King on the Cross
NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS. Many Jews read this title because the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city. It was written in Hebrew, Greek and Latin. Then the chief priests of the News said 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 19:19-21).
The King of the Jews was crucified on the Cross. Since the place of crucifixion was near the city, many people were able to witness the crucifixion and to read the title. The Christ of the gospels whom we worship as the King of Kings is the very Jesus Who was crucified as the King of the Jews. We are the spiritual children of Abraham. He is our King. The Jews in the city of Jerusalem only witnessed the crucifixion but did not believe Him as their Messiah. Similarly, we behold Him crucified on the Cross remaining in the spiritual city of Jerusalem. The Jews in the city did not accept the One Who was on the Cross. They witnessed but did not believe Him for salvation. Similarly, many of us who take His Name and worship Him on Sunday see the crucified King on the Cross but do not follow Him. We do not follow His commandments. We worship Him but do not worship Him in truth. We mourn His death on every Good Friday but do not obey Him. Are we different from the Jews of the city who beheld their King on the Cross but rejected Him?
The title “JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS” was written in three languages. It was in Hebrew, Greek and Latin. The Jews, the Greeks and the Romans read this title in their own languages. Today we have the wonderful gospels in our own languages. We worship and adore Him in our own languages. It is the language that communicates the great truth to us. But we hear the same story every Good Friday in our own language but do not communicate it to the people who have not heard this story in their own languages. Christ was not crucified only for the Jews. If He had been crucified only for the Jews, then this title would have been written only in Hebrew but was in written in the languages of Greeks and Romans.
Behold, your King is on the Cross! Have you ever preached the truth of your King on the Cross to the perishing world?
Behold, your King is on the Cross! How many times in your life you have broken His commandments and have thus put Him to shame and ridicule as the Jews did?
Behold, your King is on the Cross! Do not separate your King from the Cross! These days, many preachers present another King who is different from the One Who was crucified by Jews on the Cross. They have made another King who condones the sin of adultery being committed by them. They have made another King who overlooks the sin in their lives. The Law reveals our sins whereas the Cross reveals the love of God for forgiving our sins if we confess and forsake our sins. The Cross will never allow us to live in sin. If we continue to live in sin, there remains no sacrifice for us. The same Cross will judge us. The King of Kings will be our Judge one day.
- Job Anbalagan