Write an Inscription

Daily Reading: John 19

Scripture Focus: 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. (John 19.19-20)

Devotional Thought: Many of us learned a little song when we were growing up:  “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine!  This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine!  Let it shine!  Let it shine!  Let it shine!”

When Jesus was crucified, Pilate "wrote an inscription" that read simply: “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.”  As part of the criminal proceedings, an executed prisoner’s crimes were inscribed at the place of execution.  This served the twofold purpose of communicating justice and deterring crime. 

I recently had a conversation with a young Christian, and I reminded him about the story of the man that Jesus delivered from the legion of demons.  After Jesus set him free from demonic control, he told him, “Go home and tell your family what the Lord has done for you.”  That is what writing an inscription means.  When we are saved, we need to testify that we serve a new master – a new King! – Jesus.  We tell them with our words, but we also tell them with our actions.

Pilate's inscription was written in three languages:

1)     Aramaic – The language of the common citizen

2)     Latin – The language of power

3)     Greek – The language of the educated

That is a challenge to us - that our lives must bear witness to these groups as well.  In Jesus' name, speak hope to the common, truth to power, and access to arrogance.

Have you written an inscription?  Does it say that Jesus is your King?  Is it “near the city” where you live?

Prayer: Lord, I want my light to shine for you.  Help me to write an inscription on my life that says, "Jesus is my King!"  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 38.1-8

1 O LORD, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath!

2 For your arrows have sunk into me, and your hand has come down on me.

3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation; there is no health in my bones because of my sin.

4 For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.

5 My wounds stink and fester because of my foolishness,

6 I am utterly bowed down and prostrate; all the day I go about mourning.

7 For my sides are filled with burning, and there is no soundness in my flesh.

8 I am feeble and crushed; I groan because of the tumult of my heart.