Jesus is not a cheat
CREDIT: Photo NAPARAZZI, via Flickr.
It must be very hard to be a professional sportsperson, with the constant pressure to perform for supporters and sponsors.
No doubt this contributed to the decision this week by disgraced Australian male cricketers to undertake a premeditated and coordinated act of ball tampering.
The level of public outcry has been extraordinary, and the call for punishment and justice has been deafening.
Yet no matter how tempted the players were to cheat, their temptation dwarfs that felt by Jesus in his life.
We read in the Bible in Luke chapter 4:1-13 that Jesus was tempted by the Devil after he spent forty days without food in the desert.
Jesus was tempted by the Devil to bow down to him, instead of trusting and worshiping his heavenly Father.
But Jesus knew that it was vital that he obey God’s word, and resist temptation.
For, if Jesus had cheated in his mission, he would have failed to have dealt with our sin on the first Good Friday.
For, it was only because Jesus was truly sinless that he could take our sin upon himself, and be punished for those sins in our place.
But more than that, by resisting the temptation to cheat in his mission to redeem his people, he also showed that he knows what it is like for us to be tempted, too.
As we read in Hebrews 2:18, “Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”
As Smith, Warner and Bancroft make the long and lonely flight back to Australia, it is worth remembering that Jesus’ death brings forgiveness to everyone who asks him, no matter what the crime.
It is only by Jesus’ strong resolve not to cheat in his mission that sinners like you, me, and the Aussie cricketers can be saved from the punishment we deserve from God.
Jodie McNeill.
Coming up Good Friday and Easter Sunday 2018
We’d love you to join us at church this Easter.
Our Good Friday service is at the special time of 9am, where we’ll be coming together to reflect on the cross of Christ as Jodie speaks on the topic of ‘Jesus is… sacrificed’ from Luke chapter 23 verses 32 to 56.
On Easter Sunday we’re meeting at our regular time of 10am and 5pm. Simon will be speaking on the topic ‘Jesus is… risen’ from John chapter 20 verses 1 to 18.
During our services on Sunday, we’ll have our weekly question and answer time, and Jodie will be answering these questions:
- How would you respond to someone who said that Jesus is just a demigod?
- is it a sin to wish to kill a very bad person?
- Does the Bible tell us if it’s OK for a girl to ask out a guy, or should the girl just wait?
If you don’t regularly attend church then you are especially welcome this weekend. We love it when people drop in to join us at church, and you’ll be made to feel very much at home.
Our youth group, Refuge, meets at 4pm in the Neighbourhood Centre, and then head over to join us for church. Kids’ Club and Andy’s Club meets at our 5pm evening service for their program, followed by a great dinner together for the whole family.
If you can’t make it in person, you might even choose to join us live at www.oakflats.tv, where we’ll be live streaming our services to the public.
We wish you a special Easter as we reflect on the wonder of the cross and the miracle of the empty tomb!
© Copyright - Oak Flats Anglican - Wordpress Theme by Kriesi