Athey Creek: Audio Podcast

A group of women arrive at Jesus' tomb early on Sunday morning only to discover that Jesus was not there, for He had risen – just as He said He would. As we look at the details of this momentous event in Mark 16, we see how the events surrounding Jesus' resurrection unfolded and why it is the most important event in all history.

Jesus gives a final command in Mark 16:15 for us to go into all the world and tell everyone the good news about His death and resurrection. While we may think this is a complicated or intimidating commission, it’s actually quite simple when we rely upon God’s power to help us share the salvation, joy, and hope we find through Jesus Christ with a hurting world.

The final hours of Jesus' death on the cross arrive in Mark 15:21-47, and they are full of prophetic fulfillment, mixed reactions, and significant occurrences. As we watch the story unfold from when Simon the Cyrenian carries the cross, through Jesus' unbearable suffering, to His burial in a tomb, we see the spectacular culmination of God's plan to save mankind come to pass.

As Jesus makes His way to Golgotha and is nailed upon a cross in Mark 15:10-40, several groups gather around Him who observe and react to these events. As we study who is there and why, we see how this is still relevant today and consider how we also respond to Jesus and what He did on the cross.

Jesus’ journey to the cross begins in Mark 15:1-20 as He faces questioning by Pilate, is sentenced to be crucified instead of an actual criminal, and is then scourged, mocked, and beaten by a garrison of soldiers. Yet as we watch this horrible situation unfold, we find prophecy perfectly fulfilled and Jesus willingly enduring it all out of His great love for us.

We reach the pinnacle of why Jesus came to earth in Mark 15 as He is condemned to death and subsequently hung on a cross. As we solemnly stop to consider the cross, we look at three important facts that make it so noteworthy, paramount to our faith, and transformative for all who will believe.

A Bible teaching titled “Through the Bible | Mark 14:26-72” from Mark 14:26-72 by Brett Meador.

Is Jesus the only way to eternal life, or will following any religion do? Or what about just simply being good or sincere enough? As we study Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane before going to the cross in Mark 14:34-42, we think through the fallacies of multiple paths, learn that there is absolute truth, and see why Jesus proves Himself to be the only way.

Things are escalating quickly as Jesus and His disciples gather to celebrate Passover in Mark 14:1-25. From a worshipful burial preparation to a brutal betrayal, numerous prophecies are fulfilled, and we see Jesus emerge as a perfect picture of our Passover lamb.

After insisting he would never forsake Jesus in Mark 14:29-31, poor Peter has a series of missteps that culminate with him weeping and feeling like a massive failure for denying Jesus. However, luckily for Peter, this wasn’t the end of his story. As we watch how Jesus deals with Peter following these events, we see His unconditional love and forgiveness, the importance of repentance, and we learn that failure is never final in God’s economy.

In Mark 13, Jesus has much to say about the perilous days that will usher in the end of the world and what will happen during the coming time known as the Tribulation. As we study His discourse on these things, we see what we should watch for so we are not deceived, learn key events that will occur, and hear how we should live as the end approaches.

The disciples question Jesus about the end of the world, and as He answers in Mark 13:32-37, He provides a directive of how we should live as we anticipate these things. As we see what Jesus wants us to do as we watch prophetic signs fulfilled before our eyes, we learn to live with expectation, urgency, and joy.

After stumping the scribes with a tricky theological question, Jesus makes scathing remarks against their religious practices. As we study these interactions in Mark 12:35-44, we learn how to avoid doing things for show or status like the scribes and instead do them with pure motives like the poor widow who gave her all.

Several different groups of people come to question Jesus in Mark 11:27-12:34 with queries ranging from authority to taxes, to the afterlife, to the law. As Jesus deftly responds, He silences His critics and makes them – and us – think about who He really is and how we will respond to Him.

A lot is happening as Jesus journeys back and forth between Jerusalem and Bethany in Mark 10:31-11:33. As He travels, He tells His disciples exactly what will happen to Him, teaches them about humility, and fulfills prophecy as He borrows a donkey to ride into Jerusalem on a long-ago precisely determined day.

A blind man named Bartimaeus cries out to Jesus for healing from his affliction in Mark 10:46-52. As we look into his beautiful act of faith, we see a model of how to come to Jesus, what we can expect when we ask Him for help, and how our lives can be radically changed when we follow Him.

Marriage, divorce, children, and wealth are all extremely hot topics in our modern culture – but did you know they were also highly controversial and debated in Jesus’ day? As Jesus addresses these issues in Mark 10:1-30, we hear His paradoxical responses and learn how to view them biblically despite current views and narratives.

A rich young ruler comes to Jesus in Mark 10:17-27 asking what he must do to be saved. And the answer Jesus gives is astounding! As we hear what Jesus says, we see what the rich young ruler lacked, how various snares can keep us from Jesus, and why we should accept His free gift of salvation.

Jesus and three of His disciples ascend a mountain in Mark 9 and what happens next – known as the transfiguration – is a fascinating event that raises many questions. As we seek to break down what happened, we learn important information about Jesus’ kingdom, see the disciples' reactions, and hear what happened after they came down.

We join Jesus as He travels around the Decapolis region and makes more headlines by feeding 4,000 people, curbing the Pharisees' intrigues, and healing another blind man. As we study these events in Mark 8, we see Jesus as our provider, Messiah, and one worthy of following boldly.