Mark 15:33–41 – “His Identity” – J. P. Kang
Discussion Questions:
1. Jesus’s public, hideous death came as a hugely shocking disappointment to his first followers—this was NOT how they expected his career to play out. Where in your life have you experienced comparable life-denying disappointment? What then does it mean to you that Jesus’s final words were his cry of abandonment by God (v. 34, quoting Psalm 22:1)?
2. Here we encounter more eyewitnesses to Jesus’ crucifixion and death. With whom do you identify most: the bystanders (vv. 35–36) who hear, but misunderstand the dying, derelict Jesus? The centurion (v. 39), who confesses Jesus as “Son of God” in his death (compare the voice from heaven in Mark 1:11)? Or the women (vv. 40–41), who present a frightened but faithful witness to Jesus?
3. How do you today answer Jesus’ question, “Who do you say that I am?” (Matt 16:15; Mark 8:29; Luke 9:20) How can you keep growing in the depth and breadth of your understanding of who Jesus is?
Presby 