One wonders why, if Jesus Christ had been God, or the Second Person of the Trinity, or at least a big miracle worker, why he didn't simply jump off that cross.

It would have been such a spectacular miracle. Especially with him saying something like "I was just teasing you people by letting myself get crucified. Those nails were nothing but a pinprick, and I can't wait until I see the looks on the faces of the authorities."

As I read it, Jesus was supposed to die for the sins of mankind. If he had simply jumped down from the cross, he wouldn't have been able to die for sinners, so would not have fulfilled his purpose in coming down to earth.

Had he come off the cross in the manner you suggest, it would have been a seven-day wonder and he certainly would not be remembered to the same degree that he is today.

But what a spectacular miracle it would have been.

Which makes one wonder why there aren't any really big miracles, such as a giant cross made out of pure diamond. Or Jesus Christ teleporting himself to city after city and working *big* miracles. Imagine him impressing the rulers of the Roman Empire, of India, of China, and perhaps even of Central America. While fluently speaking whatever the local language is of each city he visits

Or, as I've maintained, a kickass miracle would be resurrecting yourself and then sticking around! I mean, if you fly off to heaven after a few days, you might as well ahve stayed dead.

Picture it: a 50-foot tall Jesus walking the Earth for the last 2000 years, solving problems, rescuing people from volcanoes, lifting kitties out of trees. That's a deity I can deal with.

Grumpy, you seem to have been playing lots of Black and White

But I agree that that would certainly be very convincing.

Actually, the Black & White guys seem to have stolen that idea from me.