LIFEGROUPS: WEEKLY DISCUSSION GUIDE
Week of August 1, 2021
SERIES: The Gospel of Mark
TITLE: Week #12 – “Jesus is Lord”
Mark 15:16-39
MESSAGE PREVIEW:
Pastor Brian is back this weekend to continue our “Gospel of Mark” series. Below is a preview of
his message as we look at Mark 15:16-39.
INTRODUCTION
A. Jesus is Lord –
- Sometimes we lose focus as we get lost in our own ideology/philosophies, busy life,
difficulties, distractions, and sin. - But the truth is “Jesus is LORD.”
a. Mark’s entire gospel screams this truth in contrast to Roman occupation and
domination which shouts, “Hail Caesar, lord and god”
b. This idea deified Caesar as the son of god. It packaged his message and his
person as “evangelion” or good news.
c. Mark’s gospel shows we serve a more triumphant LORD.
Mark 1:1 ESV “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”
The Roman Triumph: “Caesar is Lord.”
A. Triumph happened following a Roman military victory. It was held to remind everyone who
Caesar is in the world. It was a show of power to honor Caesar and shame the enemy.
There was a coronation ceremony to honor the emperor and deify him.
B. According to the ancient historian Orosius (A.D. 385–418[?]), 320 such triumphs were
celebrated between the founding of Rome and the reign of Vespasian in A.D. 69–79
(Orosius Hist. 7.9).
C. Nine Elements of a Roman Triumph
- Praetorian Guard meets in the Praetorium.
- Caesar is dressed like Zeus (Deified).
- Caesar is presented to the Guard who exclaims, “Hail Caesar lord and god.”
- Parade – Instrument of death – double bladed axe. Defeated enemy paraded by Caesar
or bull paraded by Caesar. - Parade ends at Capatolina – the place of the skull.
- Caesar is offered a cup of wine but refuses to drink. Pours it out as a drink offering to
Zeus. Sometimes poured on defeated enemy or bull. - Defeated enemy slaughtered or bull sacrificed. Everyone chants, “All Hail Caesar, lord
and god. - Caesar ascends the hill with attendant on his right and his left.
- People look for a divine sign to show Caesar is Lord.
The Messianic Triumph: “Jesus is Lord”
A. The crucifixion of Jesus parallels the Roman triumph. Let’s look again at these nine
elements and see the corresponding scripture verses from the death of Jesus.
- Praetorian Guard meets in the Praetorium.
a. Mark 15:16 ESV “ 16 And the soldiers led him away inside the palace (that is, the
governor’s headquarters), and they called together the whole battalion.” - Caesar is dressed like Zeus (Deified)
a. Mark 15:17 ESV “ 17 And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and twisting together a
crown of thorns, they put it on him.” - Caesar is presented to the Guard who exclaims, “Hail Caesar lord and god.”
a. Mark 15:18-19 ESV “ 18 And they began to salute him, “Hail, King of the
Jews!” 19 And they were striking his head with a reed and spitting on him
and kneeling down in homage to him.” - Parade – Instrument of death – double bladed axe. Defeated enemy paraded by Caesar
or bull paraded by Caesar.
a. Mark 15:20-21 ESV “ 20 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the
purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. And they led him out to crucify him.
21 And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the
country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross.” - Parade ends at Capatolina – the place of the skull.
a. Mark 15:22 ESV “ 22 And they brought him to the place called Golgotha (which
means Place of a Skull).” - Caesar offered a cup of wine but refuses to drink. Pours it out as a drink offering to
Zeus. Sometimes poured on defeated enemy or bull.
a. Mark 15:23-24 ESV “ 23 And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not
take it. 24 And they crucified him and divided his garments among them, casting
lots for them, to decide what each should take.” - Defeated enemy slaughtered or bull sacrificed. Everyone chants, “All Hail Caesar, lord
and god.”
a. Mark 15:25-26 ESV “ 25 And it was the third hour when they crucified him. 26 And the
inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” - Caesar ascends the hill with attendant on his right and his left.
a. Mark 15:27 ESV “ 27 And with him they crucified two robbers, one on his right and
one on his left. ” - People look for a divine sign to show Caesar is Lord.
a. Mark 15:37-39 ESV “ 37 And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his
last. 38 And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. 39 And
when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his
last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”
B. “For Mark’s Roman audience, these elements would highlight that the death of Jesus took
place in ways that ironically recalled the adoration of the emperor who led the triumphal
procession in his attempts at self-glorification and even deification. Now, however, the real
triumph had been celebrated by a defeated king who, though executed himself, was in
reality the true Son of God. Against the backdrop of the triumph, “Mark is presenting an anti-
triumph in reaction to the contemporary offensive self-divinization efforts of Gaius and
especially Nero” (Schmidt, 16). The purpose of such a portrayal is clear: one of the same
Roman soldiers who first mocked Jesus as a triumphant king is the one who joins God
himself in confessing Jesus’ lordship.” Hafemann, S. (2000). Roman Triumph. In Dictionary
of New Testament background: a compendium of contemporary biblical scholarship
(electronic ed., p. 1007). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
C. Mark 15:39 ESV “And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he
breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”
- In the book of Mark, Jesus is called the Son of God only by…
a. God Himself (Mark 1:11, 9:7)
b. Demons (Mark 3:11, 5:7)
c. A Gentile (Roman) centurion who oversees Jesus’ execution (Mark 15:39) - Millions like him would later stand by faith before the cross and confess
Jesus of Nazareth is the unique Son of God.
D. Colossians 2:15 ESV “He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame,
by triumphing over them in him.”
- Jesus is the only Son of God.
- Jesus is the triumphant Lord.
In Light of the Cross and the Triumph of Jesus Christ, What Now?
A. 2 Corinthians 2:14-15 ESV “But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in
triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him
everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and
among those who are perishing”
B. Our “smell” (as believers) in the world matters.
- The Aroma of Deity
a. Certain aromas indicate deity in the near eastern context – incense, burnt
offerings, etc. We are the “aroma of Christ to God” in the world. - The Aroma of Sacrifice
a. We are to be a pleasing aroma to God. Jesus ultimate sacrifice.
b. Romans 12:1 ESV “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to
present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is
your spiritual worship.
- The Aroma of Good News
a. “…through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.” (2 Cor.
2:14) - The Aroma of King and Kingdom
a. John 6:35 ESV “Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever come to me
shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”
b. John 6:51 ESV ““I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone
eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of
the world is my flesh.”
OUR RESPONSE
A. Are we living to proclaim that “Jesus is Lord?”
B. How do we smell to the world around us?
ICEBREAKER QUESTIONS & DISCUSSION
OPENING DISCUSSION: GOD MOMENTS
Before diving into the lesson, let’s take some time to share God moments and pray together. Use
the following questions to guide your discussion.
- What are the “God moments” from this past week? How have you seen God at work
that is unmistakably Him?
a. How has He been working not just in your life personally, but in the lives of your
family (spouse, kids, grandkids)?
b. Are you able to leverage the different pace that summer often brings to spend
more time together as a family? How has God been working through this if so? - How did God speak to you through His Word this past week?
a. How are you hearing and obeying? - How can we specifically pray for you this week?
Pray as a group – thanking God for how He is at work and asking Him to answer the requests that
were mentioned.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: Ask and discuss the following questions.
Q: Why is knowing the context and background of the Bible an important part of
understanding and applying God’s Word to our lives? What are some dangers of not
understanding this context and background?
Q: How have you seen God’s Word misunderstood or taken out of context? Give an
example? What was the result of this?
Q: Why do you think Mark continually comes back to the theme, “Jesus is Lord” in his
gospel account? How is this significant for us today?
Q: How would you summarize and explain the significance of a “Roman Triumph” to modern
day audiences? Why is knowing this helpful as we study the passage for this week?
Q: Let’s walk through the nine elements of a Roman Triumph and the corresponding
passages around the crucifixion of Jesus. What stands out to you the most in these? Why?
Q: What is God wanting to teach us by making and allowing us to see these connections?
Q: Why do you think the Centurion, who should view Caesar as the son of god, changed his
mind and believed that Jesus is the Son of God? (Read Mark 15:39.)
Q: Read 2 Corinthians 2:14-15. How should we live in the world today if we truly believe that
Jesus is Lord? How can we spread the aroma of Christ through our lives?
Q: What does it mean to “present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to
God?”
Q: How does the cross of Jesus show that He is the triumphant Lord? (Colossians 2:15)
WRAP-UP
Use the following questions to wrap-up your discussion of today’s message and talk more about
how we can apply it to our lives.
- What did you hear?
a. What is your one “take-away” from this week?
b. How did God speak specifically to you through this passage and study? - What do you think?
a. How did this passage and study affirm, challenge, or change the way you think about
the love of God? - What will you do?
a. What is your next step? How will you take the truth of God’s Word and apply it to your
life this week?
SCRIPTURES FROM THIS WEEK’S MESSAGE:
Mark 15:16-39, Mark 1:1, Colossians 2:15, 2 Corinthians 2:14-15, Romans 12:1, John 6:35,
John 6:31
UPCOMING MESSAGES: “The Gospel of Mark”
August 1 – Mark 15:21-39
August 8- Mark 16:1-8