Jesus is faced with two lost causes: a woman suffering 12 years from an incurable disease and a 12 year old girl that dies. Yet, nothing is too hopeless for Jesus. In the healing of the woman and the resurrection of the little girl, we're reminded of the supreme confidence found in entrusting ourselves to Jesus - even when our lives fall apart.

James and John approach Jesus with the request to be given the place of honour in His kingdom. The disciples display the old mark we're born with - the mark of self first; a desire to be served. Jesus, however, teaches His disciples that what identifies a person as His follower is the new mark of a desire to serve. This new mark is given to us because Christ Himself came not to be served but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many. As Christ supremely served us, it is our great joy to identify with Him through putting others before ourselves.

Jesus is crucified during the Passover feast. The Passover reminded the people of God's deliverance from Egypt. The second last plague was the plague of darkness. Ominously, darkness descends on Jesus at the cross. Yet, instead of God bringing judgement on the world, He brings it on His Son. The temple curtain was torn in two, symbolising that the way was open for people to be reconciled to God.

In this passage, Jesus explains that all of our actions spring from our hearts. We are in desperate need of a Saviour who can rescue us from our sin and give us hearts that desire to please God.