The Sign Of The Cross Series

WELCOME & INTRODUCTION

WARNING LABELS

We live in a world that unfortunately has an abundance of people who do things they shouldn’t. That goes for using products incorrectly—by that I mean not for their intended purpose. Also, people have been known to have accidents and rather than improve the situation or product, manufacturers and property owners put a warning label on these things so they can protect themselves from lawsuits just in case.

Some things in life should go without saying, but it seems there’s always somebody who needs to be told not to step into an empty elevator shaft.

SIGN IMAGES

1. This is a Stop Sign

2. Chainsaw

3. (Is this is New York?) No Horn Blowing

4. Back Door

5. Bottomless Pit (redefine that word)

6. Elevator (time to take the stairs)

7. Do not sit here

8. Keep Out—Church (we would never have a sign like this here)

The people during the time of Jesus’ crucifixion also wrote a sign and there were some people who didn’t like what it said while others saw it as a necessary statement about the man hanging on that cross. This morning we are going to share in hearing about the Sign of the Cross.

Let’s read our passage this morning.

JOHN 19:17-22 – The Crucifixion

So they took Jesus, 17 and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. 18 There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. 19 Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” 20 Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. 21 So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’” 22 Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.”

Many have probably wondered if I was going to talk about the sign of the cross that many people make with their hands as they enter a cathedral, church, or some kind of religious service. No, today we are going to talk about the literal sign of the cross…the sign that was placed above Jesus on the cross.

This sign is more than just an inscription. There is so much more to it than that.

It is fitting that crucifixions would take place at “the Place of a Skull” which sounds very morbid. Jesus would carry the big piece of timber and bear his cross. This is something that he had told all of his disciples they would need to do. Bearing a cross would be no easy task for someone who had endured hours of beatings and torture. Simon of Cyrene would end up carrying it for Jesus.

One might wonder what Simon was thinking during all of this. Would he too be crucified? When he laid this cross on the ground, did he have a first-hand view of the soldiers nailing Jesus’ hands and feet? Did he have sympathy or did he become a mocker and one of those who said, “He saved others…why doesn’t he save himself?” Maybe he said it to Jesus “If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.”

Or, he might have been one wagging his head and unable to speak of the horror happening before him.

He likely could read the inscription Pilate had written and put on the cross. Perhaps he was also carrying that. Is this really the “King of the Jews?” The cross of a King…what did he do to deserve this?

To many, it might seem like just a bit of history recorded in the gospel of John and just a note of fact that happened in the greater story of the crucifixion. Maybe it has merely been a bit of trivia in a gameshow style bible bowl question. I had such a question once and got it correct I might add.

Maybe you have never really thought about this bit of trivia other than the events surrounding this. However, this inscription brings with it quite a large significance. This inscription written by Pilate and put on the cross caused a great deal of stress and anxiety to the chief priests, scribes, and Pharisees. I want to take us through this event and help us understand their dilemma. Maybe we can see the bigger picture in this seemingly little event. I want us to get a good understanding why this sign was placed to begin with and its significance.

1. IT WAS CUSTOMARY