W2W June 2021

Following Jesus

As we reach the end of Marks good news account of Jesus Christ the son of God, we need to weigh op what following him looks like in our lives and if it's worth it! Tonight we will see what it cost Christ, as well as how those watching the death and resurection responded to the costs involved for them. 

But first a testimony of what following Jesus looks like in the life of one of our church family. 

Listen to Naomi Sutton's testimony

Mark 15:33-16:8

Questions:

Read MArk 15:33 - 16:8 again

Context:

Jesus chose to give his life. He died voluntarily… breathing his last with a loud cry was not the normal way for a man being crucified. The Centurion and Pilate were both surprised by it but arrived at different conclusions. What surprised you most about Jesus death? Or what is it about Jesus death that causes you to wonder afresh about who he is and what he has done?

Observation/ meaning:

1. Mark focuses our attention on the Women (mentioned in the death, burial and resurrection passages) Why might he have done that?
2. Mark tells us a lot about Joseph, what do we know about who he is, what he did and why is this significant?
3. Mark’s account of the resurrection is brief but it has many many reassurances for us in our faith. What are some of the areas we need reassurance in surrounding Jesus death and resurrection? What evidences does Mark give to reassure us?
4. Why does Mark make mention of Peter specifically and what do these two words add to our understanding of the gospel.
5. Mark finished the book abruptly… what impact does this have on our reading of it? (see notes below if you are left a bit unsure)

Application

6. What does following Jesus look like for you just now?
7. Mark 8:34 “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.³⁵ For whoever wants to save their life^[b]will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. ³⁶ What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? ³⁷ Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? ³⁸ If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”  What do you find hard (or unexpected)about following Jesus? We all find things hard at times so be honest and let others in the group encourage and pray for you in this.
8. What difference(S) does the it make that the death and resurrection REALLY happened? in what ways can that affect how we view the challenges of the week ahead? (if time be specific about a challenge what is coming up and what truths will help you with it)

Notes on the end of Marks gospel

We saw in the passage today that after Christ is risen. The women who have witnessed all that has happened, are told to go and tell the disciples the good news. And they don’t. they run away in fear.

If I was writing a book about Jesus…. I would have done it very differently… I would have had a nice wrapped up happy ending… Jesus is risen… theres a big celebration… everyone is tweeting the news and sharing selfies with the risen Christ. But that isn’t how Mark ends his account…. And not just because he lacked the technology. He ends his account of the GOOD NEWS with belwildered women too scared to share the news of the empty tomb and the risen Christ.

We need to ask Why?

Why is there no appearance of Jesus mentioned and no great commission like the other gospel accounts have?

As Mark’s account was copied and shared among the early church … they also asked why he ended the way he did? they were unsatisfied… and they added the section we see at the end of our gospels…. Most bibles say that verse 9 onwards was not part of the original manuscript. It reads in a different style to Marks and summarises what happened next from the perspective of those familiar with the other gospel accounts. If Mark didn’t write that bit, why then did he choose to finish so abruptly? Did he die? Did some of the original ending get lost? We don’t know for sure… but we do know that God, and maybe Mark too… intended us to see that the account Mark wrote finishes with an abrupt ending. 

My own view and that of many commentators is that Mark leaves us hanging on purpose. We’ve seen all through the book that Mark focuses on people’s response to Jesus; those who you expect to get it don’t, and other maybe more unexpected followers emerge. I think we are left hanging because Mark wants us to think about how we should respond ourselves to what is undoubtedly the BIGGEST event in history. 

Karen