SUNDAY December 31, 2023
New Year’s Eve
Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, “Behold your King!”
John 19:14
This New Year‘s Eve, more than ever, be determined to pick up your cross and follow Jesus. To be able to do this, we need to consider Christ our King on the Cross. Pilate ordered a wooden sign be placed on the King’s Cross with this title written in three different languages, Hebrew, Greek and Latin: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
The Jews distained their King and hated these written words. They had disowned Him and wanted Him dead. They certainly did not want His name associated with theirs. They tried to persuade Pilate to take it down, but he refused, saying, “What I have written, I have written” (John 19:22).
The Jews failed to recognize their King! But there were those who did recognize the heavenly King. One of the thieves on the cross recognized this marred, bloodied, and innocent Man as a King––having His own Kingdom. In his own agony he cried: “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom” (Luke 23:42). The King gave pardon––Paradise was promised to him (Luke 23:43).
The centurion’s eyes were opened to the reality of a King on the Cross when he saw earthly elements miraculously move during Jesus’ death. He said: “Truly this was the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:54).
In Acts 2:22-24, Peter gave a powerful sermon; he told the Jews their King had risen:
“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know––Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.”
Peter declared to the Jews that Jesus whom they had crucified was both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36). Many were led to repentance and acceptance of their rightful King! Is Jesus of Nazareth your King?
Jesus Christ opened heaven’s door for us by His death on the Cross.
~Billy Graham~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
