11/3/18 – Leviticus 23, Leviticus 24 – Mark 15:33-47 – Psalm 32

Mark 15:33-34

And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.g And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

My saviour and my Lord, hung on a cross. Forsaken for me. In pain for hours. For me.

It’s amazing that something so horrible, so agonising could actually be so wonderful. Ho can an agonising death ever be a good thing? Yet this one is.

How a tortured death can bring me life… I can never fully grasp.

But I am so grateful Jesus did this for me. He died for all but even if it had just been me He still would have done it.

What amazing love He has. Thank you Jesus for what you did on the cross.

Mark 15:43

Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.

This guy was a respected member of the council. He was part of “the system”. And he was searching for God in that.

Jesus had made a considerable impact on this man’s life – but at this point to be known to follow Jesus, especially in his position was extremely dangerous.

Peter had lost courage and denied Christ. Jospeh could have done the same. But Mark tells us he “took courage”.

If there had been no danger to him he wouldn’t have needed such courage. He went right to the top – right to Pilate to ask for the body.

Remember, the Romans were skittish because Jesus has said He’d rise again. They wanted to keep an eye on that body.

Joesph of Aramathea should be commended. And we could do well to follow his example.

In those times when following Jesus and taking a stand could be dangerous to our reputation, our position or even our life – take courage and make a stand.

Ps 32:1,5

Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,

whose sin is covered.

…

I acknowledged my sin to you,

and I did not cover my iniquity;

I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,”

and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.

When we confess, our transgression is forgiven. When this Psalm was written, it was under the old covenant. How much more wonderful it is to read this under the New – knowing that God has forgiven us through the power of the Cross.

But in both cases – it comes down to confession and repentance. When we bring our sin to The Lord, it’s covered in the precious blood of Jesus. But we must bring it to Him.

How amazingly blessed we are! My sin is forgiven – I am free, Jesus bore it all for me!