I'm going to ask you to take
your Bibles and turn with me to the Gospel according to John
chapter 19. John 19. You know, I read the other day that someone had said that for
a believer, a believer wants to hear the declaration of God's Word. That's what they want to hear.
They're not interested in being dazzled, have their ears tickled. Just
tell me what the Spirit of God has revealed. That's enough. If you went to the reading of
a will, And you knew that it was, there was nothing in there
that pertained to you. There's not one thing going to
be, you know, got your name on it or something. Do you know
how boring that would be? I'm just sitting here just, you
know. But if the will is concerning you, you want to hear everything
just exactly the way that will is written. I want to know just
exactly what's in it. Today, I want us to take verses
19 to 22 in chapter 19 of the Gospel of John. And I want to
hear just exactly and pray that the Spirit of God would give
us understanding, give us a heart. Now listen, I'm going to tell
you something. I want to believe this. I want to believe it. I
believe it and I want to believe it. And I want the Lord to teach
me. The older I get, the more ignorant
I realize I am. Things that I thought I really
had a handle on, I'm thinking, Lord, help me. John 19, 19 to 22. And Pilate
wrote a title. and put it on the cross. And
the writing was, Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews. 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 priest 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. Now, today, the day that we're
looking at here in these scriptures is the day of redemption. This is the day that the open
manifestation of what Almighty God has eternally seen is coming
to pass. The Father had seen this day
eternally. The Lamb slain from the foundation
of the world. Here is the Son of Man, the only
begotten of the Father. the one in whom the Father is
well pleased. This is the one that the Father
first trusted. And here He is, according to
God's everlasting covenant of grace, laying down His life,
according to His Word, for the sheep. The Lord said concerning
His crucifixion, No man taketh my life, I lay it down." I am absolutely convinced that
upon his heart was the name, the names of everyone for whom
he was dying. He said, I know my sheep. Do you know I know every one
of my kids' names? You know that? I can name every
one of them. I know them. You know how I know
them? They're mine. I have four kids. Gabe, Sarah, Hannah, Becca. The Lord knows His own. He told
Jeremiah, before I formed you in the belly, I knew you. I knew
you. and I ordained you a prophet." Today, the fulfillment of all
that the prophets have spoken is coming to pass. Here is the
fulfillment of that brazen serpent being raised up. As Moses lifted
up the brazen serpent, even so must the Son of Man be lifted
up. Today, this day right here. The law is going to be honored.
Justice is going to be satisfied for all of God's elect. Sin is
going to be put away by this one sacrifice for sin. The Lord Jesus Christ shall perfect
forever all that are sanctified, set apart, Elect. Chosen. Selected. Look up that
word. Selected by God. All that are
set apart. The Lord said, this was mine. And Christ is going to put away
their sin. The Lord now has laid down Himself. He's nailed to the cross. And
the Scripture says in verse 19 and 20, and Pilate wrote a title,
that is, a placard. Every description I read of it,
what that was, it was a piece of paper, some kind of a placard. It was an inscription. It was
usually white and it had the name of the person being crucified
and their accusation put on it. That's what it was. It says,
and Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the
writing was, Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews. This title
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. Now, the scripture does not say
anything about Pilate's thoughts. and why He wrote that placard,
that title, that inscription in Hebrew and Greek and Latin,
but without a doubt, this One upon that cross, this is God's
only Son. This is God. This is God in human
flesh. This is God-made flesh, totally
God, totally man. And everything that's going to
happen on that cross, I'm going to tell you, is going to be to
the honor and the glory and the praise of the Lord Jesus Christ. Upon that placard, now this is
what I read, it was always the name, and that for which he was
accused, why he was dying, why he was nailed to that cross.
Now, I want you to hold your place right there in John, just
a second. Turn with me to Matthew 27, 34. Listen to what Matthew
had to say about it, under the inspiration of God's Spirit.
Like I said now, it was always his name, and for what is he
accused? Why is this man dying? Matthew
27, 34. They gave him vinegar to drink, mingle
with gall, and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink,
and they crucified him, parted his garments, casting lots, that
it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet. They parted
my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.
And sitting down they watched him there, and set up over his
head his accusation written." This
is Jesus, the King of the Jews. That for which he was accused,
His name is Jesus of Nazareth. What's his accusation? King of
the Jews. The Scripture says in Matthew
1, 20 and 21, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto
thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her is
of the Holy Ghost, and she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt
call his name, Jesus. For He shall save His people
from their sins. Here was the Son of God, the
Word made flesh, and He was given a name by the Spirit of God. Joseph, don't be afraid to take
Mary to be your wife. That which is conceived within
her is of the Holy Ghost. She's going to have a son. and
you're going to call His name Jesus, Savior. That's what that
means, Savior. He's going to save His people. He's going to save His people
from their sins. But not only did that title say
Jesus of Nazareth, giving His name, but it set forth that for
which the Jews accused Him. This is what they accused Him. There was also this inscription,
the King of the Jews. Now that's what we just read
in Matthew's account. Here was the Lord on the cross
and sitting down, they watched Him and set up over His head
His accusation. Now just to make sure I didn't
misunderstand those words, I looked it up. Find out. This is his
accusation. That's what Matthew said. Here's
what the word means. Crime. His crime to them. His alleged crime to them. Here was the fence. And I'll
tell you this. Now listen to me. You say, I'll
tell you what, can you believe what they did? Can you believe
that they accused him, called it a crime that he was the king
of the Jews? Can you imagine? I'm going to
tell you something. Nothing's changed. Turn with
me to Luke 4. Luke 4. Luke chapter 4. Now I'm going to show you why
they were mad. Luke 4, verse 24 to 28. Now listen, this is what God
has to say. This is what the Lord has to
say. Luke 4, 24 to 28. The Lord is standing and He's
reading the Scriptures. Luke 4, 24. And after He had
read the Scriptures, It says in, he said, verily I say unto
you, no prophet is accepted in his own country. But I tell you
of a truth. Many widows were in Israel in
the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six
months, when great famine was throughout all the land. But
unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of
Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow. And many lepers were
in Israel in the time of Eliseus, the prophet. None of them was
cleansed, save Naaman the Syrian. And all they in the synagogue,
when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, and rose
up and thrust him out of the city and led him unto the brow
of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast
him down headlong. But he passing through the midst
of them went his way." Now let me tell you what he just said.
When he read the Scriptures, they all were just marveling. This is marvelous. Until he told
them who he was. He set forth, he said, in the
days of Elijah, there were a lot of prophets in Elijah's, I mean,
a lot of widows in Elijah's time. But do you know, he said, the
Lord didn't send Elijah to any of the widows in Israel. Sent him to a Gentile. And in
Elijah's time, there were a lot of lepers, but only nailmen. A Gentile was
cleansed. What he told them was, Almighty
God has the right to do whatsoever He will. And He's not obligated
to anybody. He's sovereign. He's sovereign. And He rules and reigns and does
as He will. The army of heaven among the
inhabitants of the earth. Now listen. Listen to the reason
that they were mad. And this is what the accusation
was. Now listen, they knew the Scriptures.
They had the Scriptures. Listen to the Scripture that
they were very familiar with. Listen to Jeremiah. I'll read
this to you. Jeremiah 23, 5. Behold, the days cometh, saith
the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous branch, and
a king, Now this is in the Old Testament that all these Jews
had. And a king, now listen to this,
shall reign. He's going to rule. You see, carnal man wants a puppet.
I want a God that I can control. I want one that when I exercise,
My decision. He said, I'm going to raise unto
David a righteous branch and a king, a sovereign. I looked it up. I'm going to raise up a king.
Look that word up. A sovereign. And he shall reign,
and listen to this, and prosper. He's going to have success. and
shall execute judgment." You know what that meant? Accomplish
the decision. He said, I'm going to raise up
a righteous branch. I'm going to raise up the sovereign. And he's going to reign. He's going to rule. And he's
going to prosper. He's going to accomplish my will
and execute judgment, accomplishing my decision and justice in the
earth. He's going to do it in absolute
righteousness. I'm going to raise up the King. I'm going to raise up the Sovereign. And the Lord Jesus Christ, when
He stood before Pilate, He absolutely set forth who He was. Listen
to this in John 18.37, Pilate therefore said unto him, Art
thou a king then? And Jesus answered, Thou sayest
that I am a king, and to this end was I born. And for this
cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto
the truth. Everyone that is of the truth
heareth my voice. Let me tell you something. The
judge of this earth who is the king of glory, is going to judge
every man according to his works in the last day. And he's going
to do it in absolute righteousness. He's the sovereign. And he's
going to prosper. Then shall the king say unto
them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit
the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
He's the king. He's the sovereign. Revelation
17, 14, "...these shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb
shall overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings,
and they that are with Him are called and chosen and faithful."
That's who He is, and that's who they are. Truly, without
a doubt, on that title over His head, Matthew said, put it over
His head. Everybody could see it. He was
not a Jerusalem. written in three languages, Jesus
of Nazareth, the King of the Jews. This is
He. This is He. But to those Jews,
that title, that wasn't a title of adoration to them, it was
a title worthy of condemnation. You see, What it is, is His declaration
declaring Himself to be the King of the Jews was understood by
the Jews of Him declaring Himself be God, God Almighty. I want you to turn to Zechariah.
Zechariah, I mean just Zechariah is about a book, maybe a book
just before Malachi, right there at the end. It's just before
you get to... Malachi, let's see if it is.
Yep, just before Malachi. Zechariah 9, 9. Zechariah 9, 9. Now listen to
this. Rejoice greatly, O daughter of
Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, thy King cometh! unto thee. He is just and having
salvation lowly and riding upon an ass, upon a colt, the fold
of an ass." They'd seen him. They'd seen him come in. They'd
laid those palm branches down, Hosanna to the highest. Zechariah
said, this is the way the king, the sovereign's going to come.
The one's going to rule. The one's going to prosper. This
is the One that's coming. This is your Lord. This is your
God. And these Jews, they heard what He said, I am the King. They voiced their denial of this
before the crucifixion. Listen, John 5, 18, Therefore
the Jews sought the more to kill Him, because He not only had
broken the Sabbath, but said also that God was His Father,
making Himself equal with God. They blasphemously denied it
at the crucifixion, Mark 15, 32. Let Christ, the King of Israel,
descend now from the cross that we may see and believe, and they
that were crucified with Him, rebuyld Him. Truly, they did what they did.
because of the wickedness of their hearts. And all the while,
accomplishing the purpose of Almighty God. That's what Acts
2, 23 says, Him being delivered by the determined counsel and
foreknowledge of God, ye have taken and by wicked hands have
crucified and slain. And they were without excuse.
They were absolutely no excuse. But then back in John, I want
you to look at this. Verse 21. Let's look at verse
20. This title then read many of
the Jews, for the place where Jesus was crucified was not of
the city, and it was written in Hebrew and Greek and Latin. Now, the worst crucifixion the
Scripture reveals was very close. to Jerusalem, and no one could
fail to see. It was right outside the city,
outside the gate. And in three languages, Pilate,
without a doubt, under the inspiration of God's Spirit, all Scripture
is given by inspiration of God. Why did Pilate write it in three
languages? Because the Spirit of God told
him to. He wrote it in Hebrews. The language of the Jews. He
wrote it in Greek. The language of the educated
world. The Gentiles. And he wrote it in Latin. The
language of the Romans that crucified him. Everybody could read it. Written in three languages. And
all that gathered around the cross could read his name and
that for which he was accused that they blasphemously refused
to believe. They thought, we've got grounds
to kill him. We've got grounds to kill him.
This man has made himself to be God. But who but the Lord could tell
the blessing of that title? Surely, three languages, The
word spread. Everybody there could read it.
They could read it, at least in one of those languages, maybe
all of them. But here, in three languages, was the certainty. This is Jesus of Nazareth, and
this is the reason He's dying. He's the King of the Jews. This
is the Messiah. They meant it for evil, God meant
it for good. And who but the Lord could know
the impact of that title, that placard, that inscription over
the head of the Lord Jesus Christ? There was two thieves there.
I don't know. I don't know. If that one repentant thief,
I don't know if he had ever heard anything before that day. I don't
know. Scripture doesn't bear it out. But I can tell you this,
he heard the Lord speak, and I know there was an inscription
over the Lord's head, this is the King of the Jews. This is
Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews. And all I know is that
before that thief took his last breath, he said, Lord, when you enter
into your kingdom, there it is written right there, This is
the king of the Jews. When you enter into your kingdom,
would you remember me? Today, you're going to be with
me in paradise. Verse 21 and 22, then said the
chief priest of the Jews to Pilate, write not the king of the Jews,
but that he said, I am king of the Jews. And Pilate answered,
what I've written, I've written. Now let me just share something
with you that I saw just a few minutes ago before I got ready
to preach this. Listen, they have condemned their
self. They have condemned themselves.
in what they just said. They said with their mouth, don't
write, don't write, the King of the Jews. This is what we
want you to write. He said, He said, we want you to write, He said, I
am King of the Jews. Now I want you to turn just back
a few pages to John 12, 47. John 12, 47, 48. Now listen. What did they just say? They said, don't write, King
of the Jews. Write, He said. You know what
they did? They heard Him. They heard Him. John 12, 47-48, the Lord said,
"'If any man hear My words and believe not, I judge him not,
for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that
rejecteth Me and receiveth not My words hath one that judges
him. The word that I have spoken,
the same shall judge him in the last day.'" You know what they
just said? We heard him say. We heard him
say. One writer noted that this was
the only time in scripture where these Jews were referred to as
the chief priest of the Jews, officiating over the Jews and
not faithful. to the Lord Himself. They desired
Pilate to alter the wording of the title. Don't write, King
of the Jews. Write, He said He's the King
of the Jews. You just condemned yourself. Pilate said, What I've written,
I've written. Again, the Spirit of God would
not allow him to do anything other than what he did. That firm stand that he had taken
was contrary to what he had been doing, but right here, the Spirit
of God said, that's enough. This is what you're going to
write. Oh brethren, may we rejoice today
in the realization of that title, that blessed title placed over
the head of the Lord Jesus Christ. And you that believe, this is
what you believe. Jesus of Nazareth, He was made
flesh, made sin. This is my surety. This is the
one in whom I'm placing all of my hope. This is my Lord. This is my God, right here. Jesus
of Nazareth. There's a man in glory seated
at the right hand of the Father. There's a man sitting on the
throne of God because He is God. Jesus of Nazareth, the King,
the Sovereign, the King of the Jews. Oh, may we join with that
repentant thief who was there that day. We cry it out for mercy, Lord,
remember me. May the Lord bless these words
to our heart, for Christ's sake.