Matthew 27:37-40 37And they put over his head the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” 38Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left. 39And those who passed by slandered him, shaking their heads 40and saying, “The one who destroys the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself, if you are the Son of God, and come down from the cross.”
Not only did Jesus experience physical abuse but also mental abuse. These verses recount how in four ways his enemies mocked and insulted him. Their actions were a fulfillment of Isaiah 53. The first way mentioned is the charge against Jesus posted above his head for all to see. People could look at the sign that read, “King of the Jews,” and laugh because what king would hang on a Roman cross?
Having a sign above his head assumes that the cross extended high enough for this to happen. The figure of the traditional cross would allow for this. John 19:19-20 records that the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin, and Greek, which would be understandable to most of the pilgrims during the Passover feast. Jesus was not the kind of king they were expecting. He did not come with power to overthrow the Romans but to transform their hearts.
The second mockery comes from the sign as people walked by and saw it. The only description of these people is what they say, which tells a lot about them. The word slandered (eblasphēmoun) shares the root with “blaspheme.” With their ridicule, these people were denying what the sign claimed. They rejected Jesus’ kingship. They physically showed this by shaking their heads, a sign of disgust. This was feast time, a time to be with family and friends, not a time to be out watching someone die. Their hearts were just as black as the Jewish leaders mentioned in verse 41.
Their ridicule indicates that they understood the situation but rejected what Jesus offered. They were caught up in the temple, just like the Jews in Jeremiah’s day. These people knew the core issue, that Jesus was the Son of God, but they would not come to the point of faith. They may have even seen or at least heard of his miraculous power, and so they, like others during Jesus’ ministry, want him to show that power according to their terms. If he raised the dead, healed the sick, and cast out demons, surely he could save himself from a Roman cross. Even if he did, these people would not accept him. They would find some other condition for their faith.
People want proof about Jesus according to their terms. But we must come to Jesus on his terms. He does not come down from the cross because he loves us and provides reconciliation and redemption through his sacrificial death. He invites us to join him on the cross so that we can experience the fullness of this salvation.
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