Pastor Stephen Dedman

And when Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table.
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭26‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Question
What are you holding back from Jesus that He is worthy of today?

Context
Wednesday of Passion Week is often called “Silent Wednesday.” The Gospels don’t record much public activity from Jesus on this day, but behind the scenes, two powerful things happened. A woman pours out expensive perfume in an act of extravagant worship and Judas begins moving toward betrayal. One offers everything in devotion. The other gives everything up for a price.

Application
There’s something striking about the contrast: The woman breaks open what is valuable to honor Jesus and Judas calculates value and sells Jesus for silver. One sees Jesus as worthy of everything. The other sees Him as worth something.

And here’s the question this day asks us: Do we worship Jesus with surrender… or do we measure what He’s worth to us?

The woman didn’t hold back. She didn’t worry about what others thought. She didn’t save some for later. She gave it all to Jesus.

Truth For The Day
True worship is not convenient, it’s costly, intentional, and surrendered.

Pray
Lord, help me not to drift but draw near. Give me a heart like the woman who held nothing back. Remove anything in me that tries to put a price on Your worth. You are worthy of everything I have. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭23‬:‭27‬-‭28‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Question
Where might you be focusing more on how you appear spiritually rather than who you truly are before God?

Context
Tuesday of Passion Week was one of the busiest teaching days of Jesus’ ministry. After entering Jerusalem and cleansing the temple, Jesus spent this day confronting religious leaders and teaching in the temple courts.

In Matthew 23, Jesus delivers a series of strong warnings to the Pharisees, not out of anger alone, but out of a deep desire for truth and repentance. These leaders looked righteous on the outside but were spiritually empty in their hearts. Jesus was exposing a dangerous reality: it’s possible to appear close to God while being far from Him.

Application
This passage invites us to examine our own hearts. It’s easy to focus on outward appearances like attending church, saying the right things, doing good works, but Jesus is concerned with what’s happening inside us. Are we pursuing God privately, or just publicly? Is our faith authentic, or are we maintaining an image? Do our actions flow from love for Christ, or from obligation and recognition?

Jesus doesn’t call us to perfection, He calls us to honesty and transformation.

Truth For The Day
God is not impressed by appearances, He desires a transformed heart.

Pray
Lord, search my heart and reveal anything in me that is not genuine. Strip away any desire to impress others and replace it with a sincere love for You. Cleanse me from the inside out, and help my life reflect Your truth not just in appearance, but in reality. In Jesus’ name, amen.

So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
‭‭John‬ ‭19‬:‭30‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Question
Where in your life are you struggling to trust God because things feel unfinished, instead of resting in what Jesus has already completed?

Context
Jesus, beaten and bloodied, hanging hanging on the cross is hardly the picture of victory that anyone expected. And yet, in that moment, He declared, “It is finished. Not, “I am finished.” But, “It is finished.”

What looked like loss was actually completion. What looked like tragedy was the fulfillment of God’s perfect plan. Sin was paid for. The work of redemption was done. The door to salvation was opened.

Application
There are moments in our life that will feel unfinished, uncertain, or even broken. But God is often doing His deepest work in places that don’t look like victory.

The cross reminds us: God’s greatest work can happen in what feels like our worst moment.

When today feels uncertain or difficult, choose to trust that God is still at work. Instead of focusing on what seems unfinished, rest in what Jesus has already completed. Let His finished work give you peace, and walk forward in faith, believing that God’s purpose is unfolding.

Truth For The Day
God is working even when it doesn’t look like it.

Pray
Lord, help me to trust You in the moments that don’t make sense. When life feels uncertain or incomplete, remind me that Your work is perfect and Your timing is sure. Teach me to rest in what Jesus has finished and to walk in faith each day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.