Matthew 27:39-42
And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, 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.

Jesus had obeyed His Father His entire life. And now in this moment on the cross, in the midst of the most excruciating, unimaginable physical, emotional, and mental anguish, when any reasonable person would excuse Him for wanting to be delivered from that, He bows His will to the Father in complete trust and obedience. What perfect love displayed for all to see. But then some people come along with something to say. They mock and revile Him, spitting His worthy name as the Son of God and the King of Israel back in His face with hatred.

But to where else could the Son of God go but the cross, the altar of sacrifice? This was His destiny, His purpose, His expected end, and He would not turn aside from it. As the Son of God, He knew there was too much at stake. The souls of men, even these men mocking Him to His face, hung in the balance. A work had begun, a plan was in motion, events were playing out, prophesies were coming to pass. There was no stopping it now, not when it was so close to being completed.

And to where else could the true King of Israel go but to the grave to conquer His people’s greatest enemy? The nation of Israel had rejected God in the past and asked for a king. Down through the centuries, mere men had stood at the helm of this nation instead of God. Men had fought battles instead of God. Men had led the people astray time and time again. But now Jesus had come, and Jesus was King. He would lead His people into battle, but not before He first went Himself into enemy territory and conquered sin and death and hell and Satan all at once.

Everything Jesus did in His life proved He was the Son of God. And it would all be for naught if this final act on the cross was left undone. Bleeding but alive was not enough of a sacrifice. Death was required. Life had to be given.   End His own agony or spare all of humanity the guilt and condemnation of a lifetime of sin? Come down from the cross? He could have. He chose not to. His death more than His life proved He was who He said He was, for He rose again in victory to reign as King of kings and Lord of lords. And now we can rest in His completed work.