“Himself He Cannot Save”

 Matthew 27:42

Jay Yeager

There are times in the Bible where the enemies of Jesus unwittingly speak a profound truth, even though the meaning may completely escape them. Such was the case at the foot of the cross. “He saved others; himself he cannot save”.

The chief priests were clueless in understanding that Jesus could have saved himself. “Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? (Matthew 26:52-53)?

His death was voluntary in every sense of the word, “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have the power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father” (John 10:17-18).

Yet, that death was so essential to man. For Jesus to save himself, would have resulted in the total loss of humanity. To save others, Jesus could not save himself. The profound words of the Hebrew writer states the matter clearly “For we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste of death for every man” (Hebrews 2:9).

Jesus did not save himself, so that he could be Saviour of the world (John 4:42; I John 4:14), for the blood of Christ would not only go forward from Calvary, but backward to cover the faithful under past dispensations as well (Hebrews 9:15; Romans 3:25).

To bring the matter home for you and I, because Jesus chose not to save himself, we can be saved through him (II Corinthians 5:21), and to make it absolutely clear, we cannot be saved without him! Jesus is the only source of salvation (John 14:6; Acts 4:12).

Will you come to him who died for you?

 By hearing (Romans 10:17)

Believing (Mark 16:15-16)

Repenting of past sins (Luke 13:3)

Confessing Christ before men (Matthew 10:32-33)