2. Man of peace-----Source of Conflict 1. “My mission is not to spread peace, but division. Matt 10: 34 2. On virtually every important issue, Jesus’ opinion conflicted with those in power. (marriage, authority, meaning of the Law, the Temple and worship)

3. 3. Jesus accepted outcasts and made them the cornerstone of his message about God’s Kingdom 4. Jesus claimed for himself authority above religious and political powers

4. Death and Resurrection 5. The arrest, trial, Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus-most extensively reported events in Gospels 6. These are the heart of the Christian story and message

5. 8. Evangelists were writing for early followers, soon persecuted for their faith in him---reminder of Jesus’ own persecution and death

7. 10. Jesus’ Sacrifice: Freeing Us From Sin A) Jesus, the Suffering Servant- passages found in Isaiah(Is 42: 1-4, 49: 1-6, 50: 4-9, 52: 13— 53:12) Unnamed servant will suffer greatly not as punishment for his sins but to save us from ours. He will be given God’s spirit His mission is to bring peace and justice to the nations

8. John linked death of Jesus with the killing of the paschal lambs- for the Passover

9. Jesus, the new paschal lamb as sign of a “new Passover”

10. Mark’s audience were not Jewish- “ the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Ransom was price paid by Romans to release a slave. Jesus’ death liberates us from our slavery to sin-His death sets us free by the power of limitless love.

11. 11. Ultimately, A Sign of God’s Love A) Through his death, Jesus bridged the separation between God and humanity that is created by sin He freed us from the ultimate consequence of sin- death B) The Resurrection is the sign of how God overcomes all sin, no matter how great.