Daily Devotion for April 10, 2006

To Jerusalem with the ComPassionate Christ
Day 41

 

Come On Down

 

In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. "He saved others," they said, "but he can't save himself!  Let this Christ, this King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe." Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.  Mark 15: 31-32

 

It was not only the casual passers by who added to Jesus’ agony with their taunts and jibes, their leaders also joined in. They had won. They had gotten their own way. The troublesome rabbi from the uncouth north had been arrested on trumped up charges, he had been tried and somehow found guilty, and the Romans had been persuaded to do what the Romans did best: kill people. Yes, they had won; but did they have to rub salt in the wounds by crowing about it? Couldn’t they have allowed their adversary to die in peace? Obviously not.

 

Once again, however, God used their words to press home eternal truths, though they were not at all conscious of it. "Look," they said, "He saved others, can He not save Himself?" And they were right, for Jesus had saved others, and would keep on doing so long after these doubters had descended into dust. Furthermore, in order that He might keep on saving others, He could not save Himself. It was not His business to save Himself; it was His business to sacrifice Himself, so that others might be saved.

 

Even as they called Him the Christ, the King of Israel, their words were truer than they could ever have imagined. If the work of the Christ was to be completed, Jesus had to stay on the Cross. To come down would have been for Him to snatch defeat from the very jaws of victory. So, He stayed where He was, despite the sticks and stones and cruel words of those about Him. Thank God that He did!

 

Prayer
Lord, help me to remember that one can never go forward by coming down, can never overcome by succumbing to others taunting.  Thank You for saving me, by going the full distance so I can have eternity with You!  Amen

 

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