March 13, 2013 - Mark 15

Mark 15 - Wednesday, March 13

 

 

Devotional Thoughts for Today:

 

Barabbas

 

Barabbas (vv. 6-15) is a great analogy of a Christian.   Each one of us is like Barabbas in that we are guilty and deserve God's punishment and wrath.  But because Jesus is our substitute, He replaces us in the punishment stage of sentencing. 

 

In this section, Jesus, the Innocent One, stands trial for our sins, and the man who symbolizes us, Barabbas, is set free.

 

Did you ever wonder what Barabbas did with this second lease on life?  Did he go back to his life of crime, or did he live a life of gratitude in honor of the One who set him free?

 

Are you living a life of gratitude?

 

 

Compassion

 

v. 22  Though Jesus is thirsty, He rejects the wine mixed with myrrh.  Did you ever wonder why?  Most would acknowledge, I think, that Jesus had every right to let His human body slip into unconsciousness with whatever helps were out there for Him.

 

But He doesn't.

 

That's because when He walks in our shoes, He doesn't just want a little "taste" of our temptations, pains, and trials.   As our compassionate God, He wants to know it all -- every last struggle -- so that He can help us in our time of need.

 

When it comes to compassion, do you walk with others?  Are you able to "taste" their pain because you have considered every angle of what they're going through?  Or do you just want to consider it "a little bit" and be done with it?

 

 

Where is He?

 

v.  46   The lifeless corpse of Jesus is placed in the tomb, but in reality the Christ shut His eyes in death and woke up the next moment (in spirit)  ready to keep on doing the work of our salvation.

 

His next visit will be upon the One who was bent on tempting.  Jesus will descend into Hell to proclaim His victory over every evil force.  He will show them that there is nothing that can keep Him back from the work of reconciliation.

 

When the day comes and you know your eyes are soon to close in the moment of death, remember that Jesus Himself had to face that day.  But He did so with the firmest, fullest confidence that His eyes would soon be open again because God is victorious.

 

"Where, O Death, is your victory?"  "Begone, Satan."   Nothing can keep me from the love of God.