The good news of Mark’s gospel story is that because Jesus bore those accusations, we don’t have to. The good news of Mark’s gospel story is that we can be forgiven, more than that; our sins atoned for, paid for, our debt cleared and so there is no longer an accusation to be levelled against us.

Have we denied Jesus, have we been working against him in some way (often a daft way), and we know the result is that we are broken people? Jesus has been struck for us, he has gone ahead of us and if we would simply meet him, allow him to ask us if we love him, the healing, release, and potential that wells up within us will be incredible, because of what he has done for us.

It is good when we ask questions about life after death, it is good when we try to find answers to difficult questions about faith and hope and the eternity that we all must face, but are we looking for those answers in the right place?

So many of the changes in our society will not last because they are not from God. Not just changes around social and gender issues, but changes around our lack of kindness, care and concern for the refugee, changes that have promoted a self-centred society with no care, through or concern for our neighbour, all of this will be swept away. We are not on the wrong side of history, we will not fade into obscurity, we will be raised on the last day to glory in Christ, and we will rule the new heaven and earth in the presence of God and according to the word of God.