Beyond the Weekend

April 20 | The Burial

April 20, 2022

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. Mark 15:46

Read: Mark 15:42-47
Listen:
Mark 15

TODAY’S MESSAGE

The disciples are noticeably absent in Mark’s account of Jesus’s death. They aren’t at the foot of the cross. They aren’t the ones who take care of Jesus’s body. They should’ve been there. Mark talks earlier in his gospel about how Jesus’s cousin, John the Baptist, is executed. Mark writes, “John’s disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb” (Mark 6:29b). Mark is setting us up for a sequel, but instead there is a plot twist. It’s not the disciples who take down Jesus’s body but a member of the religious council. The disciples aren’t at the cross. They aren’t present. They’ve disengaged.

It is easy for us to condemn the disciples. But we do the same thing. It doesn’t take much soul-searching to find those moments of regret where we just weren’t present. We didn’t show up for the people who needed us and checked out. Often, we check out because of fear. Fear of failure, rejection, commitment, not knowing what to do or hurt. Those regrets are real.

IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY

Confess to God a time when you didn’t show up or checked out. Ask God to forgive you and thank him for his forgiveness. Consider whether you need to apologize to the person involved. Ask yourself if you think an apology will bring healing and not more hurt to that person.


2022 BIBLE MEMORY PRACTICE

Develop spiritual roots and tap in the power of God’s word by memorizing monthly a Bible verse! View previous verses at beyondtheweekend.org/biblememorypractice.

ROMANS 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.


Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.

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