Do not Come Down from the Cross!

Matthew 27: 39-42

"Those who passed by hurled insults at him, 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!' In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. 'He saved others,' they said, 'but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him'…" This was a very humiliating experience for Jesus Christ. For wanting to be like Christ- upright, fearless and blunt, I suffered some humiliation at work sometime last year [2006]; as long as I resolve to be like Christ, the humiliation continues. Jesus was certainly tempted to come down from the cross. He was capable of saving himself and could have called down those 12 legions of angels we know of in Matt. 26:53, to take him away from the cross. In my humiliation I resorted to my own capability and came down from the cross: I used my pen, which could be lethal sometimes, depending on the level at which I am provoked, to fight my battle. But my victory was short-lived! God’s victory on the other hand is TOTAL! Was it really worth Christ giving up his life for so many who were most reluctant to respond? I know how I easily focus on my sacrificial dedication to work and the deliberate lack of appreciation by my work colleagues. Sometimes I am tempted to stop giving my best and I ask if it is really worth it. For Jesus the real temptation could even be: come down from the cross for people to actually believe. We give thanks to God that Jesus did not come down from the cross otherwise there would not be any hope of salvation for us today. In Matt. 26:36-46, our Lord knew what awaited him and spoke openly about it; the event at the Garden of Gethsemane was inevitable. He did not want to die like that. The struggle lasted hours into the night and he was alone in the garden. He gave loud cries and shed tears (Heb.5:7), while his sweat literally turned into blood (Lk.22:44). Christ could not save himself and save others; the cross was therefore the only way. He then submitted to God in the process: "Father, not as I will, but as you will." Jesus loved us and cared deeply for us. He demonstrated compassionate love, saw our need and responded. Christ’s love was unconditional and he responded in spite of the pain, not knowing how we would respond. I am convinced that every day we, disciples, are on the cross and there are endless temptations to come down from the cross, e.g., malice, arrogance, boastfulness, sexual immorality, anger, slander, gossip, hatred, impatience, greed, selfishness, etc. I remember as a young disciple being greatly influenced by Job 31:1. I therefore made a covenant with God asking to be struck dead the day I became sexually immoral. Anytime I come before the congregation, I use the opportunity to renew my vow before many witnesses. You do not kid with Satan! In 1997 or so, I was almost raped by a colleague! My name is JOSEPH! Four years later an advertising agency that incurred the wrath of my employer, the country’s regulatory body for advertising, knew my mind when they chased me everywhere with a TV set (which they called a ‘gift’). My TV set then needed to be changed (it was bought in 1995) and here was one on a platter of gold! But I refused the ‘bribe’ on the three occasions that the organisation brought it- all within two days! And I involved my CEO the third time! Who says Satan sleeps? Between August 2006 and September 2007, I visited the UK thrice in search of a legitimate process of relocating my family to that country. My first attempt was not a success, no thanks to my impatience! So, I have just made another attempt and pray to God that his name be glorified at the end of it all. But I had several ‘offers’ from several friends ranging from 'arranged' wedding to a white Briton, to having documents doctored so as to abuse the British system. Shockingly a couple of these ‘offers’ came from ‘disciples’! As they all screamed, 'come down!' I heard Jesus say "Don’t come down- my grace is sufficient for you!" For us the cross symbolizes victory and we should resist every temptation to come down. Let us show eternal gratitude to Christ by not coming down from the cross in our trying periods. We should not even contemplate coming down at any time! Brothers and sisters, it is so easy to be sucked in by the World- even your fellow brothers and sisters can make you look stupid because you wait on the Lord concerning every aspect of your life- what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world…..? We cannot serve God and…….! You will end up loving one more than the other.

Being a Communion Talk given by Yusuf Danesi at the International Churches of Christ, Lagos: 2007