Jesus’ Final Days, the Resurrection, and the Beginning of Mark’s Gospel
If you knew your time was short, what message would you leave behind? In His final week, Jesus answered that question with His life. Every word, every action carried eternal weight—from the triumphal entry to the cross and the empty tomb. Matthew 21–28 gives us a front-row seat to redemption’s climax, while Mark 1–10 shows the ongoing power of that redemption in motion.
The King Who Cleanses (Matthew 21)
Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem wasn’t the triumph the crowds expected. Riding on a donkey, He came not to overthrow Rome but to overthrow sin. His cleansing of the temple wasn’t rage, it was restoration. By overturning tables, He was reclaiming God’s dwelling for its true purpose: a place of prayer for all nations. This moment invites us to let Him cleanse our own hearts so His presence can dwell freely within us.
The Cup of Redemption (Matthew 26)
At the Last Supper, Jesus redefined the Passover meal. The bread and cup no longer looked back to Egypt but forward to the cross. His words, “This is my body… This is my blood,” established a new covenant—a covenant of mercy sealed by His sacrifice. Later that night in Gethsemane, Jesus showed us the cost of obedience. He prayed, “Not as I will, but as You will,” choosing surrender so that we could receive salvation.
The Cross and the Empty Tomb (Matthew 27–28)
At Calvary, creation itself responded. Darkness fell, the earth quaked, and the temple veil tore apart. The separation between God and humanity was over. Three days later, the tomb stood empty, declaring that death had been defeated. The resurrection was not an ending but a beginning—a new creation bursting into existence.
The Gospel of Mark: The Servant Who Acts
Where Matthew portrays Jesus as King, Mark reveals Him as Servant. His narrative moves quickly, using the word immediately again and again. For Mark’s Roman audience, this pace mirrored action, authority, and strength under pressure.
Mark shows Jesus healing, forgiving, calming storms, and casting out demons. Every miracle demonstrates divine power wrapped in humility. Mark’s Gospel reminds us that faith is not still—it moves. The follower of Christ doesn’t stand by but steps forward, serving others in the strength of the One who came “to give His life as a ransom for many.”
(You can find an in-depth introduction to Mark’s Gospel here.)
Reading the Resurrection Through Heaven’s Lens
The resurrection was more than a historical event, it was a spiritual victory that changed the cosmos. When Jesus rose, the unseen realm shifted. The rebellion of darkness was judged; every false power lost its claim. The cross was the courtroom; the resurrection was the verdict. Christ emerged as the rightful Lord over every realm, both earthly and heavenly.
To read Scripture through a supernatural worldview is to remember that history unfolds under God’s rule and that Christ’s victory already governs the unseen world. When you see the resurrection this way, you realize that spiritual authority isn’t future, it’s present. The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives within you.
Living the Message
Jesus’ final week gives us the clearest answer to the question: What message would you leave behind? His message was one of sacrificial love, faithful obedience, and unshakable victory. As you reflect on these chapters, consider what your life communicates to those around you. Does it echo His compassion? Does it reflect His courage? Does it proclaim His Kingdom? The King’s message is still alive and is calling us to live in the power of His resurrection every day.