Simpsonwood Youth Ministries

“As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. ‘Don’t be alarmed,’ he said. ‘You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here.” – Mark 16:5-6

Scripture: Mark 16

Question of the Day: What can you do to spread the gospel of Christ?

Devotion: HALLELUJAH! HE IS RISEN! Jesus Christ did as he said and conquered death! This should be reason to shout from the rooftops. But on the morning the women approached the tomb, they see the angel who tells them that Jesus is not there and sends them to tell the disciples. But Mark tells us that the women were afraid.

Although it is not recorded in Mark, we know from other accounts in the Gospels that the women did return to tell the disciples what had happened and no one believed them. During these times, women did not have much of a voice in the church. But, during the Crucifixion and burial of Jesus, his disciples had scattered while the women remained at the foot of the cross and witnessed the burial. Additionally, they showed up with spices for his body (a symbol of love). These women did everything they could possibly do to for Christ. As such, their devotion and diligence was rewarded when they were the first to witness the Resurrection.

Today is a day of celebration! As Christ followers, we know that our Lord and Savior is capable of conquering death. There is nothing that can hold Him back. We could all learn something from the women at the tomb: Instead of focusing on what we cannot do for Christ, we should turn our attention to what we can do for Christ. Glory Hallelujah!

Song: Hallelujah- Newsboys

“So as evening approached, Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body.” – Mark 15:42-43

Scripture: Mark 15: 42-47

Question of the Day: Are you willing to risk your reputation to be a follower of Christ?

Devotion: Every day, we see people who depend on their reputations. Political leaders, athletes, teachers, church leaders, friends and even parents. Reputation is an important part of our world and our life. A good reputation can get you very far and a bad reputation can set you apart from society. Everyone wants a good reputation and no one wants to be the guy with the bad one.

Joseph of Arimathea had a reputation as well. He was a prominent member of the Sanhedrin, an assembly of twenty-three judges appointed in every city in the Land of Israel who claimed powers that lesser Jewish courts did not have. The Sanhedrin were the only ones who could try the king, extend the boundaries of the Temple and Jerusalem, and were the ones to whom all questions of law were finally put. But there some members, like Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, who were secretly followers of Christ. Joseph knew that the Jewish law prohibited any work being done on the Sabbath. It was also against Jewish law to let a body remain exposed overnight (Deuteronomy 21:23). If Joseph had not “boldly” asked Pilate for the body when he did, the Romans would have taken Jesus’ body, no Jews could have confirmed his death leading to great opposition against the resurrection. Joseph risked his reputation as a Jewish leader to be a Christ follower. Ironically, his reputation was forever sealed in the minds of other Christ followers, unlike other members of the Sanhedrin.

How important is your reputation to you?

Are you willing to let your reputation get in the way of being a Christ follower?

What can you do to “boldly” proclaim your faith?

Song: Sweetly Broken- Jeremy Riddle

“A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross.” – Mark 15:21

Scripture: Mark 15: 21-32

Question of the Day: Are you someone whose actions reflect your beliefs or do you follow the crowd?

Devotion: It had to have been frustrating for Jesus to have seen so many in the crowd who “hurled insults at him, shaking their heads” (Mark 15:29). These were the same people that he had been ministering to for 3 years. He lived among them, healed the sick, restored sight to the blind, raised the dead, and turned water into wine. But now, in his darkest hour, the crowds had turned. Part of this is due to the fact that his disciples were hiding and afraid to speak out. But the majority of those at Golgotha were people who had heard his parables, seen his miracles and now hurled insults at him. Many of them wanted Jesus to perform another miracle and remove himself from the cross. They didn’t want to believe in someone who apparently could not save himself.

And then there was Simon of Cyrene and his two sons, Alexander and Rufus. Simon and his family had made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem from Cyrene in North Africa. Simon was chosen out of the crowd to carry the cross of Jesus. He walked alongside Jesus all the way up to Golgotha. He witnessed, as an outsider to Jerusalem, the way that the people had turned on him. So whatever happened to Simon? In Romans 16:13, Paul references Simon’s son, Rufus, as a leader in the New Testament church. Apparently Simon’s walk with Christ had a big impact on his family.

Do your actions reflect your beliefs or do you just follow the crowd?

Have you ever had to make a decision that was unpopular with your friends? What was the outcome?

If you are forced to do something that is widely unpopular, do you allow the attitudes of others to reflect your attitude?

Song: Carry My Cross- Third Day

“Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: ‘Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.’ And he broke down and wept.” – Mark 14:72

Scripture: Mark 14: 66-72

Question of the Day: Are you willing to put your life on the line for Christ?

Devotion: On the afternoon of April 20, 1999, our country was stunned as two gunmen entered Colombine High School outside of Denver, CO, and gunned down 34 students and 32 students and 2 teachers (killing 13 total) before turning the guns on themselves. One of the students who were murdered that day was Cassie Bernall, a 17 year old student. Cassie was made famous after the shooting for being challenged at gun point about her belief in God. When one of the gun men asked her: “Do you believe in God?” Cassie responded “Yes,” and he pulled the trigger.

We live in a world where faith is easy. We are not persecuted for our faith and we are not being killed for our faith. Most Americans claim to be Christian, and so we are able to be considered “normal” for having a faith. But this was not the case for Cassie Berdall and it was not the case for Peter that night in the courtyard of Caiaphas. It is easy for us to read this story and feel like Peter was a disappointment. But we should consider what we would have done in his situation. Would you have been able to stand up for your faith in an environment that belief in God was not acceptable? If you knew that belief in God would cost you your life, would you still be able to declare your beliefs as strongly as you do today?

Remember, Peter’s story did not end that night before the Crucifixion. Peter became a strong apostle for the New Testament church and preached about the love and forgiveness of Christ to everyone he encountered. He was one of the first preachers to the crowd after Pentecost and went on to perform many miracles. There is an old cliché that says “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” For Peter, his denial led to a stronger belief in Christ and he went on to do great things.

Have you ever felt that you were not comfortable expressing your faith?

Do you feel you would be able to profess your faith if you knew your life depended on it?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we know that we have denied you by our actions at times. We ask that you help us to find the strength to persevere and stand up for our faith. You have given us so much and ask for so little in return. We love you and we thank you for this gift of salvation you have given us.

Song: What if I Stumble- dcTalk

“This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many…” – Mark 14:24

Scripture: Mark 14:12-26

Question of the Day: How do you prepare yourself for an encounter with God?

Devotion: Passover is a time in Jewish culture that celebrates the God passing over the Israelites while they were in Egypt (Exodus 12:1-11). God had told Moses that he would kill off all the first-born in Egypt, but by sacrificing a lamb and placing the blood on their doorposts, He would pass over the Israelites houses and spare their first-born. The Israelites did as they were instructed and celebrated this occurrence with a festival (The Feast of Unleavened Bread) every year that followed.

Jesus took two traditional parts of the Passover meal, the passing of bread and the drinking of wine, and gave them new meaning as representations of his body and blood. He used the bread and the wine to explain the significance of what He was about to do on the cross.

As you prepare to take the Last Supper, what kind of preparations are you making?

What makes you most thankful about the sacrifice that Jesus made for you?

Prayer: Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. (Psalm 51:10-12)

Song: Nothing But the Blood- Passion05

“’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength…Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” – Mark 12:31

Scripture: Mark 12: 28-34

Question of the Day: What is the kingdom of God?

Devotion: By the time of Jesus, the Jewish people had accumulated 613 laws. Here we see that Jesus is asked by “one of the teachers of the law” which of the laws was most important. Jesus’ response points directly to the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17) and the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-9). The Shema was an old Jewish prayer that every Jewish would have learned in that time. It was similar to our Apostle’s Creed and Lord’s Prayer that we learn during Confirmation. Jesus also sums up the Ten Commandments with his response. He breaks down the first four as “Love the Lord your God…” and the last six as “Love your neighbor…” By using the Ten Commandments and the Shema, Jesus taught them that every other law and command could be summed up under these two commandments.

After answering the question, the teacher of the law points out that these two commandments are “more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” Jesus tells the teacher, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” The kingdom of God is something that we can find only by following these two commandments. When we “Love the Lord our God” and “Love our neighbor as ourself,” we find that we are not just witnessing the kingdom of God, but that we are also sharing the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is here and now and it is for everyone.

What have you done recently to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength”?

What have you done recently to “Love your neighbor as yourself”?

Do you feel closer to the kingdom of God when you obey these two commandments? Why or why not?

Prayer: Almighty God, open our eyes to see you in our neighbor. I know that you want me to love you and to love my neighbor. Help me to understand how to love. Soften my heart so that others may see you in me. Amen.

Practice: Perform an act of kindness for someone today (preferably without them knowing). Share with someone how it made you feel to do something for someone else.

Song: Love Is Here- Tenth Avenue North

“Is it not written, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers’.” – Mark 11:17

Read the following Scripture: Mark 11: 12-19

Question of the Day: Do you allow your anger to take control of your actions when you get frustrated?

Devotion: Do you think it irritated Jesus to know that he had come to Jerusalem to die for the sins of the world and there were those who were trying to take advantage of people and make money the wrong way? This is one of the only instances in the gospels where Jesus shows his anger. He was mad that these merchants and money changers would take advantage of the non-Jews during the Passover. The merchants and money changers were trying to make a profit on the people by raising prices on animals for sacrifice and blocking the temple of worship for the Gentiles. So Jesus had to come in and remedy the situation…only six days before he had to give his life.

Have you ever been in a situation where you felt frustrated because someone else just didn’t “get it”? How did you respond? It’s important to note in this passage that although Jesus got angry, he did not sin. Does your anger lead you to sin?

What do you do to control your anger? Does it work?

Have you ever gotten mad or frustrated over the actions of others? What was your response?

Prayer: Father, give me the patience I need to deal with frustration. Even though I know I will become angry, help me to control my anger so that it does not lead to sin. Amen.

Practice: Think about a situation that has angered you or frustrated you in the last week. Was there a particular person involved? If so, write a letter to that person expressing how you felt and the reasons for those feelings. If there was no particular person, write the letter to yourself. You can address your feelings about the situation and how you can handle that situation better next time.

Song: The Slam- T-Bone/TobyMac

“Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.” – Mark 11:9-10

Read the following Scripture: Mark 11:1-11

Question of the Day: What helps you to find peace in times when people expect more from you?

Devotion: Did you ever wonder why Jesus rode into town on a colt? Here was the Son of God, King of Kings, Alpha and Omega…and He was riding a colt, the foal of a donkey. It is prophesied in Zechariah (9:9) that “your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

In some Eastern traditions, the donkey is seen as an animal of peace (as opposed to the horse which is seen as an animal of war). When a king arrived on a horse, he was looking for a fight. But when a king arrived on a donkey, it was a symbol of him coming in peace. Jesus arrived on a colt, the foal of donkey. He arrived on a young donkey, probably less than year old. This further symbolizes gentle and lowly or poor and afflicted. Jesus came as King of Peace, not to overturn the Roman government like the Jewish people were hoping for.

Do you see Jesus’ entry as a peaceful entry? Why or why not?

What images remind you of peace? What are some images our culture has associated with peace?

Prayer:

Christian Prayer for Peace

Blessed are the PEACEMAKERS,
for they shall be known as
the Children of God.
But I say to you that hear, love your enemies,
do good to those who hate you,
bless those who curse you
pray for those who abuse you.
To those that strike you on the cheek,
offer the other one also,
and from those who take away your cloak,
do not withhold your coat as well.
Give to everyone who begs from you,
and of those who take away your goods,
do not ask for them again.
And as you wish that others would do to you,
do so to them.

Practice: Find a quiet spot (outside if possible) where you can relax and spend 30 minutes alone with God. Talk to Him about your desire to live a life of peace. Admire the nature around. Ask God to speak to you about His plan for your life.

Song: Come and Listen- David Crowder

“Turn your ear to me,
   come quickly to my rescue;
be my rock of refuge,
   a strong fortress to save me.”
                    - Psalm 31: 2

Read the rest of the passage and share any comments or thoughts about your relationship with God and how this verse allows you to see him.

“One thing I ask of the Lord,
   this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
   all the days of my life…”
                    - Psalm 27: 4

Read the rest of the passage and share any comments or thoughts about your relationship with God and how this verse allows you to see him.