Save Yourself – March 8, 2009

Save Yourself

Mark 15:30-31

Jim Stephens

03-08-09

 

Scripture:

 

30 Well then, save yourself and come down from the cross!” 31 The leading priests and teachers of religious law also mocked Jesus. “He saved others,” they scoffed, “but he can’t save himself!”  (Mark 15:30-31 NLT)

 

Observation:

 

As Jesus hung dying passersby mocked him with the taunt, “Save yourself!” and “He saved others, but he can’t save himself!”  They could not possibly have understood what hung in the balance as Jesus hung on the cross.  To satisfy perfect righteousness and ultimate justice only a perfectly innocent sacrifice could atone for ultimate sin.

 

To save others, he could not save himself!  I am and we will all be eternally thankful that the night before, in Gethsemane, Jesus completely resolved to sacrifice himself to save others.  Thank you, Jesus!

 

Application:

 

On another level, but in ways that are forever significant, every Christ-follower will be called to choose to save another at the cost of losing oneself, to serve instead of being served, to sacrifice instead of being successful, to risk it all when others are staying safe.

 

May we each choose the path of sacrifice and service in our own Gethsemane so that when the moment is upon us we will not waver.

 

Prayer:

 

Father, I can never know how great the pain and how deep the darkness in those moments when Jesus could not save himself, but I am thankful for the choice you and he made.  Help me, and help my fellow Christ-followers choose wisely and well when we face the “others or self” choices of life.  Amen.