It’s Easter and people are celebrating all around the world this weekend! Most are celebrating the beautiful gift of life and friendship with God through Jesus. Many are celebrating… Spring.

In the US, it seems our culture is hung up on what we call things. Schools, bridges, roads, buildings, and more are being renamed. I think it’s important to call things by their real name. Keep it simple and graceful.

When He was crucified, Jesus was called a lot of names. The last nail to be hammered into Jesus’ Cross fixed in place a sign over His head.

This sign met all the requirements for the international crowds in Jerusalem for the festival. Written in Latin, the legal system was satisfied. The Greek informed the “everyman” from everywhere on the street. And the Hebrew gave the religious what they wanted.

Or did it?

Each Gospel writer gives what he saw during the traumatizing and horrendous experience (they reported without contradicting). Matthew writes: This is Jesus, the King of the Jews. Mark, in typical brevity: The King of the Jews. Luke, writing to the nations included: This is the King of the Jews. John gives the most graphic account of the crucifixion: Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.

Film-makers set their scenes with focus on the “dominant” – the first place the eye goes. If you wandered into this crucifixion, your focus would be on the body of Jesus hung in humiliation to die a painful death. But the “next dominant” is important to the scene, too. After the shock of seeing the brutal results of the punishment, your eyes would escape the pain to the next dominant – the placard – to discover who this was and what warranted the brutality.

The placard was likely drawn in big black letters over a white graphite smeared background so people could see it. This epigraphae or titulus as is was called was the second thing people would see.

THIS IS JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS

The religious hierarchy wasn’t happy and wanted a clarification (Jesus claimed to be king). Pilate, in a final jab of humiliation at the Jewish leaders, would leave the words with certainty.

Many who were present at the scene and even more in the near future would discover the Lord of Love and join the heavenlies in saying yes: He is King Jesus.

This is Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews. The scandalous cross initiated the invasion of the Kingdom of Heaven on earth, one heart at a time.

Celebrating the Cross and the Resurrection!