Pastor Stephen Dedman

Tag: bible

Silent Saturday

Encouragement

And the women who had come with Him from Galilee followed after, and they observed the tomb and how His body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.
‭‭Luke‬ ‭23‬:‭55‬-‭56‬

The sun was starting to set and they took Jesus off the cross and placed His body in a tomb that was carved out of the rock. They placed a heavy stone in front to keep anyone from entering in and stealing the body.

Saturday was the Sabbath. According to the law there was to be no work and no traveling. It was a day set aside to rest. The body of Jesus laid in rest and it was a silent, mournful Saturday.

The hours couldn’t pass fast enough. The women were anxious to get back to the tomb and anoint the body of Jesus with oils and spices. They were planning to prepare His body for final resting.

So what happened to Jesus when He died a sinner’s death? Jesus said in Matthew 12:40, “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”

We also know that Jesus told the thief on the cross that he would be with Him in Paradise that same day. We will get our answers when we see Jesus face to face.

Are you anxiously waiting to see Jesus? Do you spend your days expecting Him to sound the trumpet and to see Him coming in the clouds? He is coming soon!

Pray

Lord, I know You are coming to get Your bride very soon. Help me to be ready and to share the good news with others. Thank You for conquering sin and death so I can have eternal life.

Good Friday

Encouragement

And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last.
‭‭Mark‬ ‭15‬:‭37‬

Jesus’ earthly mission was to seek and to save the lost. (Luke 19:10) It was accomplished when Jesus died on the cross. God’s plan of salvation was complete.

Satan did everything in his power to keep Jesus from going to the cross. He even tried killing the lineage leading up to Jesus. Satan could not prevail.

When Jesus breathed His last breath, Satan knew it was over. God won and Satan was defeated. Today, Satan is just waiting for his time to be cast into the depths of hell. He has no future and he knows it.

Today, on this Friday before Easter Sunday, we remember what Jesus went through to save us from our sins. When we sin we must remember the price that Jesus paid so we don’t have to.

That alone should put a desire in our heart to seek to live righteous and holy lives. As born again believers, we have forgiveness of our sins because Jesus bore our sins on the cross. Praise God for sending His Son to save us!

We can have eternal life with God in heaven because Jesus paid it all. What sins do you need to confess and repent from? A sinless and righteous life is what we seek for.

Pray

Lord, thank You for dying in my place. You give me peace knowing I have eternal life. Forgive me and set me free from sin.

Holy Thursday

Encouragement

Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep will be scattered.’”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭14‬:‭27‬

Thursday of Holy Week was Jesus’ last day to be with His disciples. He observes the Passover meal, washes the feet of the disciples and then goes out to the garden to pray.

The loneliness of Jesus must be considered. He was with His disciples everyday and loved them very much. He spent time explaining deep things so they would understand.

Thursday night as Jesus was arrested and taken away He was removed from those closest to Him. Jesus had so much time invested into making sure they would continue the work He started.

The disciples were hiding because of fear of the Jews. They didn’t want to be arrested like Jesus. So they left and Jesus was alone.

Loneliness is a form of suffering. It is not good for man to be alone. God intended for us to have fellowship with others and to have close relationships.

Just before Jesus was arrested He spent quality time with disciples eating and singing together. The disciples had no clue of what was to happen the next day.

It is important that we build relationships with people for the sake of glorifying God. We are to be encouragers and we are to be encouraged as well. Relationships that are healthy make for a great blessing.

Who do you have in your life today that you can encourage? Maybe just being with that person is a blessing. Cherish the relationships you have.

Pray

Lord, I know You love me and have given me what I need the most. Thank You for loving me with an everlasting love. Help me to love others with the same love.