Week 4- Jesus- The Cross

' For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to served, and to give his life as a ransom for many.' Mark 10:45

On week 4, we learned that why Jesus has to die. We learned and recognise how and what happened on the cross, that has changed our relationship with God. 

Why Jesus died on the cross? No, Jesus death wasn't a tragic waste of life. It was a rescue. He died for us, he died for our sin. 

Why? Why did he do that? Imagine if someone else deliberately took the punishment for something serious you had done wrong. How would you feel?

For me, I would feel guilty and apologise. Not even in the first place someone has to bare the consequences that I've done wrong. 

When Jesus came to give his life as a ransom for many, my reaction would me: What? You don't need to do so, and why?

As Jesus was dying on the cross, darkness came over the whole land. God was acting in anger to punish sin. He paid the price for our sin so that we never have to. He gave himself up as substitute, to be punish on our behalf, so that we can be rescued.

That is why, Jesus's death opens the way for sinful people come into God's presence.

'When Jesus died, the curtain in the temple was torn into two from top to bottom.' Mark 15:38.

Jesus mission.

Mark 31-33

He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and rebuke him'.

But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, He rebuked Peter. ' Get behind me, Satan!' He said. 'You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men'

Jesus predicted that he is going to die. While Peter felt that this is unbelievable, he begin to rebuke and set aside other things. Jesus even called him Satan and emphasise that He does not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men. Sin, it is the sin that in human has, which is scary. 

Reminder:

I would say the reaction I had to Jesus death on the cross would be more like a Bystander, Pilates or a Soldier.

Bystander simply means I came for the show but not moved my Jesus. Sometimes I refused and detached to get involved. 

I can be a soldiers either ( Mark 15:24). I was too busy going about business of life that I forget who God is. Just like in the bible, the soldiers missed what was happening. 

The coward- Yes I always thought that I am interested in pleasing man but not God. ( Mark 15:15)

I care about what others think of me, not knowing whether or not I am doing the right thing. Just because I wanted to make him/her happy. Is it something that God wants me to do?

xx

Again thank you God for giving me this opportunity to come for Week 4 of Christianity Exploration. Thank you for providing us a place, a capable, easy going and friendly group leader whom I truly enjoy talking and sharing with. Thank you for sending me such an important message. With this reminder, I truly believe that it changed my relationship with you, even closer. I understand that why you had to die for us, so that we can be rescued. Thank you God.