Week 41: Mark 15 – The Death of Christ

Mark 15 – The Death of Christ

As a family, read Mark 15 together. Afterwards, share the following discussion.

What happened?

Jesus had been healing, teaching, and helping people see their need for a Savior. He revealed to the people of Jerusalem and the surrounding areas that He is God, but now Jesuswas on trial!Pilate was the Roman ruler of Jerusalem. It was his job to decide whether or not Jesus was guilty of a crime deserving of death, as the Jewish leaders demanded. These leaders, so envious of Jesus’ popularity with the people, conspired to ruin His reputation by twisting Jesus’ words in order to turn people against Him.

Pilate wanted to please the crowds. So, he brought a murderer named Barabbas out of prison to see if the people would decide to release him or Jesus. But the people still wanted to crucify Jesus. He was mocked, beaten, and led to a wooden cross that He carried down the streets of Jerusalem to a place outside the city. This path became known as the “Via Dolorosa,” which means the “Way of Suffering.” Jesus and two criminals were hung on crosses for everyone to see.

After several hours, Jesus said the words that changed the world, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” You see, forgiveness was God’s plan from the beginning. Shortly after that, Jesus cried out, breathed His last breath, and died. A centurion overseeing the crucifixion had been observing everything that happened and said, “Truly, this is the Son of God!”

After this terribly sad event came to a close, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, leaders who had become believers in Jesus, came and took His body to be buried in a new tomb. Could this really have happened? Could Jesus, who is God, really have died? We will soon see – this is all part of God’s plan for us!

Why is this important to us today?

Jesus is God the Son, and He died for every person who ever lived. No event in the history of the world has had a greater impact on mankind than the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Are you wondering why Jesus would choose to come to earth and die for you? God’s Word gives us the answer: mankind – you and every other person in the world – has a problem called sin. Sin is anything that displeases God. Sin separates us from God and is punishable by death. But God loves us so much that He provided a payment for our sin… that payment is Jesus!

Spend a few minutes talking about what you just read by answering these questions:

1. Ask each person, “What is one thing you’ve done that is sin, deserving of God’s punishment?”

2. How does it make you feel to know that Jesus died in your place for that sin?

How can we better follow God this week?

Have you received God’s gift of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ? Have you prayed and asked God to forgive you of your sin? God is not concerned about the exact words of your prayer because He looks at your heart and wants to know that you really mean what you are saying. God wants you to believe what the Scriptures say: that Christ died for your sins, that He was buried, and that He rose again – for you. In your own words, tell God that you know you have sinned, and you believe that Jesus died in your place to pay for your sins. Ask for His forgiveness for all the wrong things you have done, and tell Him that you want to receive Jesus as your Savior. It’s the most important decision you will ever make.

Discuss if and when each family member made this decision to become a follower of Christ. Talk about the fact that when you receive Christ, God gives you His Holy Spirit to let you know that you are a child of God. The Holy Spirit guides you and helps you understand how to live a life that pleases God.