The Cross' Superscription
Minister: | Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: | 4/18/2014 PM (Good Friday) |
Text: | John 19:19-22 |
Psalters: | 15, 188, 199, 276 |
- What Pilate meant.
- Pilate wrote what He heard the Sanhedrin say: vs. 12; Luke 23:2.
- Pilate wrote what He heard Jesus say (vs. 37; Matt. 27:11; Mark 15:2; Luke 23:3).
- Pilate’s view of Jesus was evidenced in the way his guards treated Jesus (2,3; Matt. 27:29).
- Pilate used this wording to respond to the Jews and to Jesus, using three languages so anyone who passed by would know.
- What the Jews meant.
- They did want a Messiah, but for an earthly kingdom.
- So they did not want this kind of a king.
- The superscription identified Jesus with them - very embarrassing, so they did not want to be associated with Him.
- The chief priests hurried to Pilate, very irritated, to ask him to change it.
- Pilate is firm, even rejoicing at their irritation, for his jab at them was successful.
- The result was increased shame for Jesus as His own kinsmen according to the flesh rejected Him.
- God has His high and glorious purposes, and He is using the chief priests and Pilate to make His declaration.
- First, Jesus is “of Nazareth,” a real human who was identified by the city in which he was raised (Lk. 4:16).
- This was the common “I.D.” given to Him as a public person (Lk. 4:34; 18:37; 24:19).
- Remember that this is also a mark of disgrace, for nothing good was to come out of Nazareth (John 1:46; 7:52).
- Second, He is “Jesus,” i.e., Savior, Jehovah’s salvation.
- Third, He is “the King of the Jews.”
- He is of the tribe of Judah and He is a Son of David, a successor to King David.
- He is “the” King of the true, spiritual Jews (those with circumcised hearts, Rom. 2:28,29).
- He is crucified because He is the King and thus the cross and the superscription go together.
- The eye of faith sees God’s revelation describing Him as winning the battle; He is victorious.
- His Kingship softens the hardened sinner and proclaims the promise of soon entrance into Paradise.
- Is He your King? Do you live as under His rule?
- First, Jesus is “of Nazareth,” a real human who was identified by the city in which he was raised (Lk. 4:16).