Pontius Pilate wrote a sign in Hebrew, Greek and Latin and had placed it on the cross. "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews".
Why did Pilate have such a sign placed above the head of Christ on the cross? Could it be that God wanted to tell the world that He would do whatever it takes to proclaim His infinite love - that there is no person or thing He would not use to show His infinite love for us?
In fact, the sign bore an immediate result in a form of the response of the good thief: "Jesus remember me when you come to your kingdom" (Luke 23:42). The thief was in royal mess, saw a royal proclamation and asked for royal help.
The thief's choice of words is note-worthy. He did not say "Save me", or have mercy on my soul". The thief's words were an appeal to a king from a servant. Why did the thief refer to Christ's kingdom? Did he hear Jesus spoke of it and believe it? Or, it is it because he saw Pilate's sign?
It could be that the sign was the first tool God used to proclaim the message of the cross. Countless other signs followed - from printing press, radio, television and social media. But the crude wooden cross preceded them all. Because of Pilate's sign a soul was saved.
In writing the sign, Pilate did not intend to spread the Gospel. In fact, the sign was a warning to the Jews. In writing the sign, Pilate meant to say "This is what becomes of a Jewish king. This is what the Romans do to him".
The sign was written in three languages - Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. Hebrew was the language of religion, Greek was the language of culture, Latin was the language of government. Christ is King of them all.
Why did Pilate have such a sign placed above the head of Christ on the cross? Could it be that God wanted to tell the world that He would do whatever it takes to proclaim His infinite love - that there is no person or thing He would not use to show His infinite love for us?
In fact, the sign bore an immediate result in a form of the response of the good thief: "Jesus remember me when you come to your kingdom" (Luke 23:42). The thief was in royal mess, saw a royal proclamation and asked for royal help.
The thief's choice of words is note-worthy. He did not say "Save me", or have mercy on my soul". The thief's words were an appeal to a king from a servant. Why did the thief refer to Christ's kingdom? Did he hear Jesus spoke of it and believe it? Or, it is it because he saw Pilate's sign?
It could be that the sign was the first tool God used to proclaim the message of the cross. Countless other signs followed - from printing press, radio, television and social media. But the crude wooden cross preceded them all. Because of Pilate's sign a soul was saved.
In writing the sign, Pilate did not intend to spread the Gospel. In fact, the sign was a warning to the Jews. In writing the sign, Pilate meant to say "This is what becomes of a Jewish king. This is what the Romans do to him".
The sign was written in three languages - Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. Hebrew was the language of religion, Greek was the language of culture, Latin was the language of government. Christ is King of them all.
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