Sermon Title: THE LOVE THAT WOULD NOT LEAVE
Sermon Text: MARK 15:21-32
Sermon Series: THE PASSION NARRATIVE: FROM BETRAYAL TO THE CROSS
By: PTR NIC SY
Mark 15:21-32 ESV
And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross.And they brought him to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull).And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it.And they crucified him and divided his garments among them, casting lots for them, to decide what each should take.And it was the third hour when they crucified him.And the inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.”And with him they crucified two robbers, one on his right and one on his left.And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three dayssave yourself, and come down from the cross!”So also the chief priests with the scribes mocked him to one another, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself.Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also reviled him.
SERMON NOTES
eis telos (εἰς τέλος) | “to the very end, to the uttermost.”
I. LOVE THAT PRESSED ON
“compelled” | aggareuó (ἀγγαρεύω) | “to conscript, to press into compulsory service.”
Reflect: Is there a place in your own life right now where love has asked you to keep going even when you have run out of your own strength?
Simon carried the cross because he was forced. Jesus carried the curse because he loved.
II. LOVE THAT POURED OUT
Reflect: Is there something you have been withholding from God? Not the easy things but the best and even the last things.
Jesus gave you what cost him the most so that you can trust him with the thing that costs you the most to give.
III. LOVE THAT WOULD NOT MOVE
“derided” | blasphémeó (βλασφημέω) | “to slander, to damage the reputation of, to attack someone’s character.”
Reflect: Are you asking God to prove his love by meeting your terms, or are you learning to trust the love he has already proven at the cross?
The love that held Jesus to the cross is the same steadfast love that holds his people today.