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19 March 2008
Word on the Web
John 19 v 17-22
The soldiers took charge of Jesus. Carrying his own cross, Jesus went out to a place called The Place of the Skull, which in the Hebrew language is called Golgotha. There they crucified Jesus. They also crucified two other men, one on each side, with Jesus in the middle. Pilate wrote a sign and put it on the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. The sign was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. Many of the people read the sign, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city. The leading priests said to Pilate, "Don't write, 'The King of the Jews.' But write, 'This man said, "I am the King of the Jews." ' "
Pilate answered, "What I have written, I have written."
The atmosphere in Jerusalem must have been electric as Jesus carried his cross to the place where the crucifixion was to take place. Crowds of people trying to see what was happening, shouts of 'Crucify Him, Crucify Him' echoing in the narrow streets. The religious leaders elated while His followers remained confused.
Yet Jesus knew that God's will was being done for as the sinless Son of God He was making a way possible so that people could know forgiveness.
The sign placed above Jesus 'The King of the Jews' was written in three different languages. Being a cosmopolitan centre of the world, news would travel fast. A clear statement that His death was not just for one group of people but for the world.
Crucified with Him were two other men, for them the cross was a place of shame, the death of a criminal. One of the other gospels records for us that while one man mocked Jesus the other man asked for forgiveness. Although we may not see ourselves as criminals we as individuals still need that same forgiveness.
Pilate was challenged by the leaders over the words placed above Jesus 'The King of the Jews'. He refused to change them, his response was 'What I have written, I have written'. Pilate was not only going against what they wanted but was making known his own feelings about Jesus.
For the criminals the cross was a place of public humiliation but we always need to remember that for Jesus it was the place of victory. It was an expression of God's love to us. How thankful we need to be that God loved the world so much that He was willing to send His Son into the world to save sinful people like us.
Lord help me to understand that what took place at that first Easter is more than an event in history. Help me see in a new way the love you had for the world and to be grateful in my own life today. Amen.
Written by David Morgan
Word on the Web
John 19 v 17-22
The soldiers took charge of Jesus. Carrying his own cross, Jesus went out to a place called The Place of the Skull, which in the Hebrew language is called Golgotha. There they crucified Jesus. They also crucified two other men, one on each side, with Jesus in the middle. Pilate wrote a sign and put it on the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. The sign was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. Many of the people read the sign, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city. The leading priests said to Pilate, "Don't write, 'The King of the Jews.' But write, 'This man said, "I am the King of the Jews." ' "
Pilate answered, "What I have written, I have written."
The atmosphere in Jerusalem must have been electric as Jesus carried his cross to the place where the crucifixion was to take place. Crowds of people trying to see what was happening, shouts of 'Crucify Him, Crucify Him' echoing in the narrow streets. The religious leaders elated while His followers remained confused.
Yet Jesus knew that God's will was being done for as the sinless Son of God He was making a way possible so that people could know forgiveness.
The sign placed above Jesus 'The King of the Jews' was written in three different languages. Being a cosmopolitan centre of the world, news would travel fast. A clear statement that His death was not just for one group of people but for the world.
Crucified with Him were two other men, for them the cross was a place of shame, the death of a criminal. One of the other gospels records for us that while one man mocked Jesus the other man asked for forgiveness. Although we may not see ourselves as criminals we as individuals still need that same forgiveness.
Pilate was challenged by the leaders over the words placed above Jesus 'The King of the Jews'. He refused to change them, his response was 'What I have written, I have written'. Pilate was not only going against what they wanted but was making known his own feelings about Jesus.
For the criminals the cross was a place of public humiliation but we always need to remember that for Jesus it was the place of victory. It was an expression of God's love to us. How thankful we need to be that God loved the world so much that He was willing to send His Son into the world to save sinful people like us.
Lord help me to understand that what took place at that first Easter is more than an event in history. Help me see in a new way the love you had for the world and to be grateful in my own life today. Amen.
Written by David Morgan
