A solider carries a wooden sign towards the cross of Jesus. He's done this job many times before, displaying the crimes of the convicted to add to their obvious failure and public shame. It's a powerful deterrent for others who might follow them into this same life of crime.
But today the written charge is... different.
Odd.
Really odd.
In three different languages it proclaims:
Jesus of Nazareth:
the King of the Jews.
JOHN 19.19
Strange on so many levels - not least because the controversy over this very claim is what brought us here. To state His claim without any qualification was surely tantamount to treason.
Someone in the crowd had spotted it, and soon the High Priests were pushing their way forward through the crowd to see for themselves. A delegation of them marched off back to Pilate's courtyard to protest this.
But Pilate is quite adamant. "I've written what I've written."
Is he joking?
Is he mocking?
Is he throwing this back in the face of the High Priests who have forced his reluctant hand?
Or is he wondering?
Searching?
Opening his once-closed mind to a new and terrifyingly possible reality...
Reflection: The Sign of Love
Crucifixion.
A torturous way to die.
Excruciating.
Terrifying.
Humiliating.
The very threat of it was a form of control.
But despite all of that it has been the way that hundreds of thousands of people throughout history have met their death, but from my research not one single king. In fact - it was called a slave's death.
Of all the people that have died - of all the people who have died on a cross - why is this death, this cross, so vitally important?
Look up at the sign.
Look up at who it is who is dying there.
The only charge against Him - His identity.
Not one single accusation stuck. He is complete perfection. Holiness itself.
And now even in death - His true position is undeniable: He is King.
Lifted high.
Wearing a crown.
Named as King.
Named as sinless by a dying thief.
Named as divine by a solider.
Still pronouncing forgiveness.
Still declaring promise.
Still speaking grace.
What was intended to defile has fundamentally backfired.
In the fires of persecution, the true worth has survived the flames.
Love will have the final word.
Light will conquer over darkness.
Every eye shall see and knee shall bow.
Every tongue shall bear His Name...
Look at the sign and see - the King of love.
See His love nailed to a cross
Perfect and blameless life given as sacrifice
See Him there all in the name of Love
Broken yet glorious, all for the sake of us
This is Jesus in His Glory
King of heaven, dying for me
It is finished, He has done it
Death is beaten, Heaven beckons me!
Greater love no one could ever show
Mercy so undeserved, freedom I should not know
All my sin, all of my hidden shame
Died with Him on the cross, eternity won for us
This is Jesus in His Glory
King of heaven, dying for me
It is finished, He has done it
Death is beaten, Heaven beckons me!
TOM LOCKLEY
My prayer for today: (if you would like to, please feel free to add your own prayer here):