My daughter Sally was reading “The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe” to her young daughters. They realized someone was going to have to die to set Edmund free from the White Witch.
Who would it be?
They made several guesses.
I hope it isn’t Mr Tumnus!
Or Mr. Beaver!
They never even imagined it would be Aslan.
But when it turned out to be, Sadie cried out in shock:
“NO! NO! NO! NOT ASLAN! NOT HIM!”
(Sally and Sadie)
Sadie had fallen in love with him. The thought of him dying was too terrible.
Yet it could only be him, the one without sin.
So, in love, he turned toward the storm, setting his face like flint to set us free.
Highlight from Last Week:
Great interaction on overcoming contempt. Jennifer’s testimony was so practical for us all:
The Lord showed me that when I pray for someone it teaches me to love them and not have contempt for them. I had a lot of bad feelings for my son in law but I started praying for him as the longer I did the more I loved him. I am so grateful.
Diane and Renee set up a facebook page for prayer and news for women on this blog. Lizzy has been keeping us updated on our own Mary who has 4th stage cancer. You can read it here and pray for her:https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=dee%27s%20bible%20study%20friends&epa=SEARCH_BOX
Also on Facebook, ur own Nila and daughters singing, in beautiful harmony, “Let’s Go Down To the River and Pray” — thought you non-facebook users might like to see it – I hope you can!
Sunday:
- What stands out to you from the above and why?
- How has our intimate God met you recently?
(Tomorrow’s lesson is a bit longer than usual if you want to begin today.)
Monday: Are You The Christ, The Son of the Blessed One?
“I Am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of The Mighty One and coming in the clouds of heaven.” (Mark 14:62)
3. Read Daniel 7:13-14 and describe Daniel’s vision.
4. Read Mark 14:53-65
A. Read it aloud, to see more, and share anything that stands out to you. What is it and why do
you think it stands out?
B. What makes someone willing to testify falsely, do you think?
C. How did Jesus respond to the question “Are you the Christ?”
D. He has been asked this before and not answered. Why now, do you think?
E. How do the listeners respond?
6. Read Mark 15:1-5.
A. What question of Pilate’s does Jesus answer, and how?
B. What questions does He not answer? Why, do you think?
7. Read Mark 15:6-15
A. How does Pilate try to get out of crucifying Jesus?
B. When that plan fails, why does Pilate go ahead?
C. How can the idol of the approval of man be very dangerous to you?
8. Read the opening 5 pages in Chapter 17 in Keller’s book, ending after Mark 15:11-15. Share
your notes and comments.
Tuesday: Maker of the World Unmade
9. Read Mark 15:20-24
A. Why do you think Mark mentions that Simon was the father of Alexander and Rufus?
B. Why do you think Jesus refused the wine mixed with myrrh?
The following article will help with the above question:
https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/the-wine-jesus-drank
(This touched me so. My husband refused morphine during his last painful hours, but
I gave it to him intravenously despite his wishes, hating his suffering — now — I wonder if that
was wrong. Yet, even that, I cast at the feet of Jesus, and know He forgives.)
C. What prophecies were fulfilled by the above? (See Keller)
10. Read Mark 15:25-34 and share what stands out to you and why.
11. Read in Keller’s book from After Mark 15:11-15 up to Darkness and Disintegration and share
your notes and comments.
Wednesday: Darkness and Disintegration
12. Read this section in the chapter through Amos 8:7-8 and share your notes and comments.
Thursday: The Curtain and The Centurion
13. Read the section in Keller’s book following Amos 8:7-8 up to The Beauty of Darkness and share your notes and comments.
14. Read Mark 15:35-39
A. What is the significance of the curtain being torn from top to bottom?
B. Of the centurion’s statement?
C. Give thanks for anything you see in this passage that applies to you.
Friday: The Beauty of Darkness
15. Read this section in Keller’s book and share your notes and comments.
Saturday:
16. What is your take-a-way and why? Give thanks.
107 comments
Friday: The Beauty of Darkness
15. Read this section in Keller’s book and share your notes and comments. – Reading this chapter on Jesus death, has brought much more meaning to me on what it truly meant for Jesus to die on the cross. He lived our life because we couldn’t. I can think of so many ways that this affects me. The pain and suffering that Jesus went through, I would have no way been able to do that. Any little rejection that comes my way, will make me now stop to think how trivial it is compared to the rejection Jesus dealt with, even up to being forsaken on the cross. Oh my!!!
So true, Julie, As hard as it is to look at His suffering, it purifies us and deepens our love.
16. What is your take-a-way and why? Give thanks. I am deeply touched by Christ’s refusal of the myrrh. Just as Steve loved his family so much to refuse morphine to (perhaps) be in full awareness of them for every moment given (Dee, I think he loved being with you more than relief from pain?) …Christ loved us to fully experience the punishment for us … to know our burden that He was taking from us. Every time I learn more about Christ’s choice I am astonished at its depth, learning again and again that it is deeper than I ever knew or fathomed.
God, Jesus, thank you… you love me so much more purely than I can even attempt…. break my efforts and let me just understand that it would change my heart to love others well and love you most of all.
So dear, Jill.
Chapter 17: The End , Amos 8 “I will make the sun go down at noon and darken the earth in broad daylight.”
Why Jesus had to go to the cross- He fell into the complete darkness for which we were headed, and he died so that we could be free from judgment. Instead we can live in the light and presence of God. the curtain in the temple separated the holy of holies, where God’s shekinah glory dwelt. At the moment Jesus died, the curtain ripped from top to bottom. Jesus was the sacrifice that ended all sacrifices. Now that Jesus died, anyone who believes in him can come to God directly. That is possible because Jesus paid the price for our sins.
The first person to get it was the centurion who presided over his death! He was a a hard character, but something had penetrated his spiritual darkness. Keller believes that this man’s witness of the death of Jesus, hearing his last cry, must have poerced through him and flooded his darkness with light.
14. Mark 15:35-39
A.What is the significance of the curtain being torn from top to bottom? The barrier is gone forever between God and the believer. Now whoever believes may connect to God for Jesus has paid the price for our sin.
B. The centurion’s statement? He is the first person to figure out that Jesus was the Son of God. Though the disciples called him the Christ, they did not realize he was divine.
C. Give thanks: Father, I thank you for the incredible sacrifice that Jesus paid for my sins. I do not deserve what you did, yet I am forever grateful and praise you that you gave your only Son to die for me.
Chapter 17 The Beauty of the Darkness:
Jesus’ followers came to realize that Jesus’ suffering was of immense good to them and to us. Yes, Jesus was abandoned and he paid for our sins. Now God the Father will never abandon us. When we suffer and do not understand we know that it is not because the Father has abandoned us. The cross demonstrates to us that God is working in our life when the reason is not known. Jesus died the death we should have died and so we have forgiveness and grace.
For this reason we can turn from the things that we are addicted to that draw us away from God. Our hearts are melted for the suffering that Jesus did for us. I am thankful for the final battle I will face: death has lost its sting. That evil fell onto Jesus. That is the beauty of the darkness.
My takeaway: So I have been pondering how Jesus didn’t take the Wine with Myrrh that brought some relief yet took the Wine that kept him conscious as He was dying. Jesus took no shortcuts. What love!
Secondly, that last paragraph of “The End” in Keller’s book encouraged my heart like you wouldn’t believe. “Because of Jesus’s death evil is a passing thing-a shadow. There is light and high beauty forever beyond its reach because evil fell into the heart of Jesus. The only darkness that could have destroyed us forever fell into his heart.” Over the past few months I asked God for Wisdom in my situation and slowly but surely He is giving it through observation, asking penetrating questions, and insight from my sisters in Christ including this person’s daughter. This evil won’t destroy me for it fell on Jesus’ heart.
13. Read the section in Keller’s book following Amos 8:7-8 up to The Beauty of Darkness and share your notes and comments.
14. Read Mark 15:35-39
A. What is the significance of the curtain being torn from top to bottom?
I believe it is God (Top to bottom: heaven to earth) who is imposing His displeasure/anger in the situation.
B. Of the centurion’s statement?
The centurion knew what he was witnessing was not something “normal.” He had never seen anything like it before.
C. Give thanks for anything you see in this passage that applies to you.
Thank You Lord, for giving Your life for us. Thank You for holding the sin, my sin, so I could know You. I’m sorry You had to endure what You did. I’m sorry if I don’t think of it always and continue to sin in my life. I try harder and harder and then am still so human. Please forgive me Lord. Amen.
15. Read this section in Keller’s book and share your notes and comments.
Some statements that stood out to me:
“God came into the world and suffered and died on the cross in order to save us. It is the ultimate proof of his love for us.” I love the idea of the “God-man” by the existentialist that Keller quotes. God became a man to suffer. I have known this, but for some reason it is sticking with this quote. It could be because I am still watching “The Chosen” and just finished the one with the leper scene. So dramatic! I do like the Jesus (actor) in this series so much! He is kind and good and you can feel it. In this particular one, He says, something to the effect that He is God who has come to earth as a man; not in those plain words, but enough for the Pharisees to acknowledge what He was saying (and for my peas brain to “get it!”).
“The cross proves that he loves you and understands what it means to suffer. It also demonstrates that God can be working in your life even when it seems like there is no rhyme or reason to what is happening.”
This happens often to me…I don’t feel Him with me. I get discouraged and hopeless. I will try to keep this in mind from now on; He is working behind the scenes.
And this:
“If you see Jesus losing the infinite love of his Father out of his infinite love for you, it will melt your hardness. No matter who you are, it will open your eyes and shatter your darkness. You will at long last be able to turn away from all those other things that are dominating your life, addicting you, drawing you away from God. Jesus Christ’s darkness can dispel and destroy our own, so that in the place of hardness and darkness and death we have tenderness and light and life.”
So many things pull me away from Him. It is sad that I forget His gift to me; His giving of His life for me.
Wow.