“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 trusts in God; let Him deliver Him now, if He will have Him: for He said, I am the Son of God” (Matthew 27:42-43).

The Lord Jesus surely suffered on the cross. He suffered physically from the horrific torture that He experienced before the crucifixion as well as from the terrible pain suffered on the cross. He suffered indescribable pain spiritually as He was separated from the Father, bearing our sin and shame. But there’s more. He even suffered emotionally from the ridicule of the religious leaders and the people as they passed by. Crucifixion was a terrible means by which to die. Can you imagine the people who ridiculed the Lord Jesus? Taunting Him, they dared Him to come down from the cross. The only thing that kept Him there was the unbreakable commitment to do the Father’s will to pay the price settled from eternity past. I am so thankful that He didn’t come down from the cross. How about you?

For today: I want to be extra thankful to the Lord Jesus as I think about the severe price He paid for us.