Yesterday in Sunday School, we discussed week 5 of Adam Hamilton's 24 Hours That Changed the World: "The Torture and Humiliation of the King". We read Mark 15:15-23 and spent some time discussing the historical aspects of crucifixion in Rome, as well as discussing the emotional torture that Jesus went through at the hands of the soldiers. We also read a passage from Hamilton's book, and this quote rang true to us all: "The brokenness of humanity is not the only word we are meant to hear in this story... We are also meant to see the love of the One who suffers for us, as well as His determination to save us from ourselves and from our sin." The students were challenged at the end of class to think about Galatians 6:2 where we are instructed to "bear one another's burdens", and to focus this week on how they can help those around them who may be burdened and struggling.
Last night at Youth Group, we read Isaiah 53, which is known to some as the "Suffering Servant" passage. We talked verse-by-verse about how it could relate to Jesus and how Jesus' sacrifice for us was prophesied about long ago. Verse 5 tells us that the servant "was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed." Thank you so much to Gary and Tracie Wilson for providing dinner and helping out last night!