Much of Jesus’ story is widely accepted—His teachings on compassion, justice, and humility are admired even by those who don’t believe in Him. But the next three chapters of Mark contain the part of the story the world resists: the crucifixion and the resurrection. These events demand a response. Either Jesus rose from the dead, or He didn’t. There is no middle ground. And because the resurrection forces a decision, it becomes the most controversial and rejected part of His story. Many want to embrace Jesus the moral teacher while dismissing Jesus the risen Lord—but He never left that option open. This week we enter the most defining section of the Gospel, the part of Jesus’ story the unbelieving world hopes isn’t true, where His identity, His mission, and His victory become unmistakably clear.
