Ascension Sunday

Having just celebrated the Ascension of our Risen Lord, in the past week, we know that some denominations take this, the Seventh Sunday of Easter, to be Ascension Sunday. If to ascend means to rise up, to be lifted up, to go up, to be removed from one’s descended position to a more ascended plane, then we look forward to nothing less than rising in our understanding of the Word of God. As Jesus has taught, the Holy Spirit is the Teacher who leads us into all truth and who enables us with learning and living.

In His Ascended Name, we look forward to a week of being uplifted, as we learn from and discourse, the sign on the cross of Jesus. The Inscription on the sign, which was placed at the top of the cross on which Jesus died, was initiated, scripted, ordered and insisted upon by Pontius Pilate. Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross, above the Head of Messiah, Jesus, which read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.  John 19: 19b.  It is this sign upon which we will focus for a bit, as information regarding the responses to this Pilate-instructed sign is brought to our full attention. We will have many interesting facts unraveled before us, which will move many of us, to personal introspection, deep confessions and heart-warming desires to love and serve our Risen Lord and Saviour, with all we are and have. Here is our working text, our wellspring of truth. 

Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. John 19: 20

On the cross is the dead Body of Messiah Jesus and what the Jews see and focus upon, as they pass by, is the inscription, the sign. The Saviour is dead and that which holds the Jews is the sign above the Head of the dead Nazarene. Remember, this is not a sign with an inscription written by a believer, a friend of Jesus, a disciple of Jesus. These are not even the words of a family member or relatives. This is not a sign with an inscription written by a Jewish Rabbi, scholar or leader. O no! It is a sign with words crafted by Pontius Pilate.

Who is Pilate? We are coming to him through what has been said about him regarding Jesus. From Luke, to whom the authorship of The Acts of the Apostles, is ascribed, we listen to these words, from the Believer’s Prayer, in Acts 4: 27. Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed.

 Pilate is a conspirator against Jesus.

Paul in giving one of his charges to Timothy tells him that he is called to be a true witness of Jesus and must remain a faithful witness. In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate, made the good confession. 1 Timothy 6: 13a. 

Pilate is one, before whom Jesus testified.

Matthew 27: 24. When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. I am innocent of this man’s blood, he said. It is your responsibility! He is the governor who publicly showed that he had nothing more to do with Jesus' trial.

Pilate washed his hands of Jesus’ case. 

Mark gives us this information. Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged and handed him over to be crucified. Mark 15: 15.

Pilate is the Roman official who had Jesus beaten. 

Having been given a birds-eye view on who Pontius Pilate is, and listening to him publicly declare his non-involvement in the case and trial of the Nazarene, here is the question. Why would Pilate take the time, thought and interest in having a sign placed on the cross of the Crucified Man from Nazareth?

We want to take special time and care to discuss this. We desire to know more of what the Scriptures have to tell us about Pilate and what he knew about Jesus, as King of the Jews.