Tag: Jesus

  • The Enduring Joy of Christ

    I am often amazed when I hear stories of people who have gone through such hardship and suffering yet they are still so filled with joy. Recently I heard testimony of believers and Christian workers who were still joyful and hopeful despite being displaced and impoverished because of the war in Ukraine. Those brothers and…

  • The Resurrection: The Power of the Gospel

    Scripture: Mark 16:1-8 He is risen! He is risen indeed! As Easter Week concludes today, we go out on an incredible high. For today we are reminded of the power of the gospel, of the power of God in restoring His people to Himself. This restoration achieving its completion through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.…

  • The Burial: A Final Act of Love

    Scripture: Mark 15:42-47 In Mark 15:42-47, Joseph of Arimathea, a member of the Jewish council, asks Pilate for permission to take Jesus’ body and give him a proper burial. In doing so he shows a final act of love and respect toward Jesus. This act of love by Joseph would have been costly for him,…

  • The Crucifixion: The Atonement for Sin

    Scripture: Mark 15:16-41 The defining moment of our faith occurs today. As recorded here in Mark 15:16-41, we read that defining moment of human history. The moment that marks Jesus, the Messiah and Saviour of the world, becoming the atonement for sin. Here we find the ultimate demonstration of God’s love and sacrifice for us,…

  • The Trial of Jesus: A Fulfilment of Prophecy

    Scripture: Mark 14:53-65 I listen to several true crime podcasts and often find some of the details and events surrounding these crimes quite incredible. Some, of course, are harrowing and can cause me anguish because of the content and what happens to people regularly around our world. Some of the most distressing though are about…

  • The Garden of Gethsemane: Jesus’ Submission to God’s Will

    Scripture: Mark 14:32-42 It is hard to put ourselves in Jesus’ shoes in this moment. In this passage Jesus takes His disciples to the garden to pray and will later be arrested by the religious authorities. But in the moment in the Garden of Gethsemane, here in Mark 14:32-42, Jesus knows what is to come.…

  • The Last Supper: Commemorating the New Covenant

    Scripture: Mark 14:12-25 The Lord’s Supper is something we celebrate every month. It is a symbolic activity that we do as part of our services. In some traditions this is celebrated each week, for us we do it once per month. And it is of such significance that we highlight this meal in our church…

  • The Cleansing of the Temple: Jesus Challenges the Religious Establishment

    Scripture: Mark 11:15-19 The cleansing of the temple serves as a powerful example of Jesus challenging the religious establishment and pointing to a change in peoples understanding of God. In this event, in Mark 11:15-19, Jesus enters the temple and becomes angry at what He sees. He sees merchants selling animals for sacrifice and money…

  • The Triumphal Entry: Jesus Rides Into Jerusalem With A Purpose

    Scripture: Mark 11:1-11 The arrival of Jesus into Jerusalem is a significant moment in the gospel of Mark. As Jesus rode into the city on a donkey the crowds hailed him as the Messiah, the one who was to fulfil the Old Testament prophecies about a future king who would rule with righteousness and justice.…

  • Psalm 103: Praise The Lord

    It is certainly difficult to go through this Psalm without recognising the call to praise. The beginning and the ending couch this Psalm in words to encourage praise. Note how personal the writer King David is as he expresses himself. “Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the…