NASHVILLE (BP) — This weekly Bible study appears in Baptist Press in a partnership with Lifeway Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Through its Leadership and Adult Publishing team, Lifeway publishes Sunday School curricula and additional resources for all age groups.
This week’s Bible study is adapted from the Explore the Bible curriculum.
Bible Passage: Mark 15:24-39
Discussion Questions:
- Why do you think some people have an awkward feeling about receiving grace?
- What makes the inscription placed above Jesus’ head so significant?
- How did Jesus demonstrate authority and control, even at the end?
Food for thought:
Have you ever ordered at a drive-through, only to discover when you arrived at the window that the person in the car ahead of you paid your bill?
It’s an awkward feeling to accept food for which you didn’t pay. The first reaction of many people is to pay the bill for the car behind them. Grace has a way of making us more apt to give, not more apt to take from others.
After Jesus was arrested in the garden of Gethsemane, He was taken before the Sanhedrin and then turned over to Pilate. Jesus was accused of saying He was the King of the Jews, which threatened the Roman sensibilities in Jerusalem. Pilate then handed Jesus over to soldiers who beat Him and led Him away.
Having been sentenced as a traitor for His claim to be King of the Jews, Jesus was crucified and His clothes were divided among Roman soldiers who cast lots for the goods.
Two other criminals were crucified with Him, one on each side. The people and religious leaders mocked Jesus, calling on Him to save Himself as proof of His identity. Even the two criminals crucified with Jesus mocked Him.
At noon, darkness came across the land and lasted for three hours. Jesus cried out in Aramaic, asking God why He had abandoned Him. Some of the onlookers mistakenly thought Jesus was calling out to Elijah. They offered Jesus a drink, adding to the taunting. When Jesus cried loudly, the curtain in the temple tore from top to bottom. At this, a centurion declared, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” (Mark 15:39).
Jesus’ death on the cross paid the penalty for our sins. We can know with confidence that Jesus is the Messiah, and we can be assured that Jesus has the power to save. Jesus’ crucifixion is difficult to read about and even harder to understand. Jesus was innocent of the charges brought against Him, yet He willingly went to the cross. God’s grace is on full display in Mark 15:24-39. For us, this is such good news.
Explore the Bible is an ongoing Bible study curriculum that helps groups dig into the key truths of each Bible book, while keeping the group on pace to study through the Bible books in a systematic way. More information can be found at Lifeway.com/ExploreTheBible.
