“Look for the greater good of your great God at work in your life as a blessing to others!”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – April 16, 2025
Likewise the chief priests also, mocking among themselves with the scribes, said, “He saved others; Himself He cannot save.” Mark 15:31
I just returned from a dear friend’s life celebration with my wife, Rita. She lost her battle with cancer but was victorious in her faith by entering into the presence of Jesus—healed and happy. Shana couldn’t save herself (although she wisely pursued the best treatment and nutrition), yet her love and courage saved those who prayed for her and admired her. Saved, not in the sense of biblical salvation, but saved to the degree of becoming a better follower of Jesus. Petty family squabbles were discussed and forgiven. Two siblings began the process of relational restoration. Like Jesus, bad things happen to good people so bad people can become good, and good people can become better. No eye was dry after 90 minutes of celebrating a surrendered life to the Lord. Everyone with a tender heart and a teachable mind came to know Jesus with a deeper intimacy. Shana could not save herself and, at the same time, save others from themselves by loving Jesus.
In Mark 15:31, when the religious leaders mockingly said, “He saved others, but he cannot save himself,” they completely misunderstood what was actually happening. This taunt reveals an intense irony. The religious leaders were ridiculing Jesus, suggesting His claimed power was fake because He wasn’t using it to escape crucifixion. What they failed to grasp was that Jesus wasn’t hanging there due to weakness or inability—He was there by choice. Think about it this way: Jesus didn’t lack the power to come down from the cross. Earlier in the Gospel, we see Him calm storms, heal diseases, and even raise the dead. The same power was still his. But saving Himself would have meant abandoning His mission to save everyone else.
It’s like a firefighter who could escape a burning building but chooses to stay to rescue others trapped inside. Jesus could have called “ten thousand angels” to rescue him, as the old hymn says, but didn’t because our salvation required His sacrifice. So when they said, “He cannot save himself,” they were accidentally speaking a deeper truth than they realized. Jesus couldn’t save himself AND fulfill his purpose of saving humanity. He had to choose—and out of love, He chose us. The critics “got you” conclusion illustrates the voluntary nature of Jesus’s sacrifice and the impossible choice at the heart of our redemption. C.S. Lewis explains, “Christ’s suffering for us is not a mere theological dodge but the supreme case of the law that governs the whole world; and when they mocked him by saying, ‘He saved others, himself he cannot save,’ they were really uttering, little as they knew it, the ultimate law of the spiritual world.” Death gives life.
Like Shana and Jesus, is your life a sacrifice of love for others? As our Lord taught, “Whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.” A greater good is often at work when good people give up something. When they endure hardship, something mysterious frequently unfolds beyond our immediate understanding. A parent’s struggle with illness teaches their children courage. A friend’s resilience in the face of tragedy inspires faithfulness in others. Giving away your life cultivates a capacity for deeper empathy and unexpected connections with those who are in pain. Even Jesus’s suffering—the ultimate good person facing the ultimate injustice—brought redemption for many. Sometimes, your deepest wounds can become unexpected doorways through which the Lord’s light reaches others in ways your comfort only began to touch. Look for the greater good of your great God at work in your life as a blessing to others!
Prayer
Lord, I trust that You are working for my good, even in hard times. Strengthen my faith, guide my steps, and use every challenge to fulfill Your greater purpose in my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Application
What is God’s greater good at work in your life or in the life of someone you love?
Related Reading
Genesis 50:20; Isaiah 55:8-9; 2 Corinthians 4:17; 1 Peter 5:10
Worship Resource
We the Kingdom: Jesus Does
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