A man was publicly executed for a crime many years ago. He was not famous then, but now He is known all around the world.
Some think he must have committed a heinous crime because the method of his execution was reserved for the worst of the worst.
He was crucified on a cross. Unlike other common criminals, His Name was posted on his cross.
“Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: Jesus of Nazareth, the king of the jews.”
John 19:19
He was sentenced to death because He claimed to be God.
Hear His Own Words.
I and The Father are One.
John 10:30
On that day you will realize that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you.
John 14:20
Anyone who has seen Me has seen The Father.
John 14:9
The beginning of the journey to Calvary began with church people, those who were identified as “keepers of the law.”
They believed they understood Who God was. In their eyes, Jesus was not God. They felt it their duty to silence Him. And when He could not be silenced, they felt it was their duty to eliminate Him.
Judas believed he understood Who God was. In his eyes, Jesus was not God. He was a great teacher. He was potentially the revolutionary who would free Israel. But He was not God.
Herod believed He understood Who God was. He was the lead keeper of The Law. It was his job to contain God for his people. He was no missionary. He understood God chose his people and he wanted to assure no one trespassed the limits. No one in. No one out.
Pilate was not sure Who God was. He knew about kings and while this man standing before him intrigued him, it seemed unlikely he was king of anything.
Pilate asked the right questions, including “What is Truth?” (John 18:38). But he didn’t wait to hear the answer.
And then there was the crowd, made up of people just like the teachers of the law, Judas, Herod and Pilate as well as those who had no opinion, but were just lured in by all the action.
Many in the crowd did not know God or Jesus. But if so many wanted this man crucified, they concluded there must be a good reason to support their call. They were the crowd and they followed the crowd.
We are about to enter what some call Holy Week. Many will reflect once again on the man on the middle cross. But many will not recognize Him as God Himself.
In fact, many will think of God in another place, turning his back on the son He sentenced to torture and death.
Many, like those who were present on that day, will miss that it is God Himself on the cross, unmasking satan … demonstrating what satan would like to do to us … and also demonstrating that satan will never win. God is God!
Even as Easter is celebrated, many will not recognize God.
Why was Jesus killed? Jesus Himself revealed the answer,
“The time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God.”
John 16:2
How could they have thought they were offering God a service?
They did not know Jesus. They did not know God. They did not know they were One.
Jesus explained.
“They will do such things because they have not known the Father or Me.”
John 16:3
But Jesus knew them and He loved them as He had from the beginning.
Even from the cross, Jesus forgave them because He said they did not know what they were doing. (Luke 24:34)
The One knows you and loves you. He wants you to know Him and love Him.
When asked what was the greatest commandment, Jesus answered,
“The Lord our God, the Lord is One!”
Mark 12:29
Do you know The One?
