Skip to main content

299. The Sign Over the Cross

Key Verse: Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews."
John 19:19

Here Pilate gets the last laugh. Was the sign written in mockery? Perhaps. We do know that Pilate was moved by his interactions with Jesus throughout the night. We also know that Pilate was angry at the Jewish leadership for forcing his hand. Pilate knew what Jesus had said about Himself and he knew that the leadership was being spiteful. We know that Pilate showed himself to be weak throughout the proceedings. Like many weak people do, this sign may have been Pilate's way of being passively aggressive toward the Jewish people.

The sign itself was not unique. All three crosses would have had a sign over them announcing the crime being punished. This would have been done to serve as a warning to anyone else who was contemplating doing the same crime, or something similar. It was meant to make the passer-bye think twice before robbing, murdering, leading an insurrection and so forth. It was the Romans way of announcing, "Don't let this happen to you!"

John tells us that the sign was written in Aramaic, Greek and Latin. This tells us two things. Jesus was crucified in a multi-cultural area and He was crucified in plain sight of some main thoroughfare because it must have been expected that many people would see it.

Those in leadership are beside themselves concerning what the sign actually says. "Do not write, “The King of The Jews," but that this man claimed to be King of the Jews." (John 19:21) There it was, in black and white, so to speak, and the leadership didn't like it. It's not clear if they felt foolish at such an accusation or if, maybe, in the back of their minds, they thought that Pilate may have been giving credence to Jesus’ claim. At any rate, they didn't like it, for if he really was their king they were guilty of treason!

Yet, Pilate finally puts his foot down. "What I have written, I have written." (John 19:22) Case closed. The leadership dared not push him any further on this point. After all, they had achieved their goal.

In truth, Pilate, the seeker of truth, had written the truth, though he probably didn't know it. Some would never acknowledge it, to their peril, "but whoever believes in Him is not condemned, whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's One and only Son." (John 3:18) The truth was in front of them, but like so many, they would not believe.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

211. The Sons of Thunder's Request

Matthew 20:20-28 , Mark 10:35-45 , Key verse: "Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all." Mark 10:43B-44 In our readings for yesterday, in which Jesus outlined what was about to happen to Him, for His disciples, the passage in Luke ends: "The disciples did not understand any of this. It's meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what He was talking about." ( Luke 18:34 ) Now, we see just how truly clueless they were. Jesus had laid out a plan before them of pain and suffering and death and now James and John are focused on a promotion. The disconnect is so obvious. It's really not important to know whether James and john came up with this request on their own or if their mother put them up to it. The request was made and James and John thought that they could handle the responsibility that would come with it. What is that saying, "Fools rush in where angels fe...

174. Pleading for the Fig Tree

Proverbs 27:18 , Luke 13:6-9 Key Verse: He who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who looks after his master will be honored. Proverbs 27:18 We have here three main characters: a master, who acquired the tree in hopes of eventually enjoying its fruit, a servant, who looks to the tree to reflect his care and attention, and lastly, the tree itself. The master has the right to expect his investment to pay off. The servant, who has obviously put much effort into the tree, would also like to see fruit. The servant's interest is not only to show his own talent in gardening, but because he wants to please his master. Both the servant and the master are dependent upon the tree to do what it was designed to do. Their little parable is an interesting way for Jesus to finish off His exhortation to, "repent or perish."  God is the Master. He had a purpose for you before you were even born. ( Jeremiah 1:5 & Psalm 139:16 ) He planted you on this earth to ful...

204. Come Like a Child

Psalm 127 , Matthew 19:13-15 , Luke 18:15-17 , Mark 10:13-16 Key Verse: Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14 The attitude of the disciples isn't much different than the attitude of many people, even Christians, today. Instead of seeing children as a blessing from the Lord, too many regard them as a burden to bear that gets in the way of our own selfish happiness. Family size is determined by what we think we can afford rather than openness to God's blessing, trusting God to provide. Satan hates children. Children represent innocence. The sooner he can corrupt and or damage a child, the happier he is. This is why Jesus warned in Matthew 18:6: "If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drown in the depths of the sea." To corrupt or damage ...