Sermon from Easter Sunday: What do we do with the Empty Tomb? And what do we do with Jesus?

Plus, God in Life testimony by Baptism Candidates–Naina Davidar & Carson Weiss (skip to minute 27:21 to hear their stories)

Mark 14.17-42

To be alone is disorienting, to be alone in suffering is despairing. As Jesus approaches his death–his closest friends betray and abandon him. Then in his time of greatest need, he calls out to the Father and to his horror, the Father turns his face away. On the cross, Jesus is forsaken, that we might never be apart from the one we need most.

Mark 13:1-12

Jesus teaches in the Temple area about what this to come. Warning his listeners to not be deceived or dismayed, but to stay awake for the “End” is near.

Mark 12:13-34

The Religious Leaders conspire to trap Jesus in his words. But Jesus has come to bring a kingdom that they can’t conceive of, one that challenges every kingdom and calls us to give our whole lives to build.

Mark 10:46-52 & Isaiah 42:1-7

Jesus heals Bartimaeus, the blind beggar on the side of the road outside Jericho–making him well physically, emotionally, socially and spiritually; Upending cultural values of who’s In and who’s Out–and inviting us to see ourselves as desperate and needy as the blind man.

Mark 9:33-37, 42-47

Jesus is pointing to the cross, his disciples seek status and honor. Jesus redefines greatness in his Kingdom for all disciples.