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READ: Mark 14:55-65
LISTEN: Mark 14

Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Mark 14:61-62

False testimonies crumble as Jesus stands before the religious council. When he is finally questioned directly about his identity, Jesus responds with clarity: “I am.” By adding that they would see the Son of Man at God’s right hand, Jesus seals his future. The leaders condemn him for blasphemy, then unleash their rage by spitting on, beating and mocking him. Jesus willingly embraces this suffering, fulfilling what he told his disciples—that he came “to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Through his humiliation, Jesus reverses the curse of sin by being cursed. He brings healing by being wounded and welcomes outsiders by being cast out.

As we approach Good Friday and Easter, it’s easy to view the cross merely as a religious symbol. Yet for Jesus, the cross represented the most shameful, painful form of public execution reserved for the worst criminals. Jesus willingly embraced this torture for us. His courage and self-sacrifice in the face of his accusers reveal the true measure of his love. He was mocked, beaten and ultimately killed so we could experience forgiveness and reconciliation with God.

TODAY: Take time to express gratitude for what Jesus endured on your behalf. Join Ada Bible Worship in singing “The Love of God” as a response to Jesus’s sacrifice for you. If you’ve never accepted Jesus’s gift of salvation, you can acknowledge your need for him and receive his forgiveness today. Reach out to us at btw@adabible.org if you have questions about accepting Jesus.