Mar 15:29-30 | KingComments | STEP | The passers-by blaspheme the Lord, while at the same time telling the truth. When people are passers-by and do not pause at the cross to understand its reality, they become slanderers ( ). They slander Him because out of themselves – and not instigated now by the chief priests – they call the Lord a liar. For them, the statements He has made are untrue. By quoting those statements, they unconsciously make His glory and perfection known. At the same time, they help to make that statement come true. They are demolishing the temple of His body, which He will rebuild after a few days. The challenge of saving Himself and coming down from the cross proves their blindness to God’s plan. If Christ had saved Himself, there would have been no salvation for anyone. If He had come down from the cross, every man would have to bear God’s judgment himself. The power of His love for His God and also for the church and for each individual believer kept Him on the cross. The mockery of the chief priests among themselves with the scribes is unintentionally also a contribution to His glory. They speak a deep truth. Never did He save Himself, always thinking only of others. He has indeed saved others, and He could not save Himself because bonds of love kept Him on the cross. They have seen so much of the Lord Jesus and persist in their unbelief despite that. Their unbelief has proved so persistent that even if He were to come down from the cross, they would not believe. To believe requires a humble and broken spirit. Even those who have been crucified with Him, are also insulting Him. The humiliation of the Lord and man’s hatred are so great that man finds time even in his own agony to make the suffering of the Son of God even greater. And why is that? He hadn’t hurt them, had he? Man’s hatred of Him becomes manifest in all its facets. Everything is against Him. But the worst is yet to come.

‏ Mark 15:29-30

Mocked on the Cross

The passers-by blaspheme the Lord, while at the same time telling the truth. When people are passers-by and do not pause at the cross to understand its reality, they become slanderers (Lam 1:12). They slander Him because out of themselves – and not instigated now by the chief priests – they call the Lord a liar. For them, the statements He has made are untrue. By quoting those statements, they unconsciously make His glory and perfection known. At the same time, they help to make that statement come true. They are demolishing the temple of His body, which He will rebuild after a few days.

The challenge of saving Himself and coming down from the cross proves their blindness to God’s plan. If Christ had saved Himself, there would have been no salvation for anyone. If He had come down from the cross, every man would have to bear God’s judgment himself. The power of His love for His God and also for the church and for each individual believer kept Him on the cross.

The mockery of the chief priests among themselves with the scribes is unintentionally also a contribution to His glory. They speak a deep truth. Never did He save Himself, always thinking only of others. He has indeed saved others, and He could not save Himself because bonds of love kept Him on the cross.

They have seen so much of the Lord Jesus and persist in their unbelief despite that. Their unbelief has proved so persistent that even if He were to come down from the cross, they would not believe. To believe requires a humble and broken spirit.

Even those who have been crucified with Him, are also insulting Him. The humiliation of the Lord and man’s hatred are so great that man finds time even in his own agony to make the suffering of the Son of God even greater. And why is that? He hadn’t hurt them, had he? Man’s hatred of Him becomes manifest in all its facets. Everything is against Him. But the worst is yet to come.