Why Didn’t Jesus Come Down From the Cross?

Mark 15:30 Save thyself, and come down from the cross.

And the Lord Jesus hung on the cross outside that crowded Jerusalem that day, many came to watch the death of One so pitiful, so misunderstood, so despised and rejected of the people. Even though He had, in His life, demonstrated the kindness, mercy and gentleness of the loving Heavenly Father, many called for His crucifixion. As He hung there, many cried out, “Save Thyself, and come down from the cross.” Could the Lord Jesus have done so? To the soldiers He said

Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
Matthew 26:53

12 legions represent 72,000 angels, which at the instruction of the Lord Jesus could have come, at a moment’s notice, to destroy Jerusalem that day. Why did the Lord Jesus not come down from the cross that day to save Himself?

Because He knew the Father’s will was for Him to die at the cross

Obedience was a very key trait of the life of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered.
Hebrews 5:8

Submission to the Lord’s will and obedience to His commands governed the life of our Lord. Sacrifice was never too high a price for Christ as He hung on the cross, being obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. It must be so for us as well!

Because He foresaw the joy that was set before Him

who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross..
Hebrews 12:2

What was the joy that was set before Him? The joy to see the price of sin paid for, of sinners realising their condition before God and the repentance of these sinners from sin and coming to faith in Christ, of these saints living for God, in having their sins purged and growing in their likeness to Christ and the best of all, and of seeing these saints enjoying the glories of Heaven.

Because He loved us more than Himself

For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
Romans 15:3

The Love of the Lord Jesus is never doubted and should never be doubted by His people. He showed His genuine love by remaining on the cross

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friend.
John 15:13

Dear Christian reader, is obedience to the Lord Jesus a shining trait in your life? Do you have the assurance of a heavenly rest when you see the Lord Jesus in the Second coming? Do you love others more than yourselves? These are traits of the Lord Jesus, seen in His sacrificial life, seen at the cross and which need to seen in each one of us who have called upon the Lord Jesus as their Saviour. Be ye perfect, even as your father which is in Heaven is perfect. “Lord, I will be perfect like you, help me by Thy grace!”

May this be our daily prayer.

Evangelist-Pastor Johnny Tan
Ambassador Baptist Church