Original Broadcast: December 2008
Monthly Theme: Jesus' Humiliation
And those who passed by derided Him, wagging their heads and saying,
"You who would destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself!
If you are the Son of God, come down from the Cross."
(Matthew 27:39-40)
It was a somber highlight for Passover. Pilate had planned a triple crucifixion to take place. Even though it was quite somber, many people turned out to view the "festivities". It's amazing just how depraved human nature actually is. Some people just seem to enjoy watching people die. That's gotten even into the major plot of many movies in the last few years. It's a sad condition of our society.
Jesus was crucified and many of the chief priests and elders followed him out to Golgotha to make sure that He really was crucified. They also wanted to taunt Him. All sorts of vain promises and oaths were made that they would believe if He'd take Himself down from the Cross.
But that wasn't in God's plan for the Messiah. In fact, being crucified was a central focal point of God's plan of salvation. We Christians--and Lutherans in particular--focus on a full Cross and an empty tomb. Only God in the flesh could will Himself to die and then resurrect Himself from the dead. This is Jesus crucified for you. Amen.
