Have you ever watched one of those home improvement shows, where they think they only need to repaint, but then discover that there is a huge problem behind the wall threatening to destroy the whole house? Jude started out thinking he was going to write a long letter exploring their shared faith, only to discover a much more urgent and dangerous problem. The church was under the sway of false teaching by people who had snuck into positions of influence.

The part that stands out in Mark that does not appear in the other accounts of Jesus' life are the angel's words found in Mark 16:7, “but go, tell his disciples and Peter.” How tender and beautiful of God to realize that Peter was going to need to be assured that he was still Jesus’ disciple.

Think of all the things we’ve looked at this week and all that Jesus went through.  Peter’s denial of Jesus and the anguish that must have caused Him. Jesus before Pilate and all the accusations thrown at Him by some of the very people that, days before, had praised Him and then, that same crowd calling for Jesus to be crucified. He was spit upon, mocked, and cruelly flogged with whips that were topped with bones and nails.

As you read this text today, notice the mention of “a certain man from Cyrene, Simon” (Mark 15:21). We don’t know much about this man except for where he came from and who his sons were.

A number of years ago we did ministry in a place that had not heard the Gospel. The people there had no hope, other than seeking witch doctors, who both cursed and “healed” them. People would spend all they had looking for a cure, trapped in darkness; the good news of the Gospel was such freedom to them!