Dear Friends,
“Two rebels were crucified with [Jesus], one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.” (Matthew 27:39-44, NIV)
Jesus was stripped of everything, his dignity, his friends, his position, and laid out on a cross for all the world to see. Those who wanted him dead had finally won. They had tried to kill him before. One time they picked up stones, but Jesus had slipped away from them Now they finally had him. So why kick him while he is down? Why mock him and taunt him while he writhes in pain taking his final breaths?
We can understand, a little, why the religious leaders do it. They were jealous of him. Jesus had been getting all of the attention. The crowds were swarming to him and the bigger and bigger the crowds became the more Jesus threatened the status quo which kept them in power.
What about the ordinary person who passed by? Why would they be so tempted to hurl insults? They had been the ones welcomed by Jesus. It was for them that Jesus had spent countless hours healing their sick, opening the eyes of the blind, casting out demons, and forgiving their sins. So many who were nothing became something because of Jesus. He saved so many and now they stand at the base of his cross hurling insults.
Maybe it is our animal instinct. There is something primal in all of us that can well up to destroy the one who is down. Something in us resents goodness and excellence. We resent it because it challenges and confronts us. We are so tempted to say we are just the way we are and can do no better. Righteousness is not possible. Having a good marriage is not possible. Living a life of integrity is not possible. But our excuses are shaky in the presence of one who is living such a life. So we take joy when we see them fall. It lets us off the hook. It confirms to us that what we have told ourselves was impossible really is impossible. It is just they way that I am.
As Jesus hung on the cross all the lessons Jesus taught that seemed impossible to follow were lifted from their consciouses. Look, even he couldn’t do it, why should I even try. He saved others but he cannot even save himself. We always knew he was nothing more than a snake oil peddler.
Yet, as the crowds mocked Jesus with stinging words of ridicule words, “He saved others; he cannot save himself” they were unknowingly speaking great words of truth. God demonstrated his power not in coming down from the cross, not in calling down thousands angels to his rescue, but by rather by giving up his own life.
Think about it. To whom do we give medals for bravery and valor? To those who run or to those who stay? To those who save their life or to those who give up their lives that others might live? Congressional Medals of Honor are not given to those who run. They are given to those who show an even greater power: The courage and power to stay and give up one’s life that others might live.
The crowds are right. “He saved others; he cannot save himself” Their words of scorn are words of truth. For in not saving himself he saves others. He took upon himself the scorn of all humanity so that we might be saved.
Just as the men on the crosses beside Jesus would say, they were getting what they deserved. We each deserved to be on the cross. To be stripped of all of our dignity, position, and identity and to face the scorn and ridicule of all of creation.
He saved others; he cannot save himself. Christ chose to not be saved that we might be saved.
Blessings,
Stephen
Giving credit where it is due:
The concept for this series of blog posts and its accompanying sermon series draw from the masterful work, Seven Words to the Cross: A Lenten Study for Adults by J. Ellsworth Kalas.