Mark 15:1—16:8: Victory Snatched from Defeat
TRUE GREATNESS, JESUS taught, is found in being a servant: "Whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Recorded here is the vivid testimony to Jesus' greatness and glory.
Warming Up to God
What about death is intimidating to you? Reflect on how Jesus would have felt going to the cross. Spend time responding in prayer.
Read Mark 15:1—16:8. »
Discovering the Word
- What kind of man is Pilate (vv. 1-15)?
- What keeps him from doing what is right?
- What ironies are present in the charges and jeers directed toward Jesus on the cross (vv. 25-32)?
- Why do you think it was Joseph and the women who had followed Jesus, and not the eleven, who were present when Jesus died and his body needed a tomb (15:42—16:8)?
- Why is it significant that Peter is mentioned by name in 16:7?
Applying the Word
- How can we keep from succumbing to the temptation Pilate faced?
- How can this passage reinforce our commitment to sharing the good news of Christ with others?
Responding in Prayer
Spend time in praise and thanksgiving for Christ's sacrifice and for his resurrection over death.
For Further Study
Images of Christ by Dale Larsen & Sandy Larsen