Focus: What's His Crime?

Text: Jh.19:19

"And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS."

It was normal for the crime committed by a crucified person to be written and posted or nailed to the wood above his head for everyone to read and know his offense. That way it became clear to everyone who read the title that he truly deserved the punishment he got.

In Jesus' own case, Pilate wrote nothing incriminating. No one could read His title and be bold to say as to what His crime or sin was. His title (or titulus, as it was known in Latin) only states who and what He was - Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews. The Jewish leaders were mad at such superscription and tried to persuade Pilate otherwise, but he stood his ground, and said, "What I have written, I have written."

Here is my point. Jesus Christ died on the cross for being king, not for committing any crime punishable by crucifixion. One of the thieves on the cross said, "And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss" (Lk.23:41).

Severally, Pilate said, "I find in him no fault at all." "Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him."

"Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him."

"I find no fault in this man." "I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him."

"I have found no cause of death in him" (Jh.18:38; 19:4,6; Lk.23:4,14,22). At a point they had to cook up false evidence to convict him (Mt.26:59,60). Even Herod found nothing worthy of death in Jesus (Lk.23:15). In the end He died for no sin of His own.

They killed Him for being Jesus of Nazareth and for being the King of the Jews. The same thing is going on today. People assassinate your character not for any evil you have done, but for your godly stance, loving heart, and holy attitude. You are maligned and your personality ridiculed for no just cause. Your attitude of faith is not going down well with people in your circle. But you can't afford to deny who or what you are because of others. Holiness is offensive to many people. Carnality seems to be the accepted norm.

Peter says, "If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf" (1Pet.4:14-16).

May these words encourage and urge you to keep being faithful to God and doing what is right in His sight. It is better to suffer or die for Christ's sake than to be castigated for wrongdoing. God is our true judge, not man. Man only judges with a very limited knowledge and a lot of bias. But God has in His hand all the facts about you. So keep being and doing better, and keep exercising the rights of a king under Christ.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter