So they had him at last, and he was taken out of the city, carrying his cross to the place known as “The Skull,” in Hebrew, “Golgotha.” 18 There they crucified him and two others with him, one on either side, with Jesus between them. 19 And Pilate posted a sign over him reading, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” 20 The place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and the signboard was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek, so that many people read it.
21 Then the chief priests said to Pilate, “Change it from ‘The King of the Jews’ to ‘He said, I am King of the Jews.’”
22 Pilate replied, “What I have written, I have written. It stays exactly as it is.” - John 19:17-20
Over Me….
We are all familiar with the crucifixion story. Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior is no longer being viewed in His role as healer, deliverer, provider, miracle worker. He has been branded a criminal – insurrectionist – blasphemer. No longer lauded by the throngs of followers who pressed him to touch the hem of His garment – besought Him for healing of their children – pled for their own healing or justification – He is now betwixt two thieves – He has been betrayed by one of His friends – He has been abandoned by all of His friends – He has been disavowed by one of His disciples – He has been up all night – he has been drug from one kangaroo court to another – He has been falsely accused – His reputation has been smeared – He has been bound, arrested at sword point – He has been hooded and beat about the face – He has been spat on and lied about – He has been despised and rejected – a man of sorrow and acquainted with grief – He has been interrogated and faced inquisition – He has been exchanged for a guilty criminal and He has been viciously beaten and battered.
He has been forced to carry a rough, heavy wooden cross to the place of skulls. He has been ridiculed, mocked, tormented and crucified.
The bible says that Pilate – gave Jesus to the Roman soldiers to be crucified – and Pilate’s final act in this tragedy was to post the signboard/a notice/poster on the execution post that read: “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews”. Ironically, it was this last act that enraged the religious leaders – they were not gripped by the magnitude of their actions in the murder of their fellow countryman, they had no remorse for the lies they told that resulted in this execution, they felt no need to repent for the conspiracy they created that culminated in this crucifixion, they did not intercede for the life of One they knew did good in the region – no they wanted to be sure that the notice, the sign was correct in their estimate that Jesus claimed or said He said “I am King of the Jews” –
It is interesting to note that is not recorded in scripture Jesus uttering those words. During His interrogation, Pilate asked Jesus was He King of the Jews, Jesus said “it is as you said” –
Nevertheless, this story reminds me that we have a tendency to focus on extraneous things when there are more important things going on. The leading rulers, in my opinion where worried about how those who would be passing by this place of execution would interpret the crime for which Jesus was crucified.
The notice read in Hebrew, Latin and Greek – “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews” – Our Savior was executed for being our Sovereign ruler – Jesus – Yeshua – Jehovah our Salvation – the Prince of Peace – The Bright and Morning Star – The Lamb who takes away the sins of the world – the Lily of the valley – our Passover Lamb – was found to be guilty of what He was – our Salvation and our King.
The sign over His head as He was suspended between time and eternity declared it, in the languages that everyone could understand. In Hebrew, Latin and Greek. Hebrew or Aramaic, was the language of the Jewish people, Latin was the language of the occupying force, and Greek was the language most common to all people of the time.
As the people passed by this place of horror, they were aware of the method of criminal justice employed by the Romans, crucifixion – so often, the crimes for which criminals were convicted were placed on signs above the criminal on the cross – so during these public executions people could see why a person was found guilty and deserved capital punishment – death.
Jesus was found guilty of being Jesus – His crime was that of salvation – We know that He lived a sinless life, we know that He was tempted in all ways as man but did not sin – we know He was wounded for our transgressions, we know He was bruised for our iniquities, we know the chastisement of our peace was upon Him – we know that He was hung up for our hang ups – we know He took our place on that old rugged cross – we know that the sign over the cross should have detailed all of our sinful deeds – we know that we should have been in His place on the cross – because the bible says the wages of sin is death – we know that God knew we could never pay the ransom for our souls that we forfeited to the devil by our choice to sin, we know that we were barred from eternity in heaven because the blood of goats and bulls no longer met the penalty price – we know that the love God has for us drew a plan of salvation that could only be perfected executed by the execution of Jesus – we know the gulf that existed between us and God could only be crossed by His outstretched arms on the cross – we know that we could not get across the divide that existed between us and God because of sin – we know that we could not get closer to Him, so Jesus came to be our bridge from death to life, He came to tear down the wall that separated us from the Father, He came to us because we could not get to Him. He became all that we were so that we might become more like Him.
The writing on the cross so clearly exposed my guilt and my shame, has been covered up and erased by the blood of Jesus – Many may know your past and even your present – but it’s only Jesus who knows your future – when I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, everything that was ever being held over me no longer held me – the chains that had me bound were loosed in the Name of Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews. The sin that tried to take me to hell was destroyed in the Name of Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews. The shame that tried to hold me back was broken in the Name of Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews. The disease that tried to take my life was healed in the Name of Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jew. The debt I could not pay was cancelled in the Name of Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.
It should have been me on that cross – that sign should have been over me on that cross – but on a hill, far away, stood an old rugged cross, the emblem of suffering and shame. But I love that old cross, where the dearest and best for a world of lost sinners was slain. So, I’ll cherish, that old rugged cross, ‘til my trophies at last I lay down – I will cling to that old rugged cross and exchange it some day for a crown”
