Week 43 Reading Guide
The Mission of the King
Matthew 22–28, Mark 1–16
Big Idea: This week we read the climax of Matthew’s Gospel and move into the Gospel of Mark. Jesus is revealed not just as a wise teacher or miracle worker, but as the suffering King who lays down His life for the world. The cross is not the end — it’s the turning point. Through death and resurrection, Jesus is crowned King, and His Kingdom breaks into history with power, humility, and grace. Mark picks up the story with urgency, showing us a Savior on the move — calling, healing, confronting evil, and redefining what it means to follow Him.
Reading Plan
Monday: Matthew 22–24 (Jesus confronts religious leaders and foretells the end)
Tuesday: Matthew 25–28 (Parables of judgment, the crucifixion, and the resurrection)
Wednesday: Mark 1–3 (The beginning of Jesus’ ministry and early conflicts)
Thursday: Mark 4–6 (Parables, miracles, and growing opposition)
Friday: Mark 7–9 (Teachings on purity, faith, and the road to the cross)
Saturday: Mark 10–16 (The Road to the Cross; Crucifixion; Resurrection)
Weekly DNA Questions
Discover
What are some differences and similarities between Matthew and Mark’s portrayal of Jesus?
How do these chapters deepen your understanding of why Jesus had to die and rise again?
Nurture
What part of Jesus’ suffering or sacrifice do you struggle to accept with your own life?
Where is Jesus inviting you to die to yourself and follow Him more fully?
Act
Reflect on the crucifixion and resurrection. What’s one way can you live differently in light of the risen King?
Invite someone into a conversation about Jesus’ death and resurrection—share why it matters to you.
Key Verse: Mark 10:45
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Reflection for the Week
As Jesus approaches the cross, we see Him more clearly than ever—gentle with the broken, bold with the proud, unwavering in His mission. Both Matthew and Mark invite us to see not just what Jesus did, but why He did it: to rescue, redeem, and reign. His crucifixion was not the end, but the ultimate act of love. His resurrection is not just a moment in history, but the turning point for all of creation. In these chapters, the invitation to follow Jesus becomes urgent and unmistakable. Will we lay down our lives to follow the King who gave everything for us?
