Jesus is Crucified Part 2 The King's Eternal Sign

John 19:19-22 Pilate wrote a notice and had it put on the cross. “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews,” is what he wrote. 20 Many people read it, because the place where Jesus was crucified was not far from the city. The notice was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. 21 The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.” 22 Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”

GOD certainly uses people in surprising ways, doesn’t he? For example, he used the prostitute Rahab to help Joshua conquer Jericho (Joshua 6). He brought the Moabite Ruth to Bethlehem to continue the Savior’s lineage in the house of Judah (Ruth 4). Balaam, a pagan prophet, was God’s instrument to bless Israel (Numbers 22). Babylon’s King Nebuchadnezzar’s pride revealed God’s sovereignty (Daniel 1-4). Pilate was another who was not a Jew to be one of God’s instruments to reveal the gospel to the world.
    The Spirit moved Pilate to command a sign proclaiming Jesus “King of the Jews” in three languages. And “many people read it”. The execution was very public. The Romans wanted many people to see the horrible consequences of any rebellion. Scores of Jews and Gentiles traveled from Judah and other countries to and from Jerusalem. For many this was the first time they had heard about a rebellious rabbi from Nazareth. The travelers would have wondered about the sign and questioned, “Why would anyone call this crucified criminal, “King of the Jews”?  
    In God’s providence, some would learn the true answer weeks, months or years later when the gospel was preached in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and throughout the world. When they learned of Jesus crucified, dead, buried, resurrected, ascended and coming again, the Spirit would have caused them to remember the “King of the Jews” hanging on a cross between two thieves. When “Christ crucified” was preached they knew it is true. We can be sure the memory awakened some to know that this man on the cross was truly the anointed, eternal King of the Jews, Son of God, King of Kings.
    Yes, God reveals himself in mysterious, very personal ways. He even goes to a criminal’s death on a hill along a public road in Jerusalem to prepare the world for his eternal promise: Jeremiah 3:17 At that time they will call Jerusalem The Throne of the Lord, and all nations will gather in Jerusalem to honor the name of the Lord. No longer will they follow the stubbornness of their evil hearts.
    On that day dark day in Jerusalem the Holy God planted the seeds of his salvation promise into the hearts and minds of some who passed by or stood at the foot of the cross. They experienced his death. They would one day completely experience his resurrection.
   
Resurrection Truth: Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.