2011-04-30

Secret Church

SECRET CHURCH #10 // OUTLINE

Posted: 29 Apr 2011 11:00 AM PDT

If you missed Michael Kelley’s posts about Secret Church here are the links from each of his 5 posts last Friday.

Opening Comments - HERE
Session #1 - HERE
Session #2 - HERE
Session #3 - HERE
Session #4 - HERE

After reading Michael’s outlines what did you catch this time that you didn’t during Secret Church?

How are you trying to be different in view of the new understanding David presented?

2011-04-29

Secret Church

HONORING THE PERSECUTED // APPLY

Posted: 28 Apr 2011 11:00 AM PDT

Last week you were challenged to study God’s Word. In view of celebrating the Resurrection of Christ on Sunday how has the Lord challenged you? What did you see and come to understand about Christ that you didn’t know before?

How are you applying it today?

In honor of those being persecuted write about your experience last week and how God is challenging you to move forward.

Use this blog as a bulletin board to share all that God is doing and how he wants you to follow through with His challenge.

________

To subscribe to the Secret Church Blog click HERE

Weekly Prayer Updates Update 04/29/2011

vom groups

weekly prayer updates

"Prayer is the pulse of life; by it the doctor can tell what is the condition of the heart. The sin of prayerlessness is a proof for the ordinary Christian or minister that the life of God in the soul is in deadly sickness and weakness." - Andrew Murray

"praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints" - Ephesians 6:18

VOM-USA Prayer Update for April 29, 2011
On Tue. Apr 26 2011 at 09:21 AM Moderator wrote:
Afghanistan--Imprisoned Afghan Believers Released
VOM Sources

Luke 4:18

Two Afghan Christians were released from prison recently. Shoaib Assadullah, who was arrested in October 2010 for giving a Bible to a friend, was released on March 31. While imprisoned in the city of Mazar-e-Sharif, Shoaib was physically abused and threatened by fellow prisoners. He refused to recant his faith in exchange for his freedom. Another imprisoned Afghan Christian, Said Musa, was released from prison in February after serving nine months on apostasy charges. He was granted asylum in Europe. Thank the Lord for the release of Shoaib and Said! Pray that believers in Afghanistan will stand strong in their faith and reach out to their neighbors, despite their small numbers.

Vietnam--U.S. Evangelist Gives Historic Sermon at Christian Festival
Compass Direct News, Luis Palau Association, BosNewsLife, VOM Canada

Matthew 10:19

Evangelist Luis Palau made history on April 9 when he preached at the Protestant centennial celebration in Vietnam. Palau, who preached on two consecutive nights in Ho Chi Minh City, became the first U.S.-based evangelist to preach at a major event in Vietnam since the 1975 communist takeover. About 5,500 people came forward to receive Christ over the course of two nights, even though authorities forced event organizers to relocate from an open field to an enclosed stadium at the last minute. The Palau team had hoped to hold a similar event the following weekend in Hanoi, but organizers were unable to get permission to use their chosen venue. Meanwhile, the Vietnamese government has increased its oppression of minority Christians living in the central highlands — forcing hundreds to renounce their faith. Thank God for this evangelistic opportunity in Vietnam, and pray for the new believers. Pray that Christians in rural areas will face persecution bravely.

Somalia--Al-Shabab Murders Christian Convert
Compass Direct News

Exodus 14:14

Members of the militant Muslim group al-Shabab murdered a 21-year-old Christian in the Lower Shabele region on Monday, April 18, as part of its campaign to rid the country of Christianity. Two al-Shabab militants reportedly entered the home of Hassan Adawe Adan at 7:30 p.m. and dragged him outside. A source told Compass Direct that the militants then shot Adan and shouted, "Allahu Akbar" (God is great). Adan, who was single, lived with his Muslim family. He secretly converted to Christianity several months ago, and area Christians said they think someone informed al-Shabab of Adan's new faith. "This incident is making other converts live in extreme fear, as the militants always keep an open eye to anyone professing the Christian faith," a Compass Direct source said. Pray that this news will not discourage other secret believers in Somalia, but will instead reaffirm their commitment to Christ. Pray that the Lord will fight their battles for them even if they keep silent about their faith.

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2011-04-28

Secret Church

THE PERSECUTED CHURCH // INDIA

Posted: 27 Apr 2011 11:00 AM PDT

This is a video from a mosque in India. These are Hindu believers praying to one of their many Gods. Take some time to pray for believers witnessing in India.

The video was captured by David and a team from Brook Hills. To read more about their trip click HERE.

Sikh Temple from The Church at Brook Hills on Vimeo.

Last Friday Secret Church featured India. David and a team from Brook Hills had the opportunity to work in India last month. Here is a link to a detailed http://bhglobalblog.org/2011/03/22/its-worth-it/

________

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2011-04-27

Secret Church

SECRET CHURCH // WHO IS GOD?

Posted: 26 Apr 2011 11:00 AM PDT

El Elyon

By David Platt

El Elyon means He is God Most High. This emphasizes God’s power. What happens is - this is in Genesis 14, Sodom and Gomorrah get into a battle and they lose, and Lot, who is Abram’s nephew, is taken away in that. And so Abram gets his pals together and said, “Let’s go get Lot back.” And so they go and they win a battle, and they bring Lot back. And they’re bringing all the goods and the people back from the defeat of Sodom and Gomorrah. What happens when he comes back, he meets two kings. One of them is Melchizedek, the king of Salem - he’s the guy who confuses us, really, throughout scripture - and then you’ve got the king of Sodom. And what happens is in this conversation with Melchizedek, Abram gives him a tenth of everything, that’s a whole nother sore. But then the king of Sodom comes to Abram, and listen what happens - middle of the way through this passage you’ve got listed here, “The king of Sodom said to Abram, ‘Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself.’” So he said keep the goods for yourself, all the goods, all the spoils of war, you can have those, and there’s a lotta goods that he’s talking about there. “But Abram said to the king of Sodom, ‘I have raised my hand to the LORD,’” here it is El Elyon, “‘God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and have taken an oath that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the thong of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’ I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me.’”

The picture is Abram says to the king of Sodom, “My God is most high, and He owns all things. And I’m not gonna take one thing from you so that you would be able to say, ‘You gave this to me.’ God owns everything and what I need, he will give to me.” This is a picture of confidence in El Elyon as the God Most High. It’s a picture of the fact that God alone is high and exalted. El Elyon, that’s what it literally means, highest, uppermost.

And you see this in Daniel 4, this is a great, great verse. This is from the lips of a pagan king, Nebuchadnezzar, listen to what this pagan king says. He says, “I raise my eyes,” “I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: ‘What have you done?’” You got pagan king praising God as El Elyon, God Most High. He alone is high and exalted. And second, God alone is able to meet all of my needs.

Ladies and gentlemen, if this God possesses all things then we need nothing from this world. If this God possesses all things then we need nothing from this world. Now, you remember that God was their rock, the El Elyon, God Most High was their redeemer, Psalm 78.

________

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2011-04-26

Secret Church

ROMA
SECRET CHURCH // SC 10 :: TEACHING SEGMENT #4
SECRET CHURCH // SC 10 :: TEACHING SEGMENT #3
SECRET CHURCH // SC 10 :: TEACHING SEGMENT #2
SECRET CHURCH // SC 10 :: TEACHING SEGMENT #1
SECRET CHURCH // SC 10 :: OPENING
PERSECUTED COMMUNITY // JOIN US!!!
HONORING THE PERSECUTED // STUDY
THE PERSECUTED CHURCH // INDIA
SECRET CHURCH // HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE

ROMA

Posted: 25 Apr 2011 11:00 AM PDT

Persecution comes in many forms! Sometimes it is an overt attack, which happens among European Roma or gypsies, and sometimes it is the more subtle refusal to provide medical care or basic rights given to other citizens in the country. A millennium has passed since the first major migrations of Roma from India. Centuries have passed since Europeans first saw this exotic people and called them Gypsies assuming that they had arrived from Egypt.
Historically they are a migrant people and most Europeans would like to see them continue to travel out of their current town or village.

Yet God is calling the Roma to Himself. International Mission Board (IMB) workers have seen hundreds come to faith over the past 15 years and scores of new churches have been planted in 8-10 countries. Though many Roma believers are young in their faith, they have a heart to reach their near and distant relatives scattered throughout Europe. More than 125 have participated in a summer missions program where they moved to another city in their country, or a nearby country, and helped strengthen the work of evangelism and discipleship among the Roma. Four couples and three singles agreed to serve for an entire year and left their meager belongings to move to another European country to help start new churches. One couple in their sixties saw ten Roma come to faith the first weekend in their new country. After a few months, they attended training in a nearby country and were denied access when they returned to their mission field. Undaunted, they accepted an assignment in a new country and have seen a church started over the past six months.

Two young families accepted the challenge to move their families to a neighboring country and began boldly sharing their faith in Roma communities. They helped strengthen a young existing work and began making plans to start a new church in the country's capital. After a monthly meeting for three months, they returned to the many neighborhoods where they had shared the gospel and announced the official church launch. Over 60 Roma attended the kick-off service in January and rarely a week has passed without someone confessing the Savior!

Some church planters may complain because, by nature, the Roma are transient but IMB workers are rejoicing at new groups started by traveling Roma in places like the Czech Republic, Romania, Bulgaria, and England. They may be denied basic services where they live but they will not be denied the gospel. Roma believers are seeing to that!
________
Mark and Susie Edworthy were appointed in December 1990 and departed their home state of Texas to open the IMB work in Poland. They took their three preschool children with them and the Lord added Polish nine-year-old twins in 2000. The Edworthys started two churches in Warsaw and Mark also served as a professor and academic dean of the Polish Baptist Theological Seminary. Mark served in various roles of responsibility with the IMB and currently serves as the Affinity Group Strategy Leader for European Peoples. He and Susie make their home in Prague, Czech Republic.

To subscribe to the Secret Church Blog click HERE

SECRET CHURCH // SC 10 :: TEACHING SEGMENT #4

Posted: 23 Apr 2011 03:17 AM PDT

Here is Michael’s post on the fourth session. To see his post click HERE.

SECRET CHURCH // SC 10 :: TEACHING SEGMENT #3

Posted: 23 Apr 2011 01:45 AM PDT

Here is Michael’s post on the third session. To see his post click HERE.

SECRET CHURCH // SC 10 :: TEACHING SEGMENT #2

Posted: 23 Apr 2011 12:40 AM PDT

Here is Michael’s post on the second session. To see his post click HERE.

SECRET CHURCH // SC 10 :: TEACHING SEGMENT #1

Posted: 22 Apr 2011 10:45 PM PDT

Here is Michael’s post on the first session. To see his post click HERE.

SECRET CHURCH // SC 10 :: OPENING

Posted: 22 Apr 2011 09:00 PM PDT

We have asked Michael Kelley to do some live blogging as Secret Church happens. He will be posting during each break. To see his opening post click HERE.

PERSECUTED COMMUNITY // JOIN US!!!

Posted: 22 Apr 2011 11:00 AM PDT

It’s not too late to join the simulcast of Secret Church. Click on the following link that best describes you and the people watching.

Small Group of 1-7 HERE
Small Group of 8-14 HERE
Group of 50-99 HERE
Group of 100+ HERE

________

To subscribe to the Secret Church Blog click HERE

HONORING THE PERSECUTED // STUDY

Posted: 21 Apr 2011 11:00 AM PDT

In just a few hours over 400 small groups, colleges, and churches will gather to study God’s Word and to pray for persecuted believers around the world. As you prepare for all that God will reveal in the next 24 hours take some time to pray through and study the following passages.

The way of Christ is hard to follow: Luke 14:25-33
The way of Christ is always fruitful: John 15:1-14
He is just in all His ways: 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10

________

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THE PERSECUTED CHURCH // INDIA

Posted: 20 Apr 2011 11:00 AM PDT

Do We Really Believe What We’re Saying? from The Church at Brook Hills on Vimeo.

This Friday Secret Church will feature India. In preparation for Good Friday and Secret Church. Take some time to think about India. Here are some quick facts:

Total People Groups: 2,533
Population: 1.2 Billion People
79% are Hindu
12% are Muslim
2% are Christians

Praise:
Economic growth which equals forward thinking and openness to Christianity

Request:
Constitution will be held up maintaing religious freedom
Corrupt Government at certain levels
Malnutrition effects 40% of the population

Sources:
The International Mission Board
Voices of the Martyrs
Operation World
Joshua Project

________

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SECRET CHURCH // HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE

Posted: 19 Apr 2011 11:00 AM PDT

Who Can Study the Bible?

By David Platt

The good news is that anyone can study the Bible. Anyone in this room can study the Bible. The difference is only those who have the Spirit of Christ can understand the Bible. And this is the key. It is the key as you read. Anyone can study this book, but unless you have come to the point in this life where you have trusted in Jesus Christ to save you from your sins and he has put his Spirit in you then you will never be able to understand this book. This is what 1 Corinthians 2:12-14 says. 14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. We need the Spirit of God to understand the Bible. The Spirit has done a few things and does a few things with the Word.

First of all: The Spirit inspired the Word. And this is key. The Spirit just like we saw in 2 Timothy 3 breathed this Word and has given it to us just as he gave it to them a couple of thousands years ago. He has given us this Word. Now the thing is this Bible, this Book is the inspired Word of God and we don't need to add any other books that are inspired by him. This is enough for us. The Spirit inspired this book and God is not in heaven thinking I really wish I had added some things to this book to help people out in the 21st century. He has given us all we need. The Spirit has given us all we need to grow in Christ. That is huge because there are questions that we have that are not answered in this Book, that sometimes we want to be answered. But we have got to trust that God has given us everything we need through his Spirit. He inspired the Word.

Second: The Spirit illuminates the Word. What happens is when you begin to study the Word, the Spirit of God is right there helping you to understand it. Illuminating it, opening your eyes and your heart to see it and the Spirit instructs us in the Word. He instructs us. The Spirit shows us how this Word applies to each our lives. That leads us to this next picture.

How do we study the Bible first of all? This is an overview but it is so foundational. We study the Bible Prayerfully. I want to remind you ladies and gentlemen that when you sit down to study the Bible, you never study the Bible alone. It is a divine interaction with Holy Spirit of the God of the universe that is going in your bedroom, or going on in your kitchen or going on in this room tonight. The Spirit of God. As a result, we study the Bible prayerfully. We study the Bible in conversation with God.

________

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2011-04-25

Zondervan Blog

Easter Story Cast, Clips, and Thanks

Posted: 25 Apr 2011 01:55 PM PDT

We hope you enjoyed the Easter Story Blog Series as much as we did! Would you like to hear more audio clip experiences on Zondervan Blog? Leave your thoughts, suggestions or questions as comments on this blog post.

Subscribe to Zondervan Blog

Some exciting stuff is coming up on Zondervan Blog (including guest posts from Zondervan authors, book giveaways, and a few surprises...) Subscribe to Zondervan Blog in your favorite reader to keep up on the action!

(If you subscribed to the Easter Story Series RSS, that's only for audio clip posts. We recommend you add this RSS to your reader so you'll get everything worth reading.)

The Cast of the Easter Story

Did you recognize any of these voices from the Bible Experience clips?

Luke (Narrator) - Terry Crews
John (Narrator) - LeVar Burton
Matthew (Narrator) - Wren T. Brown
Mark (Narrator) - Victor Love
Jesus - Blair Underwood
God the Father - Samuel L. Jackson
Mary Magdalene - Tisha Campbell Martin
Mary, the mother of Jesus - Nia Long
Simon Peter - Kirk Franklin
Judas - Cuba Gooding, Jr.
Pilate - Charles S. Dutton
The Psalm Reader - Christopher Morgan
Angel of the Lord - Angela Bassett

If you had trouble with the audio this week, use these links:

We've heard the audio player didn't work for some of you. We're very sorry about that! Here are direct links to each of the audio clips. (They're MP3 files and should open in your computer or device's default audio player.)
Palm Sunday
Fig Monday
Holy Tuesday
Spy Wednesday
Maundy Thursday
Good Friday
Holy Saturday
Easter Sunday

The Easter Story Blog Series was brought to you by The Bible Experience: The Complete Bible, Zondervan Blog, and every one of you who participated. Thank you for joining us this Easter! (-The Editors of Zondervan Blog)

About the Audio Clips

This series uses audio clips from The Bible Experience: The Complete Bible. This award-winning audio Bible is fully dramatized, featuring a cinematic musical score and voice talent from stars including Blair Underwood, Jeffrey Wright, Kirk Franklin, Nia Long, Cuba Gooding, Jr., and many more.

You can purchase The Bible Experience in The Complete Bible on Audio CD or The Complete Bible, Audio MP3 Downloads on CD.

Related Resources
Companion Bible	Old Testament	New Testament

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

2011-04-24

Zondervan Blog

Easter Story: Easter Sunday

Posted: 24 Apr 2011 02:11 AM PDT

On Easter Sunday ... "Do not be afraid ..."

Listen to the Story

If the audio doesn't load when you click this link, click your browser's "Refresh" button or try this link.

Read Along (Matthew 28)

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, "You are to say, 'His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.' If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble." So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Question
Imagine you saw Jesus executed on Friday. But when you go to his tomb on Sunday, he walks up to you and says "Greetings"! I would feel ________.
A. Afraid
B. Joyful
C. Joyful and afraid
D. Other
Join the discussion on Facebook

Trouble with the audio this week? Try these links.
We've heard the audio player hasn't worked for some of you. We're very sorry about that! Here are direct links to each of the audio clips. (They're MP3 files and should open in your computer or device's default audio player.)
Palm Sunday
Fig Monday
Holy Tuesday
Spy Wednesday
Maundy Thursday
Good Friday
Holy Saturday
Easter Sunday
If you have trouble with these too, please leave us a comment on this post and we'll do our best to get the whole Easter Story available to you. Sorry for any inconvenience, and have a blessed Easter!

About the Audio Clips

You can purchase The Bible Experience in The Complete Bible on Audio CD or The Complete Bible, Audio MP3 Downloads on CD.

Related Resources
Companion Bible	Old Testament	New Testament

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

2011-04-23

Zondervan Blog

Easter Story: Holy Saturday

Posted: 23 Apr 2011 04:39 AM PDT

On Holy Saturday (And Whenever Trouble Is Near)...

Listen to the Story

If the audio doesn't load when you click this link, click your browser's "Refresh" button. That will start the Easter Story player.

Read Along (Psalm 22)

[Many scholars believe that when Christ exclaimed from the cross, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me," he was alluding to Psalm 22. Listen to the psalm and see if you agree.]

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from the words of my groaning?
My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,
by night, but I find no rest.

Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;
   you are the praise of Israel.
In you our ancestors put their trust;
   they trusted and you delivered them.
They cried to you and were saved;
   in you they trusted and were not disappointed.

But I am a worm, not a human being;
   I am scorned by everyone, despised by the people.
All who see me mock me;
   they hurl insults, shaking their heads.
"He trusts in the LORD," they say,
   "let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him,
since he delights in him."

Yet you brought me out of the womb;
   you made me feel secure on my mother's breast.
From birth I was cast on you;
   from my mother's womb you have been my God.
Do not be far from me,
   for trouble is near
and there is no one to help.

Many bulls surround me;
   strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.
Roaring lions that tear their prey
   open their mouths wide against me.
I am poured out like water,
   and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart has turned to wax;
   it has melted within me.
My mouth is dried up like a potsherd,
   and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;
   you lay me in the dust of death.
Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me;
   they pierce my hands and my feet.
All my bones are on display;
   people stare and gloat over me.
They divide my clothes among them
   and cast lots for my garment.

But you, LORD, do not be far from me.
   You are my strength; come quickly to help me.
Deliver me from the sword,
   my precious life from the power of the dogs.
Rescue me from the mouth of the lions;
   save me from the horns of the wild oxen.

I will declare your name to my people;
   in the assembly I will praise you.
You who fear the LORD, praise him!
   All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!
Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!
For he has not despised or scorned
   the suffering of the afflicted one;
   he has not hidden his face from him
   but has listened to his cry for help.

From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly;
before those who fear you I will fulfill my vows.
The poor will eat and be satisfied;
those who seek the LORD will praise him—
may your hearts live forever!

All the ends of the earth
   will remember and turn to the LORD,
and all the families of the nations
   will bow down before him,
for dominion belongs to the LORD
   and he rules over the nations.
All the rich of the earth will feast and worship;
   all who go down to the dust will kneel before him—
those who cannot keep themselves alive.

Posterity will serve him;
future generations will be told about the Lord.
They will proclaim his righteousness,
declaring to a people yet unborn:
He has done it!

Question
Do you feel you can be honest with God (and yourself) when you pray?
A. Yes, I'm honest about what's on my heart.
B. I'm often honest, but I avoid praying about some things.
C. I struggle with praying what I really think and feel.
D. Other
Join the discussion on Facebook

There's More to the Story
Come back to Zondervan Blog tomorrow to hear what happened on Easter Sunday!
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About the Audio Clips

You can purchase The Bible Experience in The Complete Bible on Audio CD or The Complete Bible, Audio MP3 Downloads on CD.

Related Resources
Companion Bible	Old Testament	New Testament

2011-04-22

Zondervan Blog

Easter Story: Good Friday

Posted: 22 Apr 2011 04:28 AM PDT

Listen to the trial, passion and death of Jesus.

On Good Friday ... A Cross to Bear

Listen to the Story

-Audio from The Bible Experience

Read Along (Mark 15:1-32, Luke 23:32-39, Mark 15:33-47)

Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, reached a decision. They bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate. "Are you the king of the Jews?" asked Pilate. "You have said so," Jesus replied. The chief priests accused him of many things. So again Pilate asked him, "Aren't you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of." But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.

Now it was the custom at the festival to release a prisoner whom the people requested. A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did. "Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?" asked Pilate, knowing it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead. "What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?" Pilate asked them. "Crucify him!" they shouted. "Why? What crime has he committed?" asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, "Crucify him!" Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. And they began to call out to him, "Hail, king of the Jews!" Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.

A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross. They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means "the place of the skull"). Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get. It was nine in the morning when they crucified him. The written notice of the charge against him read: THE KING OF THE JEWS. They crucified two rebels with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, "So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, come down from the cross and save yourself!" In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. "He saved others," they said, "but he can't save himself! Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe." Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him...

Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is God's Messiah, the Chosen One." The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself." There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: Aren't you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!" But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Jesus answered him, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise" ...

At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" (which means "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"). When some of those standing near heard this, they said, "Listen, he's calling Elijah." Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. "Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to take him down," he said. With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, "Surely this man was the Son of God!"

Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joseph, and Salome. In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there. It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body. Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where he was laid.

Question
"'Aren't you going to answer? [says Pilate]. See how many things they are accusing you of.' But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed." What most amazes you about Jesus? Join the discussion on Facebook

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