Jesus Is Crucified – Proclaim The Truth!

Jesus is crucified. Three dramatic words that encapsulate the depravity of man. Stephanie continues to explore John 19, and in particular, Pilate’s role in the death of Christ.

The Crucifixion

John 19:16-22 (ESV) read this way:

“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.’”

Jesus And Pontius Pilate

In the previous post we read about the number of times Pontius Pilate tried to free Jesus. He did not want to condemn Jesus to die. He found no guilt in him. And yet the crowds, especially the chief priests, would not take no for an answer, and finally, Pilate relented.

And yet . . . he made one final declaration about what he believed. The sign identifying Jesus’ so-called crime read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” And to make sure everyone who saw it understood what it said, he had it written in Aramaic, Latin, and Greek.

Understandably, the chief priests were indignant. They insisted that Pilate change the sign, but this time he wouldn’t capitulate. As he said, “What I have written I have written.”

Pilate And The King Of The Jews

As I mentioned previously, this didn’t absolve Pilate of his sins, but it does show a certain level of determination to declare what he knew to be true.

I think back over my life and realize I can empathize far more with this man than I’d like to admit. In fact, there were time—far too many of them—that I backed down from making a bold declaration of my belief in Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord.

Friends are a gift from God. However, when we make those friends by denying the Lord, that is wrong on so many levels.

Having a good reputation and being liked are nice, but not at the expense of making it clear where we stand on matters of faith.

Being pushy and obnoxious are not good character qualities, but being silent about the gospel when we should declare it is even worse.

Do I put others’ opinion of me before proclaiming the truth? Too often.

Do I avoid conflict when I should take a deep breath and a firm stand? Sadly, yes.

Is there a time to speak and a time to remain silent? There is. But if I find myself making excuses and seeking to justify my silence on the subject, it may actually be time to speak up.

Is it possible to declare what I believe without being abrasive and disrespectful? Most certainly. And that comes when God sanctifies my motives. In this series, I have often mentioned the two greatest commands: to love God and to love others.

Do I love Him enough to proclaim the truth even when others don’t want to hear it . . . when they will think less of me . . . when it may jeopardize our friendship?

Do I love others enough to care about their eternal soul more than I do my own comfort level?

And these, dear ones, are the questions I have the luxury of asking myself. So many Christians put their jobs, their families, their lives on the line by declaring the truth of Scripture. They have counted the cost and know faith in Jesus Christ is more than worth it.

And one last question . . . can I count on a forgiving and patient God to continue transforming me? Absolutely!

Why do you think Jesus was crucified? We would love to hear from you. Comment below or contact us at HopeStreamRadio.