“The Ironies of the Cross: The Man Who Is Utterly Powerless Is Powerful” ~D.A. Carson

Matthew 27:32-40

“…Yet here was Jesus, glibly talking about destroying & building a temple in three days…What kind of supernatural power would that take? Yet here Jesus hangs, utterly powerless, on a Roman cross. The sting of mockery turns on this bitter contrast between Jesus’ claims to power & his current transparent powerlessness. Once again, the mockers think they are indulging in fine irony. Jesus claimed so much power, so very much power; now witness his powerlessness…
But the apostles know, & the readers of the Gospels know, & God knows, that Jesus’ demonstration of power is displayed precisely in the weakness of the cross…
Under the terms of the old covenant, the temple was the great meeting place between a holy God & His sinful people. This was the place of sacrifice, the place of atonement for sin. But this side of the cross, where Jesus by His sacrifice pays for our sin, Jesus Himself becomes the great meeting place between a holy God & His sinful people; thus He becomes the temple, the meeting place between God and His people… It is in Jesus’ death, in His destruction, & in His resurrection three days later, that Jesus meets our needs & reconciles us to God, becoming the temple, the supreme meeting place between God & sinners…
Here is the glory, the paradox, the irony; here, once again, there are two levels of irony. The mockers think they are witty & funny as they mock Jesus’ pretensions & laugh at his utter weakness after he claimed he could destroy the temple & raise it in three days. But the apostles know, & the readers know, & God knows, that there is a deeper irony: it is precisely by staying on the cross in abject powerlessness that Jesus establishes Himself as the temple & comes to the resurrection in fullness of power. They only way Jesus will save Himself, & save His people, is by hanging on that wretched cross, in utter powerlessness. The words the mockers use to hurl insults & condescending sneers actually describe what is bringing about the salvation of the Lord. The man who is utterly powerless – is powerful.”

D.A. Carson, Scandalous: The Cross and Resurrection of Jesus

http://www.christianity.com/home/christian%20living%20features/11628400/page1/

http://theresurgence.com/a-day-with-dr-don-session-5-video

taken aside from the multitude - Robert Murray M’Cheyne

“When Christ begins a work of grace in a soul He takes that soul aside from the multitude. As long as a man is in the midst of a merry crew of wicked companions he cannot hear the still small voice of Jesus. The jarring strife of the political discussion or the giddy laugh of wanton revelry often drowns altogether the Word of Jesus, so that when He visits a soul in mercy He draws it aside from the multitude. By some sickness He brings the soul into the loneliness & gloom of a sick room. Or He brings in the hand of death, & the bereaved soul sits alone & in silence. Lover & friend are put far from him & his acquaintance into darkness.
This world is like a busy auction room, crowded in every part. One thing after another is put up for sale, every eye is fixed. One bids, & then another bids higher, all is noise & bustle & confusion. If you would talk to a man you must take him out of the sale room. You say, ‘Come aside with me. I have somewhat to say to thee.’ Just so does Jesus. Unconverted souls are plagued in the busy bustling sale-room of the world. All eyes are fixed on worldly goods, all voices raised to bid for them.
But Jesus draws some men aside & says, ‘Come aside with Me. I have somewhat to say unto thee.’ Christ has done this with some of you. You have been drawn aside, some of you have been brought into the loneliness of the sick room, some into the chamber of death. You have been alone with Christ. Now I have a question to ask you: What has Christ said to you in your loneliness? And what have you said to Him?”

Robert Murray M’Cheyne, Be Opened!

"Lay hold on eternal life" - Charles H. Spurgeon

“Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called…” - 1 Timothy 6:12

“According to the text, you have to “Fight the good fight of faith.” Every now and then you will get an ugly knock, a bruise, a bleeding wound from your enemy. What are you to do? Always lay hold on eternal life again, and it will strengthen you, stanch your wounds, and make you once more strong in the day of battle. I would have you think much of this.

If you believe in Christ, there is a life within you, like the life of God, which will never die; a life within you which will bring you to stand before the glorious throne of Christ, “without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing.” Do not, therefore, ever give up hope. Do not be staggered by what you may have to suffer here. In the midst of all the agony of the way, stay your heart upon God, and upon the gift He hath given you. “Lay hold on eternal life.” If between here and heaven you could be burned as a martyr every day, it would be worth your while to bear it, laying hold on eternal life.

If between here and heaven you had nothing to bear but the cruelty of men, and the unkindness of the enemies of Christ, you should bear it right manfully, and even joyfully, because you can say, “I know in myself that I have in heaven a better and an enduring substance." Even here I have a life which the world did not give me, and cannot take from me; therefore I hold to it still, and I comfort myself with this sweet thought, that it is mine, the gift of God to me. It bears me up amid seas of grief. ‘My flesh and my heart fails, but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever’ (Psalm 73:26)”

- Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Lay hold on eternal life

http://www.spurgeongems.org/vols37-39/chs2226.pdf