When God Says …
“This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin. Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews. Pilate answered, What I have written I have written.” (John 19:20-22 KJV).
The inscription that Pilate made on the Lord’s cross was clever and insulting to the chief priests. It was clever as it may have earned him a favorable view from his superiors for quelling what could have evolved into a costly rebellion. It also delivered a veiled insult against the Jewish religious priests. The crucifixion site being near to the city where locals and visitors gathered for the feast and with the emblem written in the three common languages used in Judaea and the Roman Empire, so many saw and understood it. As can be expected, the chief priests of the Jews protested of it, insisting that the inscription should clarify that He merely claimed to be the king of the Jews. This objection Pilate resolutely rejected, asserting that what he had written would stand as is, encapsulating the truth of who the Lord Jesus is. Hence, the chief priests' action to humiliate the Lord out of jealousy, ironically backfired on them with the public affirmation of His divine identity.
With Pilate’s nature of cruel governance, his political maneuvering in handling this case made it sure that the ultimate plan of salvation for you and I, which the Lord Jesus came for, is accomplished. This assured us that by faith in Him through His grace we can rest in Him. He is the King of Israel in the line of David son of Jesse who will rise, as prophesied in Isaiah 11. “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious.” (Isaiah 11:1, 10 NIV).
This was affirmed to Mary by the angel of the Lord, as it is written: “And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”” (Luke 1:30-33 ESV).
And I say, AMEN!
Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries
When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.
Partners For Christ Ministries, INC
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477
Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.
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