The Cross to Bear

 Primary Text:  Mark 15:16-24                               April 3 & 4, 2021

 1)  Bearing the Cross

 Mark 15:16-24:  The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers.   They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him.  And they began to call out to him, "Hail, king of the Jews!"  Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him.  And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him.  Then they led him out to crucify him.  A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross.  They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull).  Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it.  And they crucified him.  Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get. 

 DQ 1) Why did the Romans use crucifixion as a mode of capital 

            punishment?

DQ 2) What was unique about the role of Simon of Cyrene?

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2)  The Cross of Self-Denial

 Matthew 16:24-27:  Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.  What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?  Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?   For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done." 

 DQ 3) What does it mean to take up your cross?

DQ 4) Taking up your cross does not involve just one specific 

            responsibility.  Why not?

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 3)  The Cost of the Cross

 Luke 14:25-27, 33:  Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters--yes, even his own life--he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple…. In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple."
DQ 5) In what ways is Jesus calling you to deny yourself and take 

           up your cross anew?

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