What If Jesus Had
Come Down From The Cross
SCRIPTURE: "And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross." Matthew 27:40 KJV
THE MESSAGE BIBLE: 35-40 "After they had finished nailing him to the cross and were waiting for him to die, they whiled away the time by throwing dice for his clothes. Above his head they had posted the criminal charge against him: this is jesus, the king of the jews. Along with him, they also crucified two criminals, one to his right, the other to his left. People passing along the road jeered, shaking their heads in mock lament: "You bragged that you could tear down the Temple and then rebuild it in three days—so show us your stuff! Save yourself! If you're really God's Son, come down from that cross!"
Introduction
Have you ever played what if? "What if" is a mental game that people play in their minds in which they consider possible outcomes. Those who plan long range activities usually consider "what if" scenarios. These are the times in which plans are made in anticipation of certain actions by others. Emergency planners practice "what if" scenarios. Military organizations and police units often practice "what if" situations. In this way they are constantly ready to take action because nearly every possible situation that can occur has been anticipated and an appropriate response has been planned. "What if" is also a consideration of those who look back after the fact. Sometimes those who attend reunions see their old girl friends or boy friends from high school and they play the "what if" game. That's especially true if the person has become successful at what they do or has turned out to be everything you thought they couldn't be or if they turned out looking better than they did when they were younger .
Often "what if's" have a tendency to lead us full circle. When that happens, we are led to consider how a change in events could have affected our personal lives.
From a spiritual context, every Believer has to ask themselves, what if Jesus had come down from the cross?
Even though it sounds staggering can you imagine what might have happened if Jesus had actually done as he was asked by his critics and come down from the cross?
As Believers, we rejoice in knowing that by Christ staying on the Cross He as the 2nd Adam gave us a second chance.
1 Corinthians 15:45 Amplified Bible say's," Thus it is written, The first man Adam became a living being (an individual personality); the last Adam (Christ) became a life-giving Spirit [restoring the dead to life].
Jesus came to give us a chance to the tree of life!
Exposition
As we look at our text it focuses on the Christ at his crucifixion, as his critics urged him to come down from the cross. Jesus paid them no mind because He was fulfilling the Fathers will by staying there.
During His entire ministry Jesus was constantly bombarded by those who urged him to do things to prove himself to them. Regardless to what he did, most of them still did not believe him. Even some of those who were with him constantly found it difficult to believe what they were seeing and hearing , as he hung on the cross with nails in his hands and feet, his critics continued their attempt to assassinate His character and ministry. His words and claims were misrepresented and his ministry was questioned repeatedly.
His critics challenged him to come down from the cross and prove that he was the Son of God after all they said to Jesus "show us your stuff,save yourself! If your really God's Son, come down from that Cross!" This was just another instance where people wanted to see a spectacle, but still would not have believed even if he had come down. They probably would have accused the soldiers of sloppy work by failing to secure him to the cross completely. There was nothing for Jesus to prove by coming down from the cross. Those who would see him would not be convinced anyway. Besides there was much to be lost if he came down, too much to risk for the mere self satisfaction of showing off for those who criticized him.
The people at the cross wanted him to come down for their amusement.
This wouldn't be the first time Jesus would be challenged to come down there were other instances in His life where he met pressure to come down.
One instance was when he began his ministry, Satan wanted him to stoop down to his level.
In the wilderness for 40 days and nights, Satan came to Jesus with the offers of food, fame and fortune (i.e through these 3 areas: the Lust of the Flesh, the Lust of the Eye and the Pleasures or Pride of life) if he would simply stoop down and acknowledge him. The chance to have food after a 40 day fast was tempting, but it would have required him to stoop down to the level of using his mission to satisfy his own needs and drives. The opportunity to have earthly fame and fortune was also given to him, but even that would have required him to stoop down to the level of pandering to the public to achieve his end. The possession of power, resources and influence was certainly admirable, but as Satan presented them, it would have required that Jesus stoop down and use his influence in a cheap and mercenary way that would have made him a subject of Satan rather than the Son of God.
Another instance is when He was often criticized because he refused to look down on people.
Throughout his ministry Jesus was criticized for his close association with the poor, needy and socially rejected of his time. He was constantly seen with women of ill repute, associating with Samaritans, and eating at the homes of publicans and sinners. Although he was called upon to shun such types, he refused to look down on them. He reminded any who dared to frown on his actions that it was only those who were sick that needed a doctor, not those who were well.
He was also criticized because He would not back down from His stance.
Often he confronted the scribes and pharisees, challenging them to equal the displays of piety with inner purity. On one occasion he even had to get a rope and run money changers out of the temple. When he was surrounded by his critics on every hand, even then he would not back down from his beliefs.
Since in the course of his ministry, Jesus would not stoop down, look down or back down, those who ridiculed him while he was on the cross should have known that he would not come down from the cross.
Those who were critical of him were not the least bit interested in his mission. They were interested only in his defeat. They saw the nails, the blood and his agony on the cross as the perfect time for them to promote themselves in the wake of his demise.
The plan of salvation had been laid out from the beginning before time began in the counsels of the eternal Godhead, between the Father,Son,and Holy Spirit by way of the Eternal Covenant which was made before the creation of man and the entrance of sin into the human race.This covenant was not made between God and man, though it involved man. It is a covenant between the persons of the eternal Godhead. When God the Father asked the Word to Redeem man after coming to the conclusion that the blood of bulls and of goats would not take away man's sin. Jesus responded, Prepare me a body. Lo I come to do thy will (Hebrews 10:4-7). So Jesus agreed to it and had resisted every attempt by Satan to get him to stoop, bend or back off his pledge. If he had come down, then his coming to the Earth would have been futile and our chance for salvation would have been lost.
If he had come down from the cross every person living today would not have a chance to eternal life because John 3:16 reminds us that, "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life." His death on the cross made our salvation possible because his death atoned for our sins.
If He Had Come Down
All the teachings, the miracles performed, the love displayed would be lost. If he had called on the angels to pull out the nails and save Him from the Cross,would the all world be condemned to hell? All of the Old Testament prophecies concerning His coming would not have been fulfilled, the hope that Israel looked for would have only turned out to be hopeless, the Virgin Birth would have been vain, the tears that where cried in the Garden of Gethsemene,would have all become a terrible lie.No sins could be forgiven, there would be no peace in our hearts, no supernatural healings, no prayers answered, no new life as a born again believer. Hatred, greed, and selfishness would rule all the more,we would have no one to turn to for comfort or love,for these can’t exist without God from above. If he had prayed only “let this cup pass from me”and followed man’s will, not God’s, where would we be? But Jesus did not come down from that cross.
Look at your neighbor and say, "He Didn't Come Down, He Stayed Up!"
Finally we must consider that Jesus' critics wanted him to give them one last sign that he was the Son of God. They felt that if he could defy death by escaping the torture of the cross that it would be a sufficient sign that he was truly of divine origins.
Coming down from the cross would not be sufficient. Because Jesus would not come down from the cross there were those present who felt he "could not" come down.
He would not come down from the cross because the real sign would not be his getting down but in his rising up!
In that same context, this is the true beauty of the Christians relationship with God. It is not that we will not have a cross to bear but that we will have a final triumph over that cross.
Our testimony is not that we are able to escape life's problems and difficulties, but that though we are knocked down and trampled upon by life's circumstance, we will rise again!
That's the meaning of Romans 6:4 "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in the newness of life."
We are crucified with him, but we are raised daily by the glory of the father to walk in the newness of life!
We serve a God who is able to take the pain and agony of the heavy cross we bear and turn it into glorification
We serve a God who is able to take our:
HARD TIMES and turn them into good times; MISERIES and turn them into triumphs!
FAILURES and turn them into successes; WEAKNESSES and turn them into strengths!
STUMBLING BLOCKS and turn them into stepping stones; FEARS and turn them into confidence!
As Jesus hung on the cross they talked about him and challenged him to come down!
He couldn't come down from that cross because he had already decided to die just to save you and I!
Even though they were laughing when they drove the nails in his hands the words of the song writer must have been in his mind, "Go ahead, drive the nails in my hand. Laugh at me if you please..but I'll rise again. Ain't no power on earth can keep me down!"
So in my conclusion the question "What If Jesus Had Come Down?" becomes "What Held Jesus To The Cross?"
The Bible definitely tells us what held Jesus to the cross. It was not simply the nails, though He was nailed to the cross. The Son of God, with power to raise the dead, heal the sick, make the blind to see, still the storm-tossed sea, surely had power to step down from a cross, even though He was nailed to it.
It was not human weakness which bound Him to the cross, for He said regarding His life, "No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down; I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father." John 10 :18.
It was not because He was friendless that He stayed on the cross. In the garden of Gethsemane, when Peter drew his sword and began to battle in defense of the Master, Jesus said, "Thinkest thou not that I cannot now say to my Father, and He shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?" The twelve legions of angels were still available when Jesus was on the cross.
What then is the answer to the question, What held Jesus to the cross? Here is the answer.
What Held Jesus To The Cross?
I. LOVE .......HELD HIM TO THE CROSS.
Jesus said nothing and did nothing when the scoffers passed by reviling Him and wagging their heads. They called to mind a statement that He had made regarding His death and resurrection. He had said that if they destroyed the temple, He would raise it up in three days, He was speaking of Himself, but they thought He spoke of the temple in Jerusalem; therefore, they said, "Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross."
The chief priests, the scribes, and the elders also came by and said, "He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him."
Surely these taunting statements were enough to try the soul, even of the Son of God. He did not come down from the cross, for His love for a lost mankind held Him to the cross.
Many verses declare this great truth unto us. Jesus said, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Paul tells us in Galatians 2:20 that the Son of God loved us, and gave Himself for us. John tells us in I John 3:16, "Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren."
There are three things I would like to say about the love of Christ.
First, His love was unusual. It is an ordinary, everyday thing for us to love those who love us, but Jesus loved those who hated Him. "But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8.
Jesus loved His enemies, and even on the cross, He said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." The love of Christ was unusual, and this is the love that He beseeches us to have for our fellowman.
Secondly, His love was unending. "Now, before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end."
Thirdly, His love was unselfish. Man had nothing to give to Jesus that He did not have already. All things belong to Him. The silver and the gold, the cattle upon a thousand hills, and yet, the Saviour died in our behalf.
When Jesus died on the cross, bound by divine love for lost mankind, His love was unselfish.
What Held Jesus To The Cross?
II. HIS SUBMISSION TO GOD’S WILL HELD HIM TO THE CROSS.
The bitter, angry mob, especially the religious leaders told Him to come down from the cross if He were the Son of God. One of the malefactors railed on Him, saying, "If thou be Christ, save thyself and us."
In the common parlance of today, they were saying, "If you are not a liar and a hypocrite, come down from the cross. If you are such a big person, if you are what you claim to be, then show us by coming down from the cross." But Jesus could not come down, for His submission to God’s will bound Him to the rugged cross.
Jesus said, "Lo, I come to do thy will." It was the will of God that He should die for sinful mankind. It was the will of God that He should enter into the holy of holies, and there make one sacrifice for sin forever. It was the Father’s will that He should pour out His blood upon Calvary’s hill. Jesus was submissive to the will of God.
What Held Jesus To The Cross?
III. OUR SINS HELD HIM TO THE CROSS.
The trail of sin from the Garden of Eden to the present time is a bloody and tragic one.
Sin separates men from God, just as it drove the Adam and Eve from the garden.
Sin brings shame. Adam and Eve sought to hide from God. Sinners are still ashamed, and try to hide their sins - therefore, men love darkness rather than light.
Sin brings sorrow. See it for yourself. The life of sin will end in sorrow. The home of sin will end in sorrow.
Sin brings suffering. All of the world’s suffering came about because of sin. Mental anguish, physical suffering, all come from sin.
But the crowning act of sin’s dastardly career came in the death of Christ. But let us not stand back and say, "Shame on you, sin, for crucifying the Saviour." For let us remember it was our sins which nailed Him and held Him to the cross."
Isaiah 53 :5,6 say's,
"But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed".
"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way: and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all."
[1] He bore our sins to satisfy the demand of Justice.God’s law says, "The soul that sinneth it shall die." "The wages of sin is death." Because of our sins, we deserve the penalty of death and Hell, but Christ came and died in our place He was our Substitute. He satisfied the law of God. God accepted His death as payment for our sins.
"He gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Who his own self bore our sins in his own body on the tree that we being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness, by whose stripes ye were healed."
[2] He took our sins that He might bear them away from us. John announced the ministry of Jesus by saying, "Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world." Just as the priest in Leviticus could lay his hands upon the head of a live goat and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions, and send him away into the wilderness, so did Jesus bear our sins that He might bear them away from us.
The picture is also given in the Passover scene of the Lamb slain, and the blood put upon the door posts. Jesus is our sacrificial Lamb. His blood covers our sins, and releases us from the penalty of hell. John writes, "And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sin, and in him is no sin." I John 3 :5.
[3] He bore our sins in His own body on the tree that He might bring us unto God. The redemptive work of Jesus is to take out of this world a people for His name. The whole world will not be saved, but some will be saved, and with them God is going to abide forever.
Yes, your sins and mine bound Him to the cross. Christ was fully conscious that only His death could satisfy the law of God, bear away our sins, and bring us unto the Heavenly Father. Therefore, though men scoffed at Him and accused Him of lying and hypocrisy, He stayed on the cross, bound by our sins, to the tree.
There is but one way open to the reasonable minded person who realizes that his sins nailed Jesus to the cross, and that is to receive Jesus as Saviour. He died that you might live. You cannot live without Him.
Come to Jesus today and live. Let Him plunge all your sins in the fountain filled with blood. Let Him write your name upon the Lamb’s book of life. Let Him keep you in the hollow of His hand. Receive Him as Saviour, and know the blessedness of salvation.
"Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."
You have got to have this attitude that ‘I’ll go to Jesus, though my sin, like mountains round me close, I know His courts, I’ll enter in, whatever may oppose;
Prostrate I’ll lie before His throne, and there my guilt confess, I’ll tell Him I’m a wretch undone, without His sovereign grace.
I can but perish if I go — I am resolved to try, For if I stay away, I know I must forever die."
God I thank you....... that Jesus did not come down from the cross.
God I thank you........ that Jesus died on Calvary!
God I thank you that He got up from the grave with all power!
All power in his hands!
Help Me Holy Ghost!
Even So Come Lord Jesus!
4/7/2012
Bishop Charles C Jones
