July 16 2025

Wednesday July 16

Jesus Died So He Could Save Others

Luke 23:33-39

33 And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. 34 Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." And they divided His garments and cast lots. 35 And the people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, "He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God." 36 The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine, 37 and saying, "If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself." 38 And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 39 Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, "If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us."

Welcome to Pastor's Chat. Today we're looking at Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary 2,000 years ago as we examine Luke 23: 32-37. Some interesting things in this passage of Scripture also show up in the Gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of Mark. Today, I want to take time to look at all three of these passages because it's in these passages that we read this statement repeatedly: "He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God."  (The Luke passage is above.)

Matthew 27:35-44 reads: “Then they crucified Him, and divided His garments, casting lots, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet: "They divided My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots." Sitting down, they kept watch over Him there. And they put up over His head the accusation written against Him: THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. Then two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and another on the left. And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, "You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross." Likewise the chief priests also, mocking with the scribes and elders, said, "He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him. He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, 'I am the Son of God.' " Even the robbers who were crucified with Him reviled Him with the same thing.”

Mark 15:25-32 reads: “Now it was the third hour, and they crucified Him. And the inscription of His accusation was written above: THE KING OF THE JEWS. With Him they also crucified two robbers, one on His right and the other on His left. So the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "And He was numbered with the transgressors." And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, "Aha! You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself, and come down from the cross!" Likewise the chief priests also, mocking among themselves with the scribes, said, "He saved others; Himself He cannot save. Let the Christ, the King of Israel, descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe." Even those who were crucified with Him reviled Him.”

At least three times in the Gospels, the Holy Spirit seems to impress upon us this statement: "He saved others; Himself He cannot save." This is what they mocked Jesus with. My friend, my main point today is that if He had saved Himself, He could not have saved others. He came to seek and to save that which was lost.

Jesus set an example for us as He humbled Himself and was obedient even to the death of the cross. God foreordained in eternity past that He is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. The only way of salvation for mankind was for there to be a perfect lamb substitute, and that Lamb was Jesus.

Peter would write later in 1 Peter 1:18-20: “Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.” 

Yes, my friend, if Jesus had saved Himself that day, and He could have come down from the cross. He could have called legions of angels, but He didn't because He came to save you and me. What a Savior! We should be so thankful that He did not save Himself so that He could save you and me with His death, His blood atonement, His redemption on the cross of Calvary.

This should also teach us that if we seek to save our lives for ourselves then we cannot save others. But when we lose our lives for Christ and the sake of the Gospel we actually find it! (Mark 8:35).

Today are you willing to lose your life, like Christ, and save others?

God bless!