Paid In Full

Introduction

General: Historical events that changed the world

The fall of the Roman Empire (476 AD)

The “shot heard ‘round the world” (April 19, 1775)

The terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on 9/11

Pearl Harbor, Neal Armstrong, assassination of JFK, invention of the printing press, development of the Internet…

Biblical:

The crucifixion of Jesus was a turning point in human history.

Mark 15…

Summarize the storyline.

Gives little detail about the crucifixion itself. Mark spends more words describing how everyone else in this story responds to Jesus.

Subject: Where do I see myself in this story? Who am I in this narrative?

Six Characters in the Story

Pilate was amazed but afraid.

Explanation: Mark 15:1-5, 15…

Connection: We’re like Pilate.

Some of us are amazed by Jesus. But we’re also afraid of what others think.

From last week’s Session: What are the risks of Christians being actively involved in politics? Some of the most common answers: persecution, being mocked, being labeled.

Sometimes the fear of others causes us to keep our faith to ourselves.

Application: Let the power of the cross overcome your fear. Jesus died for you. Will you live for him? Come to Jesus and live.

The crowd was disappointed and angry.

Explanation: Mark 15:6-14…

This is the same crowd that only a few days earlier shouted, “Hosanna!” as Jesus rode into the city on a donkey.

How could they change their minds so quickly? Because Jesus didn’t meet their expectations.

Connection: We’re like the crowd.

We expected something from Jesus but he didn’t deliver. We bargained with God but—at least it seems to us—he didn’t keep his end of the deal. Life isn’t going as expected, and we’re angry.

The best way to see if you’re like the crowd is when something hard happens and you think, “That’s not fair. I have been trying to serve you God, and this is what I get for it.”

All of us have this idea hiding in our hearts somewhere: If I do something good for God, God should do something good for me.

Application:

God did do something good for you—but not because of what you did for him…

When you’re disappointed, even angry, come to Jesus and talk to him about it.

The soldiers mocked and scorned.

Explanation: Mark 15:16-20…

Connection: We’re like the soldiers.

We may not say blasphemous things about Jesus. But how often do our actions and our attitudes reveal that our hearts are not much different than the hearts of these soldiers?

“I know what the Bible says, but…”

“This sin won’t hurt anyone else, so why does it matter?”

“I can decide for myself what’s good and bad.”

We pretend to be a Christian in one social circle, but live as though God doesn’t exist in another social circle.

Application: Don’t mock God by pretending he doesn’t see or care about your actions. Jesus died for your sin, so take sin seriously. Turn away from it. And when you fail, come to Jesus, confess your sin, and be made clean.

The religious leaders were full of blind arrogance.

Exposition: Mark 15:31-32.

Connection: We’re like the religious leaders.

Full of ourselves… so wrapped up in our own lives that we’re blind to what God’s doing right in front of our faces!

Crawford Loritts ~ “Humility is the intentional recognition that God is everything to you, and that you are nothing without him. It is the acknowledgment that life is not about you, and that the needs of others are more important than your own.”

Application: Crawford also says, “Often the only way to be reminded of authentic humility is to be humiliated.” Let’s not have to get to that point. Humble yourself and come to Jesus, recognizing that apart from him we can do nothing.

Joseph lost hope.

Exposition: Mark 15:42-46… Joseph of Arimathea hoped that Jesus was going to bring the Kingdom of God to earth; but Jesus was murdered—and so was Joseph’s hope.

Connection: We’re like Joseph.

Application: Don’t lose hope. The story doesn’t end with Jesus’s body decomposing in the tomb. We have a Living Savior and a living hope. Come to Jesus and find hope.

The centurion got it right.

Exposition: Mark 15:33-39.

How ironic! The only person who gets it right is the last person you’d expect.

Think of your family, neighbors, classmates, coworkers. Who’s the last person you think would ever come to Jesus? That’s the Roman centurion… Nobody is too far gone for God to save them.

Connection: We can be like the centurion.

Application: No matter how far away from God you are, it’s only one step back. Will you come to Jesus?

Conclusion

Pilate was amazed but afraid.

Don’t be afraid to run into the arms of the Savior. Come to Jesus.

The crowd was disappointed and angry.

Don’t turn your back on the God who gave his life on the cross for you. Come to Jesus.

The soldiers mocked and scorned.

Don’t live a life that’s a lie. Turn from sin and come to Jesus.

The religious leaders were filled with blind arrogance.

Don’t be humiliated. Humble yourself and come to Jesus.

Joseph lost hope.

In the midst of the struggle, come to Jesus and find a living hope.

The centurion got it right.

We can to. Receive Jesus as the Son of God who died in your place on the cross so that you could have a place in his kingdom. Come to Jesus.