Why Jesus did not come down from the cross …and why we can’t either. In the view of some, if Jesus was the King of Israel and the Son of God, He should have been able to come down from the cross. But these aspects of His identity were the reason He sacrificed Himself. As children of God and members of the royal family, Christians are following the noblest of examples when we sacrifice our lives for Him. Matthew 27:34-43
“If you are the Son of God come down from the cross” Jesus was truly the Son of God (John 3:16;1:34; Matthew 14:33; 15:16) He was dared to do things that a true Son of God would not do! (Matthew 4:3, 6; 1 John 4:10)
“If you are the King of Israel…come down” Jesus was the King of the Jews (Luke 1:30-35; Matthew 2:2; 27:11; John 1:49; 12:13) He was dared to do things that the true King of Israel would not do! (John 6:15; Luke 24:46; Acts 3:18)
Can members of God’s royal family “come down from the cross?” Christians are God’s children and royal family (Galatians 3:26; 1 Peter 2:9) These identities come with expectations (2 Corinthians 6:17-18; 1 Peter 2:9-12) We cannot come down from the cross and retain our identities (Hebrews 12:2; Gal. 2:20; 5:24; 6:14)