In The Moment

Scripture(s): Matthew 27:39-44

And those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads and saying, "You who {are going to} destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross." In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking {Him} and saying, "He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him. "HE TRUSTS IN GOD; LET GOD RESCUE {Him} now, IF HE DELIGHTS IN HIM; for He said, 'I am the Son of God.' "The robbers who had been crucified with Him were also insulting Him with the same words.

Commentary: 
During the crucifixion, Jesus experienced the worst treatment from those that previously followed him, as well as those that condemned Him from the beginning. They mocked him, and humiliated him. They said all manner of words against Him, and who He was. The accusations that were used against Him, were used to make him give up the purpose in which He had come to earth.

Therefore, it was not an option for Him to abort His mission, no matter what others said to Him. If He would have listened to the voices of man, and stepped down from the cross, or called a legion of angels; the purpose in which He came to redeem mankind back to God would have been of no effect. Therefore, His final moments show us how much He really loved us, even unto death by crucifixion.

Reflection:
There will be times that people in our lives will not be able to see the full picture of what God is doing in our lives. They will only be able to see the outer appearance of things, and not understand the full scope of what our purpose in life is. We can try to explain it to them, as Jesus kept explaining the purpose of His life to the disciples. However, the disciples did not understand His purpose in the moment. Just like people in our lives will not always understand our purpose. They will not understand the countless hours of sacrifice, and the self-denial that it takes for us to forge foward in our purpose. They will not understand the shear commitment, and the disicipline that it takes for us to keep on the right course. But we must be encouraged to not come down from the cross, and hold to the purpose in which He has given us. Yes, sometimes it gets lonely, but the final moments of how we live our lives, will prove to be a fruitful investment for the glory of God.

Strong's Concordance Definition:

Mocking: 1702
1) to play with, trifle with
a) to mock
b) to delude, deceive


Down: 2597
1) to go down, come down, descend

a) the place from which one has come down from
b) to come down
1) as from the temple at Jerusalem, from the city of Jerusalem
2) of celestial beings coming down to earth
c) to be cast down
2) of things
a) to come (i.e. be sent) down
b) to come (i.e. fall) down
1) from the upper regions of the air
3) metaph. to (go i.e.) be cast down to the lowest state of wretchedness and shame

Believe: 4100
1) to think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in

a) of the thing believed
1) to credit, have confidence
b) in a moral or religious reference
1) used in the NT of the conviction and trust to which a man is impelled by a certain inner and higher prerogative and law of soul
2) to trust in Jesus or God as able to aid either in obtaining or in doing something: saving faith
3) mere acknowledgment of some fact or event: intellectual faith
2) to entrust a thing to one, i.e. his fidelity
a) to be intrusted with a thing

References:
Blue Letter Bible. "Gospel of Matthew 27 - (NASB - New American Standard Bible)." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2010. 15 Feb 2010. http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Mat&c=27&t=NASB

Higgins, S. (2010). In The Moment. Devotions for Thought. Higgins Publishing. Http://www.devotionsforthought.blogspot.com, Http://www.higginspublishing.com