Points of Meditation & Reflection
Sermon Title & Text “Crucified” Mark 15:1-15 ESV
Message in a Sentence: A Christ Centered life must be rooted in a Christ Centered View.
1. Christ was transferred from religious leaders to Roman political leader, Pilate. Pilate hears the chief priests charges, finds Christ innocent but gives the people what they want, “Crucify Him!”.
2. Jesus before Pilate. Pilate hears Christ himself and chooses to please people:
a. False Accusations v3
b. Logical Credibility v4
c. Shh, Jesus is Amazing v 5
d. Gets it. Doesn’t Get It v10
3. People Problem: From many angles, people more people centered than Christ centered. Judas the Betrayer. Peter the Denier. Crowd of Crucifiers.
a. Stirred Up by… v11
b. Irrational Decisions v11
c. Can’t Explain Biblically vv13-14
4. The LongView of the Cross
a. Past: Alignment w/God’s Word Isa. 53:10-12 {Suffering Servant Passages: 42:1-4, 49:1-6, 50:4-7, 52:13-53:12}
b. Present: Reject Mark 15:1-15
c. Future: Transformed from “Crucify!” to Church Acts 2:23, 32, 36; 37-41
5. Samson [Strongest], Solomon [Wisest], Job [Richest], Noah [Blameless], - short list of people whom God transformed for His purpose. This same transformative power is available to all who believe in Christ and follow His lead of their life.
To continue to develop your relationship with Christ, spend time every day this week praying and meditating on this passage and it’s truths [EveryDay Jesus - below].
Edward
Everyday Jesus: Mark 15:1-15 Lord, teach us the transformative power of the Cross! Give us a Cross centered, Christ centered perspective.
· Monday: Read Mark 15:1-5 Pilate met with Jesus, found Him credible, correctly perceived the chief priests motives & ultimately found Christ innocent. But, in order to please people, He had Christ crucified. Today, in your prayer time, seek to understand where you may have acted like Pilate, in hearing Christ, but rejecting Him for the demands of our culture.
· Tuesday: Read the Servant Songs of Isaiah 42:1-4, 49:1-6, 50:4-7 & 52:13-53:12. Pay attention to what they reveal about Christ & specifically where you were the point of the cross. As they deepen your understanding of Christ, thank God for what He is allowing you to know.
· Wednesday: Read Mark 14:10-15:15 As you read of Judas, the Betrayer, Peter the Denier and the Crowd of Crucifiers, notice the “People Problem” in each. Where you identify with any/all of these groups, ask God to deepen your Christ centered perspective.
· Thursday: Meditate (think deeply) on Isaiah 53:10-12. The cross was a plan, not an accident and your soul was the point of the plan. Give God Thanks! We are the “offspring” v10, we are counted righteous, v11, Christ bore our sins and whom He makes intercession for. Praise the Lord!
· Friday: Read Mark 15:1-15 The crowd chooses guilty Barabbas to be let go and innocent Christ to be crucified. Today, ask God for the wisdom to choose Christ over whatever appears as an alternative.
· Saturday: Read Mark 15:1-15, Acts 2:36-41 & Rom 12:1-3 The crowd that decides to crucify Christ is also the crowd that becomes the church. Today, ask God to transform your view of life from a people perspective to a Christ Centered perspective.