“Who do you say that I am?” Mark – Part 11 (Easter Sunday)

“Who do you say that I am?” Mark – Part 11 (Easter Sunday)

“Who do you say that I am?” Mark – Part 11 The One who brings light to darkness… Mark 15:33-16:8 April 16th, 2017

 

I. The DARKEST moment of HISTORY. (15:33-41)
A. A DEVASTATING, yet FAITHFUL cry. (15:34; Ps 22:1,28)
B. The MOST unlikely WITNESS. (15:39)
C. Those who LOVED and CARED.(15:40-16:3)

Every Easter Sunday is preceded by a Good Friday. The day when the Son of God, who became human, was crucified. It was the darkest day in history. And yet darkness is what comes before light. And light makes the darkness flee. Friday would lead to Sunday. He is risen…

1. Read Ps. 22. How does reading that help you identify with what Jesus was going through on the cross?
2. Remember Mark’s constant question as he writes this gospel. Why is it important that the Roman Centurion says what he does as the religious leaders crucify Jesus?
3. Who has been an “unlikely witness” in your life?
4. Of the people listed at the foot of the cross, where do you see yourself? Why?

II. The SUNDAY that everything CHANGED… (16:1-8)
A. LOOKING for the RIGHT person… (16:6)
B. …just in the WRONG PLACE. (16:6-7)
C. He is RISEN…He goes AHEAD. (16:6-7)

The women who were so faithful to Jesus had the right idea. They wanted to find Jesus. It’s just that their understanding of the Jesus they were looking for was woefully
inadequate. He wasn’t in the tomb. He was up, and on the move…leading the way. Life would never be the same again.

5. When has Jesus surprised you? Where do we expect to find Him and what do we expect from Him?
6. Where do you think the risen Jesus is calling you to follow at this point in your life?

III. REACTING to or PRACTICING resurrection?
A. ALARMED, AFRAID, and SILENT. (16:5-8)
B. SKEPTICAL or UNBELIEVING. (16:9-13)
C. “PRACTICING RESURRECTION” (v.20)
1. LIGHT will overcome DARKNESS. (Jn 1:5)
2. LIFE will overcome DEATH. (I Cor. 15:20-27)
3. Faith is living in TRUTH despite how world LOOKS. (I Cor. 15:54-58)

And so we have a choice to make. How will we react to that first Easter morning. We come to church looking for Jesus? Our lives are a spiritual search looking to encounter Him. But are we ready for this? He isn’t dead…He’s alive…on the move. Leading the way. And this truth grows bigger and bigger as we begin to lean on it. To make our political protest march cry, “Christ is Risen, Christ is Risen…” If that is true, then life is forever changed.

7. How does the resurrection impact your every day life? How would you like it to?
8. What are 1-2 things you could do this week to “practice resurrection”?
9. What do you do when you find it hard to believe and apply the truth of the resurrection to your day to day situations? What are some ideas that could help you?
10.What role does the community (especially GBC and other believers in Hope) play in your practicing resurrection?