157th Week, Mark Chapters 14-16

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Monday, Mark Chapter 14B (Verses 26-31)

 Mark 14B

Verses 30-31

Matt Strayer

Verses 30-31:  “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “today--yes, tonight--before the rooster crows twice, you, yourself will disown me three times.”  But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.”  And all the others said the same.

THOUGHT

Throughout the Bible I just love the stories of Peter. He is such an inspiration to me because he demonstrates such courage; yet, his humanness is real. I think of Peter when I read the verse, “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”  Peter tries so hard, yet many times falls short.  With

reference to the verses above (Mark 14:30-31), Peter is the only one of the twelve that the Bible mentions following Jesus down into the city.  Where were the other ten, excluding Judas of course?  It’s almost as if his courage and boldness got him into situations that were far above his humanness. 

This has to give us courage and strength each and every day to do the same when we are faced with great trials and tasks.  We can do great things when we call on our God for help.  Not only does He give us courage, but great hope in the fact that even if our humanness fails us, God will forgive us. Peter denies Jesus, yet goes on to do great things in the early church. Also, there is the story about the Sea of Galilee where he gets out of the boat and walks on the water. Peter starts to sink at the end, yet he was the only one to get out of the boat.  He is such an inspiration to me. 

Let’s try and have Peter’s courage and boldness as we finish this week. Even if things truly seem impossible, Peter teaches us that we can do it.

PRAYER

Dear God, thank You once again for Your Word.  Thanks for the writings of people like Peter.  Please allow us to study their ways and learn from them. It is our desire to have the courage and the boldness of Peter.  AMEN

Tuesday, Mark Chapter 14C (Verses 32-72)

Mark 14C

Verse 36

Matt Strayer

Verse 36:  “Abba, Father,” he said, “Everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

THOUGHT

Jesus knows the time for His betrayal and death are very near.  He is agonizing, praying and pleading with God in the garden.  Yet at one of His hardest moments He still asks for God’s will to be done.  He says, “Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

Each time we pray we must remember our prayers are heard, yet in the end, things will go as God has planned.   His will may not be the answer we are looking for at the time.  We must look at our situations from an eternal perspective.  It may not make sense now, but God has our best interests in mind.  We must trust as Jesus did.  It will take faith in times of trouble.

PRAYER

Dear God, each day it is our true desire to have Your will be done.  At times things don’t always make sense.  However, we know that You are in control of our lives, and we trust You. Please be with us as we all are confronted with different tasks and troubles. We pray that Your will be done.  AMEN

Wednesday, Mark Chapter 15A (Verses 1-20)

Mark 15A

Verse 15

Mindy Strayer

Verse 15:  Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

THOUGHT

Pilate knew it was wrong to give this order, but he did it anyway. So many times we know what the right thing to do is, but we do just the opposite.  Just as Pilate had God’s truth, his word in flesh standing before him, we have the truth of God’s Word within us. We too like Pilate choose to give into worldly pressure. In Pilate’s case he gave into the crowd because he feared loss of control. 

It is no different for us. We may not fear a political upheaval, but we may fear the crowd’s reaction to us when we stand strong on God’s principles. Pilate tried to talk the crowd out of their desire to have Jesus crucified, but he didn’t go all the way. He gave up.  Let’s not be like him. Let’s stand up for Jesus all the way. 

I wonder what became of Pilate. Did he regret his decision to have Jesus crucified?  Did God ever reveal to him the enormity of what he had been a part of?  Did he ever ask for forgiveness?

PRAYER

Lord, we give You all praise, glory and honor! Hallelujah to Your Name!  Let the Name of Jesus be lifted up. Thank You for sending Your truth in the flesh that we may be set free from sin and free to live in oneness with You. Thank You, Jesus, for Your great sacrifice. Help us to stand strong and firm on Your principles, that our lives might bring You the glory due Your Name. Help us to make Godly choices without fear. We love You, Lord.  AMEN

Thursday, Mark Chapter 15B (Verses 21-47)

Mark 15B

Verse 21

Mindy Strayer

Verse 21:  A certain man from Cyrene, Simon the father of Alexander, and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross.

THOUGHT

What an impact this must have had on Simon’s life. He had traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover from North Africa. I wonder if he had even heard of Jesus before this trip. Simon’s son Rufus and Rufus’s mother, who I am assuming was Simon of Cyrene's wife, are addressed in Paul’s letter to the Church of Jesus in Rome.  Our Life Application note states that Rufus and Alexander were well known in the early church. This made me believe that Simon of Cyrene had a son and a wife who were followers of Jesus because of Simon’s testimony about Jesus. 

I imagine that after carrying the cross with Jesus, and sharing in His suffering if only for a short while, Simon of Cyrene was changed for life. Remember that Jesus spoke to His family and the people who were mourning for Him during His walk to Golgotha. Simon would have heard the truth with his own ears and seen the words come out of Jesus' mouth with his eyes. After experiencing Jesus as Simon did, it would only make sense that he would share this with his family and the people he came into contact with. How could you keep such an experience inside? The impact that Christ had on this man’s life got passed onto his wife and his kids and probably all whom God placed in his path.

What always amazes me is that God doesn’t need us to do anything for Him.  He is God and can do everything. Did He really need Simon to help Him carry the cross? But He desires that we would partner with Him, and share with Him.  Only then can we begin to understand what our Lord and Savior did for us. Unless we take up the cross and share in Christ’s sufferings we will never be able to live a life worthy of that which Jesus suffered and died.

PRAYER

Lord, we just want to thank You for Jesus. All of our praise and worship we send to You, Jesus. Thank You for loving us so much. Thank You for paying the price we never could have paid. We commit our lives to bringing You glory, honor and praise. AMEN

Friday, Mark Chapter 16

Mark 16

Verse 20

Mindy Strayer

Verse 20:  Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.

THOUGHT

The disciples went out and spread the Gospel where? Everywhere. As servants of Jesus we are to tell of Him everywhere we go. Are we secure in our faith? Are we confident in who God says we are in Christ Jesus? Is our greatest desire to serve Jesus Christ? The answer to these questions has to be YES! If it is not, then how are we to preach the Good News about Jesus everywhere? 

Our motivation is our love for Jesus and our desire to serve Him. Our strength and abilities to do this will be our confidence in who Christ says that we are. Ephesians 1:3-10 tells us who we are in Christ. We are blessed, chosen, blameless, adopted into the kingdom of God, full of grace, redeemed by the blood having our sins forgiven, full of wisdom and understanding. Do our words and our actions preach Jesus everywhere? “Everywhere” is not always pleasant is it?  It can be a smooth place where we are not challenged, and sharing the Gospel by word and deed is easy to do. But it can also be a rough place, challenging, and dark, even hateful at times. 

The Bible says that the Lord worked with them. He does not leave us by ourselves to accomplish this task. No, He works with us.  He partners with us.  He loves with us. It is not our job to prove that God exists. The Holy Spirit confirms that God exists, and when God’s Spirit moves into the hearts of people, they will have their eyes and ears open and will believe. 

We must do our part by preaching the Gospel, proclaiming God’s Word, and God will send signs to confirm the truth of His Word.

PRAYER

Lord, we have heard Your great commission. Thank You for including us. I pray that the hearts of believers everywhere would be secure in their faith and confident in who Jesus says that we are. Help us to walk in humility but also with a boldness that comes from the authority of Jesus in our lives. We desire to serve You, Lord, in any way that You ask. All praise, honor and glory to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. AMEN