Week 37 Day 7
traumatic experiences test our faith
the defeat that disillusions us
the disgrace that will not disappear
the diagnosis that creates dread
the death that dooms any future dreams
those who first gave witness of Jesus' resurrection
were rejected
were turned away
were not believed
were not accepted
how can we overcome the no that paralyzes
no we do not want to be hurt again
no we do not want to let our feelings go
no we do not want to be disappointed again
no we do not want to let ourselves be overwhelmed
and accept the living yes of Jesus
yes I love you
yes I need you
yes I will live in you
yes I abide with you
---rus
THE MOB RULED AND DOUBT REIGNED
"Jesus is alive!" The good news was hard to believe.
Mark 15 & 16
1 In the morning, they bound Jesus, led Him away, and
delivered Him to Pilate. 2Pilate asked, "Are You the King of
the Jews?" He answered, "It is as you say." 3The chief priests
accused Him of many things, but He answered nothing.
6At the feast Pilate's custom was to release a prisoner to
them, whomever they requested. 7There was one named
Barabbas, who had committed murder in the rebellion. 8The
multitude began to ask him to do just as he had always done
for them. 9But Pilate answered "Do you want me to release
the King of the Jews?" 10For he knew that the chief priests
had handed Him over because of envy.
11But the chief priests stirred up the crowd, so that he should
rather release Barabbas to them. 12Pilate answered, "What
do you want me to do with Him called the King of the Jews?"
13So they cried out again, "Crucify Him!" 14Then Pilate said
to them, "Why, what evil has He done?" But they cried out all
the more, "Crucify Him!" 15So Pilate, wanting to gratify the
crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus,
after he had scourged Him, to be crucified.
33When the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over
the whole land until the ninth hour. 35Some of those who stood
by, said, "Look, He is calling for Elijah!" 36Someone ran and
filled a sponge with sour wine, and offered it to Him, saying,
"Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to take Him down."
37And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last.
9Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He
appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast
seven demons. 10She went and told those who had been with
Him, as they mourned and wept. 11When they heard that He
was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.
12After that, He appeared in another form to two of them as
they walked in the country. 13They went and told the rest, but
they did not believe them either.
14Later He appeared to the eleven; and He rebuked their
unbelief and hardness of heart. 15He said to them, "Go into
all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 19After
the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven,
and sat down at the right hand of God. 20Then they went out
and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and
confirming the word through accompanying signs. Amen.
This Bible passage was condensed from the NKJV
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