Pastor Stephen Dedman

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It Wouldn’t Have Mattered

Faith

Likewise the chief priests also, mocking among themselves with the scribes, said, “He saved others; Himself He cannot save.”
Mark 15:31

What comes to mind when you think about the crucifixion of Jesus? If we close our eyes and picture the horrific event we can envision several things. The cross obviously, the three nails driven into His hands and feet, a crown of thorns, and the blood-stained body of Jesus.

These are definitely the gruesome pictures that we have of Christ dying on the cross. But if we notice closely this is not what Mark’s account depicts of the crucifixion.

Mark 15:21-32 doesn’t put a lot of emphasis on the physical description of the crucifixion. Nor does Mark describe the agony that Jesus encountered on the cross.

Instead, Mark depicts the humiliating and emotional abuse that came from the people who watched Jesus suffer and die on the cross. They made fun of Him and joked about Him with words of mockery and insult.

The central idea of the people’s attitude claims that if Jesus was truly the Messiah then He should save Himself and come down off the cross. Even the religious leaders claimed that He saved others so He should be able to save Himself.

So what would Jesus have needed to do to make the unbelievers believe? Would saving Himself and climbing down off the cross be enough for them to believe? Or would an empty tomb be the best evidence?

Even after Jesus arose from the dead the mockers still didn’t believe!

Sometimes we fall into the trap of needing God to do something really amazing for us to know that He is present in our life. Let the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus be enough evidence to show that God loves you unconditionally and wants only the best for you.

Pray

Lord, when I struggle to believe that You are in control, help me to remember the cross. When I start to think You don’t care, let me remember the empty tomb. Help me to know I don’t need anymore proof.

Are You Dead To Sin?

Encouragement, Trust

‘What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? ‘
Romans 6:1-2

As a Christian, you died to sin. Temptations will be present but sin does not have control over you. You can still sin, but you are no longer under sin’s power. The victory over sin’s dominion was won on the cross at Calvary. The victory is won!

God’s grace is our motivation to resist sin. It was grace that led God to forgive our sin despite our rebellion against Him. Knowing this grace, we cannot continue to practice sin. You’re dead to sin.

God does not have to win a victory over your sin. He already has by sending Jesus to die in your place. You only need to apply His victory in each area of your life. If there is a sinful habit or an unrighteous relationship that needs to be dissolved, you just need to claim the victory of Christ’s saving power.

Do you have an ungodly attitude or a sinful habit? Do you have an unrighteous relationship that needs to end? What is keeping you from experiencing God’s the abundant life that God intends for you to live?

So many times we find ourselves disappointed because of our sin. While we should be convicted, we should never think that sin has that kind of power over us. Experience the victory of Jesus today that gives you the power over all things and live the abundant life that God intends for you.

Pray

Lord, I want to experience the great victory of my sin and shame. I want to know You and live out what You intend to be good for me. Help me to keep my mind on You.

Will You Rest Today?

Encouragement, Trust

“Then they returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.”
Luke 23:56

One of the most forgotten of the Ten Commandments is the command to “rest.” As Jesus’ body laid in the tomb, it’s a great reminder that we are to rest just as God did. After God incarnate declared, “it is finished,” He honored the Sabbath once more just as He had at the beginning of creation. In the tomb, God rested. 

Have we forgotten the command to rest? For the Jews, the Sabbath was a day to rest and not do any kind of work. The laws were very strict of what one could do on the Sabbath. For example, women were not permitted to look into a mirror lest they be tempted to pluck hair, which would cause her to break the law.

Remember, the word Sabbath means rest. 

After Jesus was crucified, He was wrapped in burial cloth and laid in a borrowed tomb. Nothing is said about what happened between Friday night and Sunday morning because it was a day of rest so nothing happened. Jesus could have arose from the dead on Saturday but He didn’t. His body laid in rest. 

Christians honor Sunday as a day to rest and worship. But do you allow it to be a day of rest and worship? Is God satisfied with how we rest and worship?

God worked six days and then rested on the seventh. He commanded His people to rest. But in today’s modern world we don’t honor this commandment like we should. Let’s honor God and do as He commands. Let’s rest and worship the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. 

Pray

‭Lord, I honor You and keep Your Commandments in my heart. You have blessed me and I in return honor You.