4/13/14- Who is in Charge?

So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. 17Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). 18There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle.

19Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. 20Many 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. 21The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.”

22Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”

23When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.

24“Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.”

This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled that said,

“They divided my clothes among them

and cast lots for my garment.”^a

So this is what the soldiers did. (John 19:16-24)

Thoughts: This passage begins and ends with the soldiers.  They "took charge."  They "crucified him." They handled his clothes.  Jesus was as meek as a Passover Lamb being led to the slaughter.  Jesus said nothing this whole time.  Pilate was the one who made the claim for Jesus that He was a King.  This passage points out that Jesus was not only tortured physically, but He was also humiliated and mocked.  Psalm 22 is a prophecy of the crucifixion.  It is clear that Jesus simply did not try to fulfill these prophesies.  Some of them were fulfilled by His enemies (His betrayal, the casting lots for his garment, the not breaking of His bones).  It is clear, even to the detail who is the real King here.  While the passage says that "the soldiers took charge", the One hanging on the cross was the real King of Kings.  

Prayer: Lord, even in the tough times, help me to trust in you as my King. 

(Montegna 1549)