PsalmTree

 John 19:17-22

The Crucifixion

“So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them.Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’” Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.”

😇 Will we see Pilate in Heaven? Time will tell; scripture says “not everyone who says ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but only those who do the will of my Father who is in Heaven” (Matthew 7:21). It seems possible to make a statement and lack any conviction regarding its meaning. For example, we have no knowledge of why Pilate put this phrase on the cross. It may have been simply to needle the Jewish leaders who were irritating him. Pilate made no assertion that Jesus was dying to wash away his sin. And, we don’t know that Pilate ever believed Jesus was God, who rose from the tomb on the third day. The point is, when we hear people make claims about Jesus, we need to get some clarity before we buy their claim…for their good as well as our own. 

🙏🏼 Lord, God…today I renew my conviction that Jesus is your Son, He is God. He came to redeem me from sin by dying in my place. He rose from the grave to conquer death on my behalf. I no longer lay claim to my life…Jesus bought and paid for it. I am now His property. Give my the humility to bow before Him; my Lord and King. In His blessed name I pray, amen.