A Notice Prepared And Fastened To The Cross

John 19:19 Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: jesus of nazareth, the king of the jews. Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, "Do not write 'The King of the Jews,' but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews."

            Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews is a bold statement. Not everyone in Jerusalem wanted to hear those words, let alone read the words from the sign on the cross. And Pilate was really trying to make a point when he ordered the notice to be written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek.  Pilate was trying to drive home the point that, as we learned from our earlier reading, Jesus was innocent of any wrongdoing. And yet the chief priests wanted Him crucified because He threatened their very existence.  The truths and teachings of Jesus called into question the teachings of the chief priests.  They had gone so far astray from God’s will, and he was calling them on the carpet for their wanderings.  They did not like to have that simple truth thrown up in their face. 

Interestingly enough our society today holds the same opinion.  When you hold Jesus up in front of them they do not like what they see.  The premise that God is in charge and not us is something many do not want to hear.  Many chose to believe there is no God and Creator of the universe.  Many chose to worship a god that is a god of hate who requires the sacrifice of their lives in killing innocents. This god tells you to kill unbelievers to save them.  Many chose to worship a god who exists in the form of animals or man-made objects.  Still others chose to worship a god of the flavor of the month. This is a god who conforms to man-chosen standards. This god would be as constantly shifting as the sands of the desert.  It’s a god of convenience.  Yet, when we Christians show the world the one true God, Father-Son-Holy Spirit, they are uncomfortable.  For this God, the God who created the universe, does not fit their flawed view of the divine being. How could a God give His only Son to die on a cross to save the world?  How could a God let grace flow like the rivers during a spring flood?  And how could a God not require some supreme sacrifice to eliminate unbelievers?  The God we know is foreign to so many out there in our world.  Yet the sign on the cross says it all. I did a little research and this is what the sign probably looked like

That looks like a good sign to share.  The sign says it all. Jesus of Nazareth is King of the Jews. He is our Lord and our God. Share the sign and the news with others.

Prayer. Lord, Thank You for Your sign. Thank You for being our King, Amen.