Many people shout and laugh at Jesus
Jesus finished his work for God. Then he gave his life back to God.
Marion Cooper
This study is one of a series of Studies in Mark's Gospel in EasyEnglish.
A word list at the end explains words with a *star by them.
Mark 15:33-41 (see Mark's Gospel in EasyEnglish)
It was not usual for the whole country to become dark at midday. The words that Jesus cried out come from Psalm 22:1. It seemed to Jesus that God had left him. When people break God's rules they move away from God. And they cannot make it right again. Jesus never did anything that was wrong. God was not angry with him. Jesus allowed people to fix him to a cross because he loves everyone so much. He was ready to die for other people. Now when we break God's rules we do not have to stay away from him.
*Elijah was a prophet who had told people messages from God. He had also helped people. The loud cry later may have been 'I have finished everything'. John records that (John 19:30). Jesus knew the work that God wanted him to do. He chose to do it because he loved his father God. When Jesus had finished the work he gave his life back to God. The *Temple was God's great house. There was a curtain to keep one part of it very special. Once a year a *priest went there to pray for all the *Jews. They had broken God's rules. The priest offered animal blood to show that they were sorry. When the curtain tore it was a sign. Now people did not need a priest to offer animal blood to God. Jesus had given his blood. That had opened a new way for people to come to God. It was for everyone and it would be for all time. Mary Magdalene came from the town of Magdala. Jesus had caused her to get better from an illness. Salome was the wife of Zebedee. She was the mother of James and John who were *disciples of Jesus.
V34 Why did Jesus cry out loudly to God?
V34 Why did he use words that came from *scripture?
V35 Some people thought that Jesus called for Elijah. Why did they think that?
V36 Why did someone offer Jesus bad wine to drink?
V36 Jesus could have come down from the cross. Why did he choose not to come down?
V37 Jesus always did what God wanted him to do. How can we know that he finished the work?
V38 The curtain in the Temple tore into two pieces. What did the priests and leaders of the people think about that?
V39 Why did the soldier say 'This man really was the *Son of God'?
V40 Why did the women watch while Jesus was on the cross? What were they thinking?
Jesus often prayed to God. Then he could do what God wanted him to do. God can help us to live lives that please him. Can you pray for that?
Disciple ~ a person who wants to do the same things as another person and learn from them; a person who does what Jesus taught.
Elijah ~ a prophet. See 1 Kings chapters 17 to 22 and 2 Kings chapters 1 and 2.
Jew ~ a person who is born from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their children; a person who has the faith of the Jews, called Judaism.
Priest ~ a special servant of God in his temple. Other priests served false gods.
Scripture ~ another name for God's book, the book of God's holy words, the Bible; the Old Testament.
Son of God ~ name for Jesus.
Temple ~ Jews went to this special building in Jerusalem to meet and talk to God.