Come down from the cross,
if you are the Son of God!
—Matthew 27:40
“Those who passed by hurled insults at [Jesus], 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!’” (Mt 27:39–40).
These gross gawkers had rushed to view the grisly execution. They abusively howled: If you are the Son of God, prove it by coming down from the cross.
He could have. In a heartbeat, he could have come down and with a point of his finger pulverized the malicious mob. But he didn’t. With silent resistance, he rejected their challenge.
For their sake—and ours—he stayed on the cross.
It cost God nothing to create the world,
but it cost the crucifixion of his son to save sinners.