Scripture
”He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! So he is the King of Israel, is he? Let him come down from the cross right now, and we will believe in him!” Matthew 27:42 NLT
Observation
The religious people had everything wrong about the Messiah.
They thought he would come as a political ruler, as a king and to set the captives free from the Roman empire.
But Jesus came as a commoner, walking among “sinners”, bringing spiritual freedom, not from outsiders rulers, but from their own religion oppression.
He had compassion, he healed, he preached the good news about the kingdom of God.
He came to save us, not from this world, but from our own sins, that would bring us judgement and God’s wrath in the future.
The people did not understand that and even at the cross, they thought “how could this weak, almost dead person be the so awaited Messiah that we would put our faith on?”
One thing that called my attention was their request for a sign so they would believe: “if he can come down now, we will believe”, yet, many signs and wonders were given to them before the crucifixion.
Application
Sometimes we call for a sign, in order to step in faith, or to follow what Jesus already put into our hearts.
“God, if you do this, I will obey”.
But our obedience should not come from signs, but through faith.
Miracles happen, not because of a condition we stablished to God, or using bargain as a currency, but because of our faith.
Truly speaking, if we cannot follow Jesus just because we believe in Him, even if he gives us signs, our hearts would be hard like rocks, as the religious people at that time, and instead, we would follow whatever our own desires and thoughts points us.
Believe should not come because we see things now, but because we can see things that has not happened yet.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for the faith you give us in believing in You, Your Words and Your promises. Help me to keep living a life of walking in faith, learning each day how to trust in You alone. In Jesus’ name, I pray.
