God's Sign

Mark 15:25-26 It was the third hour when they crucified him. 26 The written notice of the charge against him read: THE KING OF THE JEWS.
 
THE LORD God reveals himself through many different signs. There are two powerful sings in this passage.
   The first sign is Jesus’ suffering. This fulfills the many prophecies that the Jews’ Messiah will suffer. Stop then, and consider Jesus’ suffering to this point of this horrible day.
   The third hour is 9 am. For about six hours Jesus encountered his suffering: Judas’ betrayal, Jesus’ arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, two “trials” at the houses of the high priests Annas and then Caiaphas (John 18), Peter’s denial, Pilate’s complacency, Herod’s ridicule (Luke 23:7-12), the Romans’ lashings, the painful crown of thorns, and the brutal walk to Golgotha tell the physical horror story. He will be on the cross for another 6 hours.    
   Then God gave a second sign. This one came from Pilate. We remember he had submitted to the crowd’s demands. It seems he wanted to put his own mark on Jesus’ death, so he ordered a sign THE KING OF THE JEWS be nailed to the top of the cross. All nearby and those passing by would see the sign. How is this really God’s sign? First it was written in Greek, Latin and Hebrew for Jews and Gentiles to read. This is essential to the coming gospel evangelism. The first Christians can tell the story of Jesus crucified, dead, buried and ascended to heaven. There will be some who witnessed Jesus’ death or remember the sign on the cross. This is eyewitness evidence the King of the Jews is the Christ to save the world.  
    We go back to Jesus’ birth and remember wise men came to Jerusalem asking, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:2) Now God answered the question all Israel had asked for centuries. In Peter’s sermon at Pentecost he could faithfully confirm the King of the Jews is the Messiah they had awaited: Acts 2:36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”  
   Glory to God we now know Jesus is more than King of the Jews. The apostle Paul taught us to know the King of the Jews is the King of Kings: 1 Timothy 6:13 And I charge you before God, who gives life to all, and before Christ Jesus, who gave a good testimony before Pontius Pilate…15 For at just the right time Christ will be revealed from heaven by the blessed and only almighty God, the King of all kings and Lord of all lords.
   Pilate wrote that sign to mock Jesus and to mock the Jews. But God who uses all things to his good turned the mockery into worship as King Jesus has become the confession of all true believers.
      From eternity past, God had planned all the details of that day to point to eternity future. Be confident in God’s plans for your life. Trust his purpose is for your eternal good. Look for  the signs of his providence over your life. Allow him to turn evil to good.