The Unsaved Saviour

Two other men, both criminals,
were also led out with him to be executed.
When they came to the place called the Skull,
there they crucified him, along with the criminals—
one on his right, the other on his left.
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them,
for they do not know what they are doing.”
And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him.
They said, “He saved others;
let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.”
The soldiers also came up and mocked him.
They offered him wine vinegar and said,
“If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”
There was a written notice above him, which read:
THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Luke 23 v 32-38

We have seen throughout the narrative of Jesus’ trial that there is an ironic fulfillment of the words of Jesus’ enemies. And again we see it here. It was normal to have a placard above the condemned man listing his crimes. An inscription is placed over Jesus that says: “The king of the Jews” (Luke 23 v 38). John tells us that the sign was Pilate’s idea (John 19 v 19). Pilate had found Jesus innocent of all charges; so there was nothing to write on His inscription. So Pilate decided to take a little shot at the Jewish leaders. He knew it would drive them nuts to see Jesus proclaimed their king, even in the hour of His death.

The irony, of course, is that we’ve seen all along that this man really is the King of the Jews; and that it is through His cross that He reaches His throne. To all appearances, Jesus is a wretched man being murdered by a conspiracy of envious religious leaders and cruel, cowardly politicians. But far more than that is really going on. On that cross, Jesus is saving His people. It is actually by not saving Himself that Jesus shows himself to be the King, and reveals what kind of King He is. He is not simply being murdered; rather He is choosing to lay down His life in order to drink the cup. As Jesus hangs there in agony and blood, He is taking the punishment for the sins of His people. He is dying so that we might live.

And this is His coronation. In Philippians 2 v 8-10, Paul connects Jesus’ suffering to His regal glory:

And being found in human form, he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Therefore God has highly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father. (ESV)

The words of Jesus’ enemies are turned back on them. “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ,” they sneer (Luke 23 v 35); but in fact, Jesus shows His kingship by not saving Himself.

The rulers’ words would be comical, if they weren’t so tragic. They freely acknowledge that Jesus “saved others”, that He performed miracles and healings, but they still won’t believe in Him. Again, their words are pregnant with unintentional truth. The fact is, there is one person Jesus cannot save. He can either save you, or He can save Himself. He can either die in your place so that you might go free, or He can save Himself and leave you to perish.

And He chose to save you.

This is an edited extract from Mike McKinley's book, Passion: How Christ's Final Day Changes Your Every Day