WEEK 5
READ WEEK 4 NOTES HERE ... Days 20-26
DAY 27. JESUS' LAST WORDS ON THE CROSS
From Max:
- Like waters douse a fire, the shadows doused the ridicule.
REFLECT - Jesus sampled in a moment what He would rescue us from for eternity.
Discuss - Life on earth exists with pain. But all this pain will die. What pain does Jesus speak of in Matthew 27:46 that will not die for those who reject Him?
DAY 28. A CRY OF VICTORY
From Max:
- No, this is no cry of despair. It is a cry of completion. A cry of victory.
REFLECT - From this cry Jesus buries the eternal desperation of my sins.
Discuss - Those who long for heaven cannot hang loose on earth. They must be nailed too - to Jesus as firmly as He was affixed to the cross.
Discuss - Five virgins hung loose, five didn't. How do you hang firm as you await Jesus? See Matthew 25:1-2
DAY 29. THE TEMPLE CURTAIN IS TORN
From Max:
- We have the tendency to put the barrier back up with the curtain of our hearts.
REFLECT - Sin repeated is sin accepted.
Discuss - Why do we re-erect barriers between us and heaven? Are there other barriers that aren't sinful, but not helpful?
NOTE - the curtain was torn from top to bottom, not from bottom to top. What is the significance here? See Matthew 27:50-51
DAY 30. THE CENTURION AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS
From Max:
- From what world that roar came the centurion didn't know, but he knew it wasn't this one.
REFLECT - How hard is it to see greatness and goodness when it is covered in rejection and rags?
TASTE THE IRONY - In a place where there is no peace, a soldier (a man of war) gives praise to the Prince of Peace.
Discuss - another unnamed witness is recorded in posterity because he got one thing correct. What was it?
Discuss - what is the simple path to leaving a heritage beyond your name and beyond the grave?
DAY 31. AN ANCHOR FOR THE SOUL
From Max:
- The hill called the Skull is granite studded with stakes to which you can anchor your soul forever.
REFLECT - Jesus' anchor for His body became the anchor for my soul.
Discuss - Could King David have discovered his anchor in Psalm 61:4? What is it? Would you make this into a daily prayer, as your body, soul and spirit's anchor?
DAY 32. FRIENDS TAKE JESUS' BODY
From Max:
- And besides they'd much rather save their souls than their skins.
REFLECT: Comfort is a Christian's greatest enemy.
Discuss - at what point do our souls become more important than our skins? Does Luke 12:5 help?
DAY 33. JESUS' BURIAL
From Max:
- Heaven blows and Jesus breathes.
REFLECT: Jesus owed me nothing yet gave me everything.
Discuss - The empty Cross is comfortable but the Crucifix is the model of life.
WEEK 6 STUDY NOTES