THE TRANSFORMATIVE SIGN ABOVE JESUS ON THE CROSS

Our world is looking for signs: street signs, caution signs, for sale signs, prophetic signs, etc. God has used signs throughout history. For example, God used a rainbow after the flood, a bush to call Moses, a donkey to convince a prophet, a big fish to get Jonah's attention, and a special star to announce the birth of Jesus. If you come into my house through the front door, you will read a sign that says, “Will the road you're on get you to my place?” signed, God.

Today, I would like to discuss one of the most effective and life-changing signs placed over the head of Jesus when He was crucified on a cross. Why is the sign place over the head of Jesus? Why are the words of the sign written in three languages? Why does its wording trouble the chief priest?            

Pilate wrote the title on the cross in three languages. Why? Because he wanted everyone, of every tongue, including the Jews, of many different provinces, who were in town to celebrate the Passover, to be able to read it.

In that day and time, most people spoke their native language, the tongue from where they were born, and a second trade language, Greek or Latin, that enabled them to do business with people from all over the Roman Empire.

Latin was the official language of the Roman Empire. Greek was the international language of culture. Hebrew was the religious language of the Jews. Since Jesus was a  King for all people, the message would be in the tongues of all people. There is no language God will not speak. What language is God speaking to you? Are you listening? What is His message for you today?

The simple, brief message of this sign is recorded by all four Gospel authors, yet none record precisely the same words. Look at the variations offered by the Gospel authors:

“This is Jesus the King of the Jews” (Matthew 27:37)

“The King of the Jews” (Mark 15:26)

“This is the King of the Jews” (Luke 23:38)

“Jesus the Nazareth, the King of the Jews” (John 19:19)

There is one expression that is repeated by all four authors: “the King of the Jews”. Why does this one aspect of the sign appear repeatedly without variation? These words describe the crime for which Jesus was executed. Jesus was crucified because He proclaimed Himself a King; He was executed for His alleged rebellion against Caesar. 

Unwittingly, Pilate became God's instrument for spreading the gospel. Luke 23:40-43 tells us that one of the thieves crucified with Jesus admitted he was guilty, that Jesus was innocent, and that he feared God. We don't know much about this thief on the cross, but we know that he heard the last words that Jesus spoke on the cross. We also know that as the thief was dying, he turns to Jesus and says, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom” (Luke 23:42). The thief doesn't ask to be saved and he doesn't recite the sinner's prayer. So, could it be that the sign above Jesus about Him being a king, placed there by Pilate who rejected Christ, was the first “agent” to proclaim the message of the cross and because of it, a soul was saved?

The following material is copied or summarized from Philip W. Shields' article, “The Sign Over Yeshua's Cross.” 

Something about the wording Pilate placed on the sign really upset the chief priests. What was it? Let’s read what we’re told:

John 19:19-22 says, Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. The writing was: “JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.” Therefore the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, "Do not write, 'The King of the Jews,' but that He said, 'I am the King of the Jews.'“ Pilate answered, "What I have written, I have written."

On the surface, it appears the chief priests were just upset by the notion that Pilate labeled Jesus as their king. But you’ll see it goes a lot deeper than that. Note that the sign's words, written in Hebrew, are most fascinating. 

In Hebrew, Pilate's sign would have read, “Yeshua, Ha’Netzeret V’melech HaYehudim.” So what’s so significant about that? 

In Hebrew this would have been written right to left – but in that order.

Y = Yeshua

H = Ha’Netzeret     “of Nazareth”

V’melech      “The King”                                                                                  

HaYehudim -- “of the Jews”

Now are you seeing what upset the priests?

The key first letter of each word, seen together, spells out “YHVH,” which is the sacred and official name of the living God! You’ve probably learned that where you read “the LORD” (with LORD in all caps), that is the official name of God – YHVH.

If the chief priests could persuade Pilate to say, “He SAID he was king of the Jews,” it would have changed the lettering, and the first letter of each word would not have ended up spelling “YHVH.”

So our Sovereign God was using a sign above the head of Jesus to witness to the known world, to win the soul of a thief on the cross, and to triumphantly proclaim that this Jesus was the LORD GOD! If God can accomplish that through a sign above the head of Jesus, just imagine what He could do through a life fully committed to Him. Are you yielded and ready to be used?