DESPISED AND REJECTED OF MEN Mark 15:16-21 Introduction : In the film Saving Private Ryan soldiers are sent out to find Private Ryan and to bring him home because his brothers had been killed in the war. It was an act of mercy for his mother’s sake. Several of the soldiers who seek him are killed – and one whispers his dying words to Private Ryan, “ Earn this .” The final scene of the film is of an old Private Ryan in the cemetery of the war dead asking himself the question, “ Did I earn it? Was I worthy? ” There are parallels to the gospel message in the sacrifice of his rescuers, but Jesus did not say as he died for us, “Earn this.” He cried out, “ It is finished .” We can’t earn our salvation. His sacrifice was sufficient to save us completely. We can’t add anything— it is finished . This is why He came. Through His blood, His supreme sacrifice for our sins—all who believe will be saved. The Cross was God’s plan. In addressing the troubled community of faith in Co
The Lamb and the Throne Mark 15:1-15 Introduction. : Dr. Buck Parsons said in an article in TableTalk magazine, One of my greatest fears for the church today is that we will become bored with the Cross of Christ. I am concerned that any mention of Christ and Him crucified is leading many professing Christians to say to themselves: “Yeah, I know all about Jesus dying on the cross for my sins—let’s move on to something else. Let’s get past the basics and let’s deal with bigger theological issues.” I firmly believe that Satan is set on trying to destroy us, but he’ll settle with just getting us to lose our astonishment of Christ and Him crucified . The Cross is at the heart of the message of Mark, and he too wants us to be astonished with Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. This is why Jesus came. We took our time going through Mark 14… 8 weeks! This chapter will be quicker, but we are not going to rush. This is the heart of the Gospel message, according to the apostle Paul, as “