And those who were passing by were insulting him, shaking their heads.
This verse presents the scene of human indifference and mockery taking place around the cross. The passersby, seeing the One who was crucified, did not show compassion, but cursed Him, shaking their heads as a sign of contempt. That motion—the wagging of the head—symbolized ridicule and rejection (cf. Ps. 21:8). This moment shows the blindness of sin: a person, seeing the Holy One of God, mocks Him because he does not know the truth. Yet their unconscious cursing became the fulfillment of prophecy (Ps. 21:8), confirming that nothing could hinder God’s plan. Before the cross the verdict of the human heart was revealed: rejecting the good and accepting the evil, and thus reaffirming the truth that there is a need for salvation.