32 Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down nowfrom the cross, that we may see and believe." Those cru-cified with him also heaped insults on him.
lcome down from the cross so we can see it and - P105
29 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shak-ing their heads and saying "So! You who are going todestroy the temple and build it in three days, 30 comedown from the cross and save yourself!" - P105
What might have happened had Jesus chosen to respond to His detrac-tors and come down from His cross? Would they have actually believedin Him as they claimed they would? The truth is that believing is notalways the result of seeing, especially in a person with a rebellious/atti-tude - P106
Hardened hearts cannot believe because they are determined tobe in rebellion against God. - P106
It is only as we respond to the promptingof God‘s Spirit that the eyes of our hearts are opened to see the ways andwill of God. His ways are often so contrary to the ways of our worldthat they are impossible to see apart from the Spirit‘s revelation. - P106
He did it so that they and all the rest of humanitywould have the chance to be saved from the wages of sin and to bereconciled to their Creator.
What they witnessed that day was an act of the greatest love, mercy,
and grace that could be shown toward them and toward us all, and Ihope that some of them later came to know that truth. - P107
I hope that allwho believe in Jesus come to deepen their understanding of the loveshown in Jesus‘ life, death, and resurrection. For in His death, He hasgiven us the beautiful gift of renewed life. - P107
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