Jesus’ disciple Peter was the first to try to tell Jesus what he should do. When Jesus talked about going to Jerusalem to suffer and die, Peter said, “Stop talking like that. Surely God won’t let that happen to you!” (Matthew 16.22) So Peter was the first. But he was not the last.
When Pilate ordered Jesus to be crucified, others tried to tell Jesus what he should do. The people who passed by the cross shook their heads and shouted at him, “If you are God’s Son, save yourself and come down from the cross!” (Mt.27.40)
The chief priests and teachers of the Law made fun of him. “He saved others, but he can’t save himself. If he is the king of Israel, he should come down from the cross! Then we will believe him.” (Mt. 27.42) Even one of the two criminals being crucified with him hurled an insult at Jesus. “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and save us!” (Luke 23.39)
But Jesus didn’t do what “everybody” told him to do. He did what his Heavenly Father sent him to do. He stayed on the cross and died to pay the penalty for sin. All sin. Yours and mine. Then he did something more powerful than coming down from the cross. He came up from the grave, and he lives forever to give forgiveness and eternal life to anyone who will believe and invite him in.
