9/25/09

Mark 15:6-24 (New International Version)

6Now it was the custom at the Feast to release a prisoner whom the people requested. 7A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. 8The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did.

9"Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?" asked Pilate, 10knowing it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. 11But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead.

12"What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?" Pilate asked them.

13"Crucify him!" they shouted.

14"Why? What crime has he committed?" asked Pilate.
But they shouted all the louder, "Crucify him!"

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

The Soldiers Mock Jesus
16The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. 17They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. 18And they began to call out to him, "Hail, king of the Jews!" 19Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. 20And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.
The Crucifixion
21A 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. 22They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull). 23Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. 24And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get.

Those who sympathized with Jesus were afraid during this time and went into hiding. Some even lost faith in him because they assumed he was not going to conquer earth since he would not save himself. Crucifixion was a death for a rebel and a slave.The religious leaders made sure that this would be the way that Jesus died. They showed a total lack of respect for him. The religious leaders also whipped the crowd into a frenzy so that the crowd would be the one to blame. The truth is that everyone was at fault. The disciples fled in fear, the crowds did nothing to help him. Pilate blamed the crowds, the religious leaders promoted his death. What would you have done if you had been there? Pilate was afraid if he didn't let Jesus die that he would lose his political power. He was worried about earthly matters. When we lay aside God's clear statements of right or wrong and make decisions based on popular preferences, we fall into compromise and lawlessness. God promises to honor those who do right, not those who make everyone happy. The soldiers mocked Jesus and gambled for his belongings. This was a prophecy fulfillment. Sometimes it's hard to do things God's way but we must do it anyway.

My second point is that we were formed for God's family. This is the second most important purpose for our life. The first being that we were made to worship God. God is a family oriented being. He even created the trinity because it's the perfect pattern for relational harmony. When our faith is first placed in Christ, we become his child and other believers become our eternal family. Everyone was created by God, but not everyone is a child of God. You must be born again to be his. Everyone is invited, but we must place our faith in Jesus to be accepted. Your spiritual family is even more important than your biological family because it lasts forever. If you love your biological family, you will make every effort to share God with them so that you can spend eternity with them. God has so much stored up in Heaven for his believers. On earth we are given his gracee, mercy, kindness, and patience, glory, wisdom, and power.In Heaven we are given eternity with God, complete physical change to be like Jesus, freedom from all pain and death and suffering, a position of service, aand a chance to share in God's glory. Your eternal inheritance is priceless, pure, permenant, and protected.

Jesus also commands us to be baptized. It symbolizes participation in the fellowsip of God's eternal family. Your baptism declares your faith, shares Christ's burial and resurrection, symbolizes death to life, and celebrates your inclusion into God's family. It is a physical picture of a spiritual truth. Remember that only faith makes you a member of God's family. Baptism is a visible reminder of an inward commitment made in your heart. Much like a wedding ring is a symbol. If you haven't been baptized as a symbol of faith, do it as soon as possible because Jesus commanded us to do so. Being included in God's family is the highest honor and greatest privelege you will ever recieve whenever you feel unloved, unimportant, or insecure, remember whose child you really are.

Heavenly Father, Thank you for all that you have done for us. May this writing bring Glory to your precious name. Forgive me where I fail you......Amen