Come Down From the Cross

“And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, ‘You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.’ Likewise the chief priests, also mocking with the scribes and elders, said, ‘He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him.’” Matt. 27:39-42.

He could have come down from the cross; but remaining on the cross was and is the crux of the matter.

Christ’s followers are reproached in just the same way. They are reproached because they do not live for themselves according to their own desires like other people but must constantly deny their own will. Yet it is not that they “must”; they have chosen to, and they want to, because it is God’s will and because, for them, it is the most rewarding thing they can do. We too, could be well liked and accepted if we would come down from the cross and behave like other people. But we prefer to follow Christ.