Mark 15:16–32

The easy way out that was followed by Pilate, Herod and a Jewish leadership was again offered to Christ. In verses 29-30 those who passed by Jesus on the cross taunted him. How dark and malignant is someone to verbally torment a man in agony? The priests who came to gloat over their victim pick up the mocking in verse 32.

In the wilderness temptation Satan offers a way to kingship on terms less painful than the will of the Father. In Matthew 16 Peter rebukes the Lord for comments of the coming cross and in that moment is identified with Satan. Again the offer is made: belief and acceptance by the people without the agony of the cross-just come down and everyone will believe.  We can have no doubt the spiritual inspiration for this suggestion.

The problem is that like everything else that Satan offers it is a lie. The miracles Jesus performed had not produced faith in unbelievers. The coming resurrection would not produce faith; but rather, efforts to hide the truth. The problem that we all with a human nature have is not an intellectual problem, but a problem of the stubborn will. A man does not believe because he sees, he sees because he believes.

We must beware when we see the shortcut, the easy path, and a way of discipleship that does not teach us the cross. No matter how clearly we may see that road if it is not the way of the cross it is a satanic counterfeit.