“And Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed His last.  And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.  When the centurion, who was standing right in front of Him, saw the way He breathed His last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” (Mark 15:37-39)

The veil kept the Holy of Holies separate from all but the High Priest.  The veil was torn open.  God is now approachable by all who come through Christ.  It is a privilege granted by grace.  Jesus has done this so that we may come as we are into the Holy presence of the living God.  Not by our merit or strength, but through His goodness, we have been given the greatest gift of all.  Truly this man IS God.  He has come to lead the lost home.

Lord, You have opened the way of everlasting life.  You have come so that we who are dead in our trespasses may live into the life You created us to live.  We may not fully understand all that You have done, but the way has been cleared, and You have made possible what otherwise is impossible.  Lead us out of the rebellion which leads to death and into the light which shines in the darkness of this age.

Savior of all who come through faith, You have paid a price we cannot fathom to open the way for believers to enter into Your holy presence.  Lead me this day in holiness.  Guide me according to Your perfect will to see that in You is hope and an eternal future.  Help me to hear Your word, receive and accept all that You have shown me.  Lead me in the way of this new life which You have given me.  Amen.

“When some of the bystanders heard it, they began saying, “Behold, He is calling for Elijah.”  Someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink, saying, “Let us see whether Elijah will come to take Him down” (Mark 15:35-36).

How often do people misunderstand what the Lord is saying?  Sinners like to put words in His mouth.  Our Savior was a real, ordinary, just like us person, yet also God in the flesh.  He felt the physical things – as we all do – and lamented the pain.  The mockery continues.  What more can God do to show His great love for us?  Let the mockery be crucified and accept His love.

Lord, the world around me still mocks You and will not believe.  Help me to come to the place where I accept that You are above all, yet You also understand fully what it means to be human.  You have come to lead all who will follow You into a life that is fulfilled beyond any expectation we could ever have in this world alone.  In and through You is love and life.  You have suffered, and in that suffering, united us with You.

Lord Jesus, You have cried out across the ages for the sake of all of those who, through You, will be given new life.  Here am I Lord; take me and make of me what You will.  Lead me according to Your purpose so that I may become what You will make of me.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to live obediently according to the Father’s will.  Slay the sinner and resurrect me with You in Your time.  Amen.

“When the sixth hour came, darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour.  At the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Mark 15:33-34)

This world is often forsaken.  The unbelieving roar like a lion, seeking whom they may devour.  Jesus felt the full weight of this world’s darkness and cried out.  Do we not often do the same?  God sustains all things, but in the horror of a world gone wrong, the lament is great.  Greater still is His love for us that He would suffer the darkness of this world so that we could see the glimmer of light which shows the One who created all things.

Lord, I confess that the full weight of what happened on the cross is a mystery to me.  Yet, I do know what it is like to feel abandoned.  Help me so that I learn how to call out to You at all times.  You have promised that You are with me.  In times of doubt, or when the world is pressing in, lead me to know that Your presence is always with me.  Help me transcend my fears.

Lord Jesus, You have told us that perfect love casts out fear.  Lead me to come to the place of Your perfect love.  When I feel alone, remind me that You are always with me.  When I doubt, grant me the ability to see that You are with me, and continue on.  When I am confused, remind me that all things have their purpose so that I may come to the place where I learn to live in Your love.  Through all things, guide me, my dear Savior.  Amen.

“In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes, were mocking Him among themselves and saying, “He saved others; He cannot save Himself.  Let this Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, so that we may see and believe!” Those who were crucified with Him were also insulting Him” (Mark 15:31-32).

There are those who say they will not believe unless certain signs and wonders are done.  One wonders, even if they were done, would they find another reason to not believe?  We have before us all that we need.  From the order and beauty of creation to all that has been written, along with the others who believe, is that enough?  For the world, it is never enough.  God is the Creator of all things.  Believe!

Lord, I have my doubts and fears which govern my thoughts.  The world around me promotes doubt and unbelief.  Guide me through the fog of this age to humbly and simply believe that You are God and You have a purpose for all things.  Lead me according to Your goodness and mercy to understand things as they are and not to be driven by the denials of those in this world who are unbelieving.

My Lord and Savior Jesus, You withstood the constant mockery of the unbelieving.  I often am at a loss for words and fall into silence when confronted by the hatred and derision of this world.  Lead me so that I follow You and the truth, no matter what those in the world say.  Guide me out of the malaise of this world to see and believe.  Help me in times of doubt so that I am not unbelieving but believing.  Amen.

“Those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads, and saying, “Ha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself, and come down from the cross!” (Mark 15:29-30)

Sinners often mock God and are unable to understand what is really going on.  Would you really be so abusive even to a guilty criminal who was dying?  The give-away in this scene is the part mocking Jesus and demanding that He save Himself.  Narcissism is at the heart of pride.  Jesus did what He did for us.  He calls us out of ourselves.  He will resurrect us on the last day.  The mockery of the world will cease.  God will do what He has promised.

Lord, I have mocked others in their situation.  I have had times when I was not compassionate, and whether or not another deserved what was happening, I was glad for their suffering.  Take these things out of me for Your compassion and mercy have no room for mockery.  You suffered beyond anything I could ever imagine and You did so for our sake.  Grant me a new heart that seeks You and Your ways at all times.

Lord Jesus, You are compassionate.  Even while suffering You arranged for the welfare of Your mother.  Help me to follow Your example and not focus upon the moment but seek to have a character like Yours.  Guide me through those times where my sinfulness takes over and I speak without thinking.  Lead me to live according to Your word and the way of eternity.  Amen.

“They crucified two robbers with Him, one on His right and one on His left.  And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And He was numbered with transgressors.”] (Mark 15:27-28)

Our Savior has fulfilled all Scripture concerning Him.  It was the way God told us it would be.  The biggest struggle point for many is the seeming weakness God used to conquer sin.  But this is how He knows it must be.  For us, it is a matter of trust.  He has done all that is needed.  Our Savior came and He was always amongst sinners, for that is what we are.  In the end, it will be those who look to Him for salvation versus those who continue wanting to be their own god.

God of heaven and earth, help me to see the utter simplicity of the truth that we all need what only You can provide.  I will either turn to You or else continue in the hatred of this age because it is not what I want.  I do not even know what I want.  Help me to look to You, the source of my being and follow according to the way You have created me and all living things to live.  Guide me in Your grace.

Lord Jesus, You have eternally reconciled me to You through Your shed blood.  You have done all that is needed for me to leave behind the sin of this age of rebellion in order that I may humbly walk with You in all of Your ways.  Guide me in the way of everlasting truth so that I may learn from You and humbly follow You always.  Help me to understand more each day so that I may take those steps which lead me in the right direction.  Amen.

“The inscription of the charge against Him read, “THE KING OF THE JEWS” (Mark 15:26).

Pilate chose to give lip service to the Lord: a political decision.  It is the truth, but what did it mean?  Jesus is not just the King of the Jews, but He is the King of kings.  It is not a charge, but the truth.  If accused, would you be convicted of being a follower of Jesus?  The world hates God.  The world is constantly trying to be rid of the One through whom all things exist.  The world is insane.

Heavenly Father, I know that, because Jesus was crucified, I have been reconciled to You.  I do not understand all that this means, but I trust the truth that Your word is sufficient.  Lead me to accept what You have said such that when confronted, others will know that I trust You above all things.  Help me to not convict the Savior with my doubts and worries, but trust that You have done all that is necessary that I may be with You now and forever.

Lord Jesus, You suffered indignation such as I am unable to imagine.  You ask that I follow You through all that this world may heap upon me.  Guide me to humbly walk with You all the days of my life.  Lead me so that I simply trust that You have given me the words of eternal life.  Help me on the way You know I need to go and keep me faithful through every hour of trial and temptation.  Amen.

“And they crucified Him, and divided up His garments among themselves, casting lots for them to decide what each man should take.  It was the third hour when they crucified Him” (Mark 15:24-25).

About noon they lifted Jesus up on the cross.  He had been awake the whole night before, beaten, mocked, tried, and convicted.  Of what was He guilty according to those who condemned Him?  For “blasphemy;” they considered Him guilty for saying He was God.  He was and is.  The world does not want the order of our Lord.  It wants to be the master of its own destiny.  The world exists because it has been created, but it does not want the Creator.

Lord God Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, the insanity of this world is that it wants to exist apart from You who created all things.  That is not possible.  Take me out of this insanity so that I may humbly live as You created me to live.  Guide me in Your goodness so that I see things through the eyes of truth.  You have suffered so that I who suffer may have hope beyond this age of suffering.

Lord Jesus, You died for me.  I was the one who should have been on that cross.  I have sinned and the wages of sin is death, but You have taken my place in order to set me free to live a new way of living.  Help me to not forget or slip into old patterns.  Lead me to live intentionally knowing that in You alone is there hope and a future.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy all the days of my life.  Amen.

“Then they brought Him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull.  They tried to give Him wine mixed with myrrh; but He did not take it” (Mark 15:22-23).

Our Lord suffered physical pain beyond what most of us can imagine.  He suffered the spiritual rejection of all those who will continue their rebellion into the depths of hell.  He suffered the deprivation of all that sustains life in the physical body.  He did so willingly for our sake.  He reached the point where He was done.  We look, but do we begin to comprehend the depth of what sin has done?

Holy and Triune Lord, in the great mystery of Your love, I see that You went through all of this to give all who believe an opportunity to live life as You created it to be lived.  The deeper I go in thinking the more I see that You are there.  This world always stops short, for if true inquiry were made, they would all see that You are the answer for our longing.  Amidst the horror of this world, guide me to understand that You have called me to walk with You, my Creator, Lord, and God.

Lord Jesus, You took upon Yourself the sin of all of us.  You suffered in ways that I am unable to imagine.  You did so willingly in love for us whom You have created.  Lead me to understand more clearly each day the breadth and depth of Your love.  Guide me to live into the life You are offering me, thinking as You give me the ability to think, and living in the way that You set before me.  Amen.

“They pressed into service a passer-by coming from the country, Simon of Cyrene (the father of Alexander and Rufus), to bear His cross” (Mark 15:21).

Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus.  He was someone who was known by Mark.  The Lord uses every circumstance to provide an opportunity to know Him.  The invitation comes to us in our everyday living.  We are offered the opportunity to willingly come into the Lord’s service.  The world will conscript us, but the Lord invites us.  Even when oppressed by the world, there is still opportunity to know Jesus.

Heavenly Father, help me to understand by Your Holy Spirit that You are always speaking to me.  Help me to know that the world is constantly forcing me in one direction or another, but that You are offering me the ability to see through the struggle that is going on around me.  The world seeks to kill Jesus at all times.  Yes, He died for our sake, but we know that He is resurrected and that because Jesus lives, we too live.  Help me to live in the clarity Your word gives me.

Lord Jesus, the indignities this world have been heaped upon You.  How exasperating sinning must be to You, yet You still loved us enough to go to the cross.  Lead me out of the mire of this world’s thinking to understand more clearly that, no matter what the circumstance are, I know that You are with me.  Guide me in the goodness of Your grace and mercy so that I may walk in whichever way You lead.  No matter what the world does, help me to learn the lessons You will teach me.  Amen.