, 26). The rich young ruler walked away from Jesus, but His disciples learned a great deal and we have that same opportunity today. We will look at four ways in which we can learn from this story.Reflect on ways in which the advantages you enjoy may be keeping you from wholeheartedly following Jesus.

They were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them.Mark 10:13You may have been drawn to Jesus, but His disciples got in the way. Something another Christian said or did kept you from getting to Christ and receiving His blessing. Here are three truths to remember when that happens. 1. Jesus removes the barriers that keep us from God’s blessing. “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them” (10:14). On the cross, Jesus broke down every barrier on God’s side so that you can come to Him. By His Spirit, He will break down every barrier on your side. Don’t let anyone or anything stop you from coming to Jesus. 2. Jesus defines the condition on which we receive God's blessing. “Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it” (10:15). Receiving God’s blessing as a child means that you come to Jesus with nothing to give and everything to receive. Your knowledge, background, achievement, or goodness contribute nothing to receiving the blessing of God. 3. Jesus imparts God’s blessing on all who come to Him. He took [the children] in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them (10:16). He does this in the middle of the tension of disciples rebuking children and pushy parents arguing back. You don’t have to have everything sorted out before you can know the blessing of God.Have the words or actions of another person kept you from Jesus? Will you say this prayer today? "Almighty God, thank you that You break down every barrier that keeps me from you. I draw near, having nothing to offer and everything to receive. Impart your blessing, I pray, through Jesus Christ our Lord."

[Jesus said,] “What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”Mark 10:9Jesus’ high view of marriage was very different from the prevailing ideas of the time, where divorce had become common. Bishop Ryle writes about the “absurd and frivolous causes” for which the Jews allowed divorce, citing rabbinical texts of the day: “If the wife cooks her husband’s food poorly… she is to be put away.” How does Jesus view this? He makes it clear that remarriage after a divorce would be adultery (10:11-12), because even if the relationship is ended in the eyes of the law, it has not ended in the eyes of God. Are there any circumstances in which God may separate those He has joined together? Jesus recognised one ground for divorce: “except for sexual immorality” (Mat. 5:32; 19:9). Why would this be? Under Old Testament law, you would be stoned for marital unfaithfulness. Your spouse would become a widow or widower and would be free to remarry. Remember the woman caught in adultery in John 8:5: the Pharisees said, “Moses commanded us to stone such women.” But Jesus said the person without sin should throw the first stone. They all walked away. Only Jesus was left, and He brings mercy where the law brought condemnation. Unfaithfulness tears apart what God has joined together. But even here, there can be forgiveness and reconciliation. Unfaithfulness can end a marriage. But it doesn’t have to. If you are married today, thank God for this special gift. If you find your marriage under strain, remember that God joined you together. He is with you in this. His grace is sufficient and His purpose is good.Where might these words bring you encouragement over a past or current relationship?

Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”Mark 10:2The purpose of the Pharisees’ question is to test Jesus. Their questions always have an angle. They ask Jesus about divorce, but Jesus answers with teaching about marriage. Later, when the disciples ask about divorce, He answers them in private (10:10). This is significant. Jesus did not come to load guilt on people for their past failures. Remember how He spoke to the woman of Samaria who had gone through five divorces. Jesus did not condemn her. He spoke to her about becoming a true worshipper of God. Jesus does not focus on past failures, but on present realities and future possibilities. The focus of our Lord’s teaching is on the dignity and value of marriage. What is marriage? Here is Jesus’ answer to the Pharisees: “From the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.' So they are no longer two but one flesh" (10:6-8). Notice God’s pattern for marriage: A man: Singular. Marriage is an exclusive union between two people. Will leave: Marriage is a public attachment, not a private arrangement. And be united: Marriage is a lasting relationship characterised by love. To his wife: It is a relationship between one man and one woman. One flesh: The union of their hearts is sealed and strengthened by the union of their bodies. Those God has joined together, let man not separate. Marriage is an exclusive, public, lasting, loving union of one man and one woman sealed by God.What do you think about God’s pattern for marriage? What comfort do you find in Jesus' focus on the dignity and value of marriage?

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.John 1:1, 14Many people manage their lives by dividing them into compartments. There’s the work compartment, for business, budgets, and sales reports; the family compartment, for marriage, children, and home; and the spiritual compartment, for God, the church, prayer, and eternity. If you divide your life like that, you will probably feel that God cares about your soul but not about the ups and downs of your marriage. You’ll feel that He is interested in your heart but not in the chaos of your children’s schedules. Think about this for a moment: the incarnation was God entering the world of noisy kids and pushy parents and strained marriages and messy divorces. “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (1:14). It does not say the Word became spirit. If it did, we would have to limit God’s interest in our lives to the things of the spirit, like prayer and Bible study. But God is interested in every aspect of your life in the flesh - your work, your marriage, and your children. The incarnation blows apart the compartments you may use to manage your life. When the Word became flesh in Jesus Christ, God was invading the whole of our lives: marriage, chequebook, children, career, everything! When Jesus went to the cross, He died not only to save your soul but to redeem your life. Thank God for that!What compartments have you divided your life into? Do you truly believe that God cares about each part?

“It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched."'Mark 9:47-48Here are two more observations on the strong words of Jesus. 4. Hell is eternal, conscious punishment. 'Their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched' (9:48). Jesus speaks not about the worm, but their worm. It is personal. The worm destroys by eating away at the inside. The thing that eats away inside a person is conscience. A person in hell will live with the full knowledge of what they have done. This never diminishes and it never ends. Then Jesus says, "the fire is not quenched." A person in hell lives under the judgement of God, who is a consuming fire forever. 5. It is worth going to any length to avoid hell. “If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell” (9:43). Jesus says it would be better to be blind than to have your eyes multiplying lust. It would be better to have no arms than to add to your sins by striking another person. It would be better to have no tongue than to rage in anger, destroying another person's confidence. Hell is a reality so terrible that you should be ready to do anything to avoid it—accept any discipline or restriction, change any habit, flee any temptation. Jesus endured the wrath of God so that you might never know what it is like. Would He have done this if hell was no big deal?Reflect on the specific and personal nature of hell. How does this impact your desire to live a holy life? How does it impact your motivation for sharing the gospel?

“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.”Mark 9:42These are among the strongest words ever spoken by our Lord Jesus Christ. Here are three observations from them. 1. Your influence matters. “Whoever causes one of these little ones… to sin” (9:42). You are responsible not only for your own sins, but for the sins that you lead others into. If you cause someone younger or weaker to sin, it would be better to be tossed in the sea with a millstone around your neck. We need to know that so we will be restrained from sin ourselves and be able to endure when others sin against us. 2. God's justice is perfect. Terrible things are done in this world, especially to children. Many of them will never be brought to justice here. But God will bring them to justice. God will bring justice to rulers who persecute people for their faith, teachers who undermine the faith of students, religious leaders whose hypocrisy undermines the faith of many, and ordinary people who lead a friend away from living faith. 3. There are degrees of punishment in hell. “It would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea” (9:42). Why would that be better? The punishment experienced by a person in hell will be a direct reflection of their particular sins. If the person had been drowned in the sea before he caused a little one to sin, he would have one less sin to deal with in hell.How could knowing that you are responsible for sins you lead others into, help to restrain you from sin? How could it help you endure when others sin against you?

“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”Mark 9:37Jesus is giving an illustration here: a child represents the poorest, weakest, and most vulnerable people. In our society, the poorest, weakest, and most vulnerable are not just the young. In significant measure, they are defined by race, and Jesus has something to say about this. As disciples of Jesus, what is to be our attitude towards the poorest, weakest, and most vulnerable? Jesus says we are to welcome them. And what happens when we do this? Christ says, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me”! (9:37). What are you to do if you want more of Jesus in your life? What are we to do if we want more of Jesus in our church? We are to open our doors, our hearts, and our budget to the poorest, weakest, and most vulnerable people, here and around the world. Then we will have more of Jesus. So let’s ask God to deal with our pride, whether it comes from feelings of jealousy over what has been given to others and not to us or from feelings of superiority over what has been given to us and not to others. Let’s ask God to grow within us a servant heart that rejoices in serving the poorest, weakest, and most vulnerable people.In what ways could you be more welcoming to the poorest, weakest, and most vulnerable in your church and in your community?

[Jesus] asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” But they kept silent, for… they had argued with one another about who was the greatest.Mark 9:33-34When Jesus asks the disciples about their argument, they are embarrassed. Trying to impress others with how great we are really is foolish. The timing of this argument is significant. Jesus has just taken Peter, James, and John up the mountain. How do you think the other nine felt? “Why are they in the inner circle and I’m not?” When someone else is given a privilege that is not given to you, you will find a great impulse to criticise that person. A large part of our criticism of others flows from pride. Pride shows up in two ways: either as jealousy over what has been given to others and not to you, or as superiority over what has been given to you and not to others. Peter, James, and John had seen the unveiled glory of the Lord. But the greatest danger in spiritual experience is spiritual pride. Jesus uses the opportunity to teach His disciples about humility: "Whoever would be first among you must be slave of all” (10:44). Jesus did not object to the disciples seeking greatness. He says, “You want to make your life count, and you should. Here’s how: You must be the servant of all.” If you think that greatness is established by proving you are better than others, you will be driven by a relentless desire to be first. You will spend your life trampling on others. You will destroy yourself, and when you enter the presence of God, the angels will send you to the back of the line. You cannot achieve true greatness by trying to be the best.Consider the two ways pride shows up: jealousy and superiority. Where have you seen evidence of these in your own life?

“Rabbi, it is good that we are here.”Mark 9:5Jesus shows us two reasons for taking up our cross and following Him. The first reason is that we see Christ's glory. Here is the second reason: We share Christ’s work “Rabbi, it is good that we are here” (9:5). Peter’s instinct is to try and hold onto the moment of the transfiguration. He doesn't want this glimpse of Christ's glory to end. That’s our natural instinct, but it’s not going to happen. Jesus leads Peter, James, and John down the mountain, where they find the other disciples trying to help a young person whose life has been gripped by a demonic power. Jesus rebukes the evil spirit, and the boy is delivered. Put these two stories together and we learn something important: Peter, James, and John are rejoicing in the glory of Jesus at the top of the mountain. But at the bottom of the mountain is a world of great need. The greatest temptation is to sit around savouring the joy of our experience of Christ while the world convulses in torment and in desperate need of His saving power. The disciples follow Him not only because they have seen His glory but also because they share His work. They have a calling. They have a trust. They have a ministry. Christ did not endure the agonies of Golgotha to make us comfortable. If we are God’s people, we are called to His work. We are trusted with great responsibility. Christ leads us up the mountain to show us His glory. Then He leads us down the mountain to send us out into the world.If you have seen the brightness of Christ’s glory, what are you doing about the darkness that is all around you?

Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain... And he was transfigured before them.Mark 9:2Jesus has announced His journey to Jerusalem, and suddenly all the talk is about dying and a cross. Peter has already objected (8:32). He likes being a disciple, but he’s not sure that he is up for this! Likewise, you may be asking, “Why would I deny myself and take up my cross to follow Jesus? Why would I spend my life for the advance of the gospel?” Jesus shows us two reasons. Here is the first one: We see Christ’s glory. His clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them (9:3). The glory that is hidden in Jesus bursts out. The disciples see what you will see when He comes in power and glory. The beauty, brightness, and purity in Christ is beyond comparison. This glory does not come upon Him, it comes from within Him. The disciples are so stunned that even Peter does not know what to say (9:6). Then they see the cloud and hear the voice of God, just as Moses did: “This is my beloved Son; listen to him” (9:7). This glimpse of Christ’s glory made a lasting mark on their lives. John later says, “We have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father” (Jn. 1:14). Peter writes, “We were eyewitnesses of His majesty” (2 Pet. 1:16). Notice that Mark says Jesus "was transfigured before them." This happened for their benefit and, through them, for our benefit. If you are going to follow Jesus for a lifetime, you have to see His glory. If you do not see His glory, you will not follow far.Reflect on the beauty, brightness, and purity of Christ. How could this glimpse of His glory help you follow Him with greater commitment?

“Whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.”Mark 8:35You go to church, and you think, Should I really commit myself? Maybe I will, maybe I won’t. Perhaps you have been on the fence about following Jesus for a long time. What is at stake in this decision? 1. Your life is at stake. “Whoever would save his life will lose it” (8:35). Everything that you try to keep, you lose in the end. What you lose for the gospel, you keep for eternity. If you live for yourself, a day will come when you’ll wish you could have your life back and live it for Christ. 2. Your soul is at stake. What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” (8:36). Your life will never end. Even if you take your own life, you just move it to another place. Hell has many pains but one must surely be to know what you might have become, to know that you are wasting away when you could have been enjoying the life of a child of God. 3. Your eternity is at stake. “Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words… of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed” (8:38). Imagine Jesus being ashamed of you when He returns. You have been embarrassed about Him. You didn’t want your friends to think that you belonged to Him. Now He doesn’t want anyone to think that He belongs to you. Are you giving these factors the right level of importance? You may be concerned about sports, relationships, career, money, and leisure. But Jesus is speaking to you about your life, your soul, and your eternity.What level of importance are you giving these factors on a scale from (1) critically important to (10) not at all important? How could you change their priority while you still have time?