Wow. Long time, no real update. So, I made it through the rough patch (praise the Lord!!!!) with the students and now we’re in full swing and nearly finished with school (May 24!). The next week and half is a much needed spring break. I am super excited because my wonderful friend, Erin, is coming for a visit, which means I get to be a tourist here in Mexico City. I am so thankful for my wonderful friends!!
As far as the summer goes, I have no idea what I’ll be doing. I hope to be able to get involved with some of the up and going ministries…we’ll see. I also think that I will be leaving Mexico in December to spend the Christmas time with my family and then in January begin work on my masters. Please pray that I truly seek the Lord and don’t make plans based on my emotions. (And then maybe in the future coming back to Mexico but not to teach…). Since I more than likely leave in December, I will have 1 more semester teaching. It looks as if I will be teaching high school economics (should be interesting), pre-algebra, and lower elementary school. A very different load from this year.
A few weeks ago, one of the families had a ¨Go¨ team here. We passed out gospels of John and other such things. It was a neat learning experience. I ended up doing some translation. I still don’t understand everything and still make horrible mistakes, but I just couldn’t believe they were looking to me to translate.
As we approach the Easter season, my heart continues to break for the misguided people here in Mexico. Signs of this are everywhere. Please pray for the people of Mexico during this time of year. Pray that they would know Christ personally. Pray that they would see the difference between works and a relationship. Pray that they would lay down their idols. Pray that they would really know the meaning of Christ dying on the cross and rising again.
Here’s what it’s all about:
Mark 14
Death Plot and Anointing
1Now the Passove and Unleavened Bread were two days away; and the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to seize Him by stealth and kill Him;
2for they were saying, "Not during the festival, otherwise there might be a riot of the people."
3While He was in Bethany at the home of Simon the leper, and reclining at the table, there came a woman with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume of pure nard; and she broke the vial and poured it over His head.
4But some were indignantly remarking to one another, "Why has this perfume been wasted?
5"For this perfume might have been sold for over three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor." And they were scolding her.
6But Jesus said, "Let her alone; why do you bother her? She has done a good deed to Me.
7"For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you wish you can do good to them; but you do not always have Me.
8"She has done what she could; she has anointed My body beforehand for the burial.
9"Truly I say to you, wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her."
10Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went off to the chief priests in order to betray Him to them.
11They were glad when they heard this, and promised to give him money. And he began seeking how to betray Him at an opportune time.
The Last Passover
12On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb was being sacrificed, His disciples said to Him, "Where do You want us to go and prepare for You to eat the Passover?"
13And He sent two of His disciples and said to them, "Go into the city, and a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him;
14and wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, 'The Teacher says, "Where is My guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?"'
15"And he himself will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; prepare for us there."
16The disciples went out and came to the city, and found it just as He had told them; and they prepared the Passover.
17When it was evening He came with the twelve.
18As they were reclining at the table and eating, Jesus said, "Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me--one who is eating with Me."
19They began to be grieved and to say to Him one by one, "Surely not I?"
20And He said to them, "It is one of the twelve, one who dips with Me in the bowl.
21"For the Son of Man is to go just as it is written of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born."
The Lord's Supper
22While they were eating, He took some bread, and after a blessing He broke it, and gave it to them, and said, "Take it; this is My body."
23And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, and they all drank from it.
24And He said to them, "This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.
25"Truly I say to you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God."
26After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
27And Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away, because it is written, 'I WILL STRIKE DOWN THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP SHALL BE SCATTERED.'
28"But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee."
29But Peter said to Him, "Even though all may fall away, yet I will not."
30And Jesus said to him, "Truly I say to you, that this very night, before a rooster crows twice, you yourself will deny Me three times."
31But Peter kept saying insistently, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!" And they all were saying the same thing also.
Jesus in Gethsemane
32They came to a place named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, "Sit here until I have prayed."
33And He took with Him Peter and James and John, and began to be very distressed and troubled.
34And He said to them, "My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death; remain here and keep watch."
35And He went a little beyond them, and fell to the ground and began to pray that if it were possible, the hour might pass Him by.
36And He was saying, "Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will."
37And He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour?
38"Keep watching and praying that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."
39Again He went away and prayed, saying the same words.
40And again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to answer Him.
41And He came the third time, and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough; the hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.
42"Get up, let us be going; behold, the one who betrays Me is at hand!"
Betrayal and Arrest
43Immediately while He was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, came up accompanied by a crowd with swords and clubs, who were from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.
44Now he who was betraying Him had given them a signal, saying, "Whomever I kiss, He is the one; seize Him and lead Him away under guard."
45After coming, Judas immediately went to Him, saying, "Rabbi!" and kissed Him.
46They laid hands on Him and seized Him.
47But one of those who stood by drew his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his ear.
48And Jesus said to them, "Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me, as you would against a robber?
49"Every day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize Me; but this has taken place to fulfill the Scriptures."
50And they all left Him and fled.
51A young man was following Him, wearing nothing but a linen sheet over his naked body; and they seized him.
52But he pulled free of the linen sheet and escaped naked.
Jesus before His Accusers
53They led Jesus away to the high priest; and all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes gathered together.
54Peter had followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest; and he was sitting with the officers and warming himself at the fire.
55Now the chief priests and the whole Council kept trying to obtain testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, and they were not finding any.
56For many were giving false testimony against Him, but their testimony was not consistent.
57Some stood up and began to give false testimony against Him, saying,
58"We heard Him say, 'I will destroy this temple made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands.'"
59Not even in this respect was their testimony consistent.
60The high priest stood up and came forward and questioned Jesus, saying, "Do You not answer? What is it that these men are testifying against You?"
61But He kept silent and did not answer Again the high priest was questioning Him, and saying to Him, "Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?"
62And Jesus said, "I am; and you shall see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, and COMING WITH THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN."
63Tearing his clothes, the high priest said, "What further need do we have of witnesses?
64"You have heard the blasphemy; how does it seem to you?" And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death.
65Some began to spit at Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him with their fists, and to say to Him, "Prophesy!" And the officers received Him with slaps in the face.
Peter's Denials
66As Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant-girls of the high priest came,
67and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, "You also were with Jesus the Nazarene."
68But he denied it, saying, "I neither know nor understand what you are talking about." And he went out onto the porch.
69The servant-girl saw him, and began once more to say to the bystanders, "This is one of them!"
70But again he denied it And after a little while the bystanders were again saying to Peter, "Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean too."
71But he began to curse and swear, "I do not know this man you are talking about!"
72Immediately a rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had made the remark to him, "Before a rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times." And he began to weep.
Mark 15
Jesus before Pilate
1Early in the morning the chief priests with the elders and scribes and the whole Council, immediately held a consultation; and binding Jesus, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate.
2Pilate questioned Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?" And He answered him, "It is as you say."
3The chief priests began to accuse Him harshly.
4Then Pilate questioned Him again, saying, "Do You not answer? See how many charges they bring against You!"
5But Jesus made no further answer; so Pilate was amazed.
6Now at the feast he used to release for them any one prisoner whom they requested.
7The man named Barabbas had been imprisoned with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the insurrection.
8The crowd went up and began asking him to do as he had been accustomed to do for them.
9Pilate answered them, saying, "Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?"
10For he was aware that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy.
11But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to ask him to release Barabbas for them instead.
12Answering again, Pilate said to them, "Then what shall I do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?"
13They shouted back, "Crucify Him!"
14But Pilate said to them, "Why, what evil has He done?" But they shouted all the more, "Crucify Him!"
15Wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas for them, and after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.
Jesus Is Mocked
16The soldiers took Him away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium), and they called together the whole Roman cohort.
17They dressed Him up in purple, and after twisting a crown of thorns, they put it on Him;
18and they began to acclaim Him, "Hail, King of the Jews!"
19They kept beating His head with a reed, and spitting on Him, and kneeling and bowing before Him.
20After they had mocked Him, they took the purple robe off Him and put His own garments on Him. And they led Him out to crucify Him.
21They pressed into service a passer-by coming from the country, Simon of Cyrene (the father of Alexander and Rufus), to bear His cross.
The Crucifixion
22Then they brought Him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull.
23They tried to give Him wine mixed with myrrh; but He did not take it.
24And they crucified Him, and divided up His garments among themselves, casting lots for them to decide what each man should take.
25It was the third hour when they crucified Him.
26The inscription of the charge against Him read, "THE KING OF THE JEWS."
27They crucified two robbers with Him, one on His right and one on His left.
28[And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "And He was numbered with transgressors."]
29Those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads, and saying, "Ha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days,
30save Yourself, and come down from the cross!"
31In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes, were mocking Him among themselves and saying, "He saved others; He cannot save Himself.
32"Let this Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, so that we may see and believe!" Those who were crucified with Him were also insulting Him.
33When the sixth hour came, darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour.
34At the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "ELOI, ELOI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?" which is translated, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?"
35When some of the bystanders heard it, they began saying, "Behold, He is calling for Elijah."
36Someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink, saying, "Let us see whether Elijah will come to take Him down."
37And Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed His last.
38And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
39When the centurion, who was standing right in front of Him, saw the way He breathed His last, he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God!"
40There were also some women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the Less and Joses, and Salome.
41When He was in Galilee, they used to follow Him and minister to Him; and there were many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem.
Jesus Is Buried
42When evening had already come, because it was the preparation day, that is, the day before the Sabbath,
43Joseph of Arimathea came, a prominent member of the Council, who himself was waiting for the kingdom of God; and he gathered up courage and went in before Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus.
44Pilate wondered if He was dead by this time, and summoning the centurion, he questioned him as to whether He was already dead.
45And ascertaining this from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph.
46Joseph bought a linen cloth, took Him down, wrapped Him in the linen cloth and laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.
47Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses were looking on to see where He was laid.
Mark 16
The Resurrection
1When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might come and anoint Him.
2Very early on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen.
3They were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?"
4Looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away, although it was extremely large.
5Entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting at the right, wearing a white robe; and they were amazed.
6And he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified He has risen; He is not here; behold, here is the place where they laid Him.
7"But go, tell His disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He told you.'"
8They went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had gripped them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
9[Now after He had risen early on the first day of the week, He first appeared to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons.
10She went and reported to those who had been with Him, while they were mourning and weeping.
11When they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they refused to believe it.
12After that, He appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking along on their way to the country.
13They went away and reported it to the others, but they did not believe them either.
The Disciples Commissioned
14Afterward He appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table; and He reproached them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen.
15And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
16"He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.
17"These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues;
18they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."
19So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.
20And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed.] [And they promptly reported all these instructions to Peter and his companions. And after that, Jesus Himself sent out through them from east to west the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation.]
