Read Mark 15:15-19. Pilate knew Jesus was innocent but attempting to satisfy the crowd he released Barabbas and gave Jesus to them after "scourging" him. Scourging is a simple word but a brutal ordeal. It was so brutal that most people did not survive it. Bits of bones and metal embedded in a leather whip, so when struck by this whip it would rip the flesh open. As we read on we see that the soldiers were mocking Jesus, their hearts were hardened and did not care what they were doing to him; the scourging was more of a diversion for them. It could get out of hand fast and get ugly, almost a mob mentality. But Jesus just takes all of it. Read Mark 15:20-21. The kind of descriptions in this account are full of detail, as if from an eye witness account. These kind of details are never present in an invented story. Read Mark 15:22-24. The "wine mixed with myrrh" was used in those days to deaden the pain, but Jesus refused to take it.
The gospels never once highlight the physcial pain of crucifixion, that was not the point. The point was the purpose of Jesus death, which was to die for our sins and be our substitute. But here lets expand on the physical portion a bit; it was overwhelming painful. Three spikes through the wrists and heels, slow suffocation, muscle spasms, and pain shooting throughout entire body. It was intended to be cruel and reserved for the worst of criminals, it was meant to be extruciating! Jesus did not die in a bed, he died on a bloody cross. The most painful of deaths. Read Mark 15:25-32. It would have been the worst thing in the world if Jesus would have came down from the cross like the chief priests were taunting him to do. If so, we would have had to die for our own sins - an eternal death. Dying on that cross was the whole reason Jesus came.
Read Mark 15:33. Imagine what that must have been like: a bright, Middle-Eastern sky, at noon, and all of sudden it turns black! People would be thinking "what's going on?" It must have been eerie and sobering. God was expressing his heart and the magnitude of this moment! It was so big, the biggest thing ever!
Read Mark 15:34. There was never a more horrifying prayer burst from a humans lips. At that moment Jesus bears our sin; ALL your sin placed on Jesus. He is then separated from the Father and the Father cannot even look upon his son. Jesus experienced real pain, he bears the guilt and shame of the world and is separated from his Father. With a closeness like they had, it would almost be unbearable.
Read Mark 15:35-38. No one takes Jesus life, he chooses to die for us. He offers his life willingly. In the gospel of John is says "It is finished," meaning sin is paid for, death is defeated, satan was sentenced, and salvation is won; all through one act! The temple curtain was meant to separate the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place and only one man could enter into that Most Holy Place once a year on the Day of Atonement. When Jesus died, God tore the curtain from top to bottom symbolizing that we could now come to him through the blood of Jesus the door to God is now open.
Read Mark 15:39. The centurion, commander of 100 men, was taking it all in. He had seen people die before, lots of men and some by his own hand. But he had never seen anyone die the way Jesus did. What did he see? He looked in Jesus eyes and probably saw peace, strength, love, forgiveness. It probably seemed like Jesus was in charge of the whole thing, like he could leave at any time but he choose not to. He did not see fear or intimidation, shame or bitterness in Jesus eyes; just love. Then the last cry came "it is finished," it probably sounded more like a roar than a cry, a shout or roar of victory. But the main thing that the centurion noticed was Jesus eyes, he couldn't get over his eyes. They were full of tender love and compassion and strength and grace.
Mark goes on to tell of the burial and resurrection. Read Mark 16:6. Jesus died, but did not stay dead. Death couldn't hold him down!!! He burst forth into victory and is alive!
Romans 6:1-5
Read Romans 6:1. Why does Paul ask the question? Because in the previous verse it says "but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more." We as humans tend to rationalize. With this verse we could think, "I'll just do this sin. God will forgive me." Could be alcohol, sexual sin, pornography, gossip, divorce... Paul responds, "By no means!" Read verse 2, he says of course not, why would you keep on sinning when you have died to that; stop living in it. Paul stands behind grace, he does not back off. Grace can be abused. The answer is not a works salvation or legalism, it is who you are and what Christ has done for you. Dying to sin and living in sin don't go together. We are joined to Christ and when Christ died to sin, so did we; so stop living in it.
Read Romans 6:3-5. Remember God deals with mankind on the basis of a representative. We are connected to Adam by birth, when he sinned we sinned. We can be connected to Christ by faith, when Christ died to sin we died to sin and we raise to newness of life when he rose from the dead. We need to know who we are in Christ and what Christ has done for us. The goal is not to have head knowledge of this but for it to move to our heart. That's not to imply that knowledge doen't matter. It is the basis, the foundation, it is crucial. Life with God is based on the truth of God. When Paul talks about Baptism in verses 3-4 he assumes that they all have been baptized. There were no unbaptized believers in the New Testament, after they trusted Christ they all were baptized. Baptism is a seal a symbol that you belong to God, just like a wedding ring is a symbol of marriage. When we are immersed under the water, it is a symbol of our death with Christ and when we rise out of the water it is a symbol of our resurrection with Christ into newness of life.
Sin has no further claim on Christ because the penalty was paid. Therefore, sin has no further claim on us because Christ died as our representative. It has no claim, no power, no say in our life. We don't have to listen to those lies, we don't need to serve sin anymore. The rope around our neck has been snapped and we are free.
Discussions Questions:
1. Do you walk in newness of life or are you still living in the bondage of sin?
2. Are you different than your non-christian friends? How? Are you living for yourself or Christ? Are you trying to impress others? Do you worry or do you trust the Lord?
3. Who are you in Christ? What is your identity?
4. If you are a believer, are you baptized? If not, what is holding you back?
Read Romans 6:3-5. Remember God deals with mankind on the basis of a representative. We are connected to Adam by birth, when he sinned we sinned. We can be connected to Christ by faith, when Christ died to sin we died to sin and we raise to newness of life when he rose from the dead. We need to know who we are in Christ and what Christ has done for us. The goal is not to have head knowledge of this but for it to move to our heart. That's not to imply that knowledge doen't matter. It is the basis, the foundation, it is crucial. Life with God is based on the truth of God. When Paul talks about Baptism in verses 3-4 he assumes that they all have been baptized. There were no unbaptized believers in the New Testament, after they trusted Christ they all were baptized. Baptism is a seal a symbol that you belong to God, just like a wedding ring is a symbol of marriage. When we are immersed under the water, it is a symbol of our death with Christ and when we rise out of the water it is a symbol of our resurrection with Christ into newness of life.
Sin has no further claim on Christ because the penalty was paid. Therefore, sin has no further claim on us because Christ died as our representative. It has no claim, no power, no say in our life. We don't have to listen to those lies, we don't need to serve sin anymore. The rope around our neck has been snapped and we are free.
Discussions Questions:
1. Do you walk in newness of life or are you still living in the bondage of sin?
2. Are you different than your non-christian friends? How? Are you living for yourself or Christ? Are you trying to impress others? Do you worry or do you trust the Lord?
3. Who are you in Christ? What is your identity?
4. If you are a believer, are you baptized? If not, what is holding you back?
Romans 5:18-21
Read Romans 5:18. One trespass: fall = condemnation. One act of righteousness: cross = justification. We have condemnation, not because of what we did, all our sins. But because of what Adam did. We are justified, not because of what we do, but because of what Christ did. Personal sins don't send you to hell and personal good deeds don't send you to heaven. The last part of 18 does not mean that all men will be saved. The word all means people in general, not every single person. Entire book of Romans is clear that we are right with God only by faith in Christ. There are solemn warnings in Romans about wrath and judgment. We may not like the truth of hell and we certainly don't understand it but God is God and we are not. We don't get to choose which doctrine or truths we like and which we don't. We must submit to God and his holy Word and trust that God is good, right, and just.
Read Romans 5:19. This is the fifth verse in a row saying: because of Adam's disobedience we died and because of Christ's obedience, we can have life. Perhaps the author is emphatic because human pride wants to earn salvation. We get right with God not because of anything we do but because of what Christ did. Rest in the cross of Christ. Our only hope is the cross of Jesus.
Read Romans 5:20. The law, 10 commandments and 613 commands, never saved one person that's not the purpose. The purpose of the law is to show our sin and lead us to Christ, it actually increased our sin! If you are going to tell your 6 year old son to not open the drawer, he is goign to do it. That is human nature. But, where sin increases grace abounds. Do you feel your sin is so bad, God can't forgive it? Then that's a small view of God's grace. Do you feel you need to pay for sin by feeling guilty for a long time? That's relying on yourself and it doesn't work. Rely on Christ.
Read Romans 5:20-21. Because of Adam, sin reigned. But now, because of Christ, grace reigns. We don't serve sin and death anymore. Grace reigns we have been forgiven. God is calling us to obedience, to holiness. The first step is to know you dont' have to sin. The second is to no longer serve that sin in your life.
Discussions Questions:
1. Are you still striving to "earn" your salvation? What things do you need to give up and lay at the foot of the cross?
2. What sin are you struggling with? (fear, anger, unforgiveness, alcoholism, etc.) It's a lie that you have to serve that sin as master, lay it at the cross.
Read Romans 5:19. This is the fifth verse in a row saying: because of Adam's disobedience we died and because of Christ's obedience, we can have life. Perhaps the author is emphatic because human pride wants to earn salvation. We get right with God not because of anything we do but because of what Christ did. Rest in the cross of Christ. Our only hope is the cross of Jesus.
Read Romans 5:20. The law, 10 commandments and 613 commands, never saved one person that's not the purpose. The purpose of the law is to show our sin and lead us to Christ, it actually increased our sin! If you are going to tell your 6 year old son to not open the drawer, he is goign to do it. That is human nature. But, where sin increases grace abounds. Do you feel your sin is so bad, God can't forgive it? Then that's a small view of God's grace. Do you feel you need to pay for sin by feeling guilty for a long time? That's relying on yourself and it doesn't work. Rely on Christ.
Read Romans 5:20-21. Because of Adam, sin reigned. But now, because of Christ, grace reigns. We don't serve sin and death anymore. Grace reigns we have been forgiven. God is calling us to obedience, to holiness. The first step is to know you dont' have to sin. The second is to no longer serve that sin in your life.
Discussions Questions:
1. Are you still striving to "earn" your salvation? What things do you need to give up and lay at the foot of the cross?
2. What sin are you struggling with? (fear, anger, unforgiveness, alcoholism, etc.) It's a lie that you have to serve that sin as master, lay it at the cross.
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