Mk. 15:30 – Why doesn’t he?

Save yourself, and come down from the cross. – Mk. 15:30

Life can be most perplexing when God doesn't do what we think He should.

Can we identify with the scoffers at the feet of Christ's cross? Do we not read the crucifixion story and ask the same questions of Jesus? Why don’t you just come off the cross and show them who you really are? Certainly you have the power to do so if you're who you say you are.

Why doesn’t God do what we think He should do? That question gets much more real in our everyday circumstances. Why did He let that terrible thing happen? Why isn't He healing? Why must the suffering continue? If we were Him, we'd do something.

Yet, when He doesn't do what we think He should, we're left with a few options. We conclude He wasn't powerful enough, or real enough, or loving enough. Those are understandable yet disorienting conclusions.

The other option is that we admit there is knowledge and understanding we don't possess. Jesus was the only one in Jerusalem who understood why he had to remain crucified, to die for the sins of the world.

Admitting we don't understand is humbling. If it humbles us to the point that all we can do is trust God, we're closer to answering the critical question at hand. And by His grace, we see the empathy He has for us in the moment. The reviling masses knew not what they were doing, yet an understanding Jesus forgave them.

Mediate for a few moments on this mystery: The all-powerful Christ stayed on the cross.