John 19: 17And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:18Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst. 19And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS. 20This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin. 21Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews. 22Pilate answered, What I have written I have written.
Colossians 2: 13And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.
This is deliberately written in this way by the inspiration of God to call our attention to the facts that we don’t want to know. We are responsible for our own lives, our own soul, our own actions, and our own deeds. Whatever we do with God, with Jesus, and the plan of salvation is our responsibility. It’s in our hands. Colossians 2:14 speaks about the handwriting of ordinances that was against us.
We hear so often about the three nails of the cross, one in each hand of Jesus and one in his feet. There was a fourth nail above the head of Jesus. Crucifixion was a form of execution invented by the Romans. If a crime was punishable by death, crucifixion was how it was carried out. People were nailed to crosses. Calvary was the place of execution in Jerusalem. Above the head of the person on the cross, a board would be nailed that stated the name of the criminal and his crimes. It had to be in the handwriting of the condemning judge to be binding.
When Pilate talked to the Jews, he asked them what Jesus was guilty of. He told them he found no fault in him. They used the political angle and said they had no king but Caesar and Jesus claimed to be their king. Pilate relented and allowed Jesus to be crucified, but he wrote the saying placed above the head of Jesus. It was written in three languages of the day: Hebrew for the Jews, Greek for the Greeks and Latin for the Romans. All who read it understood that it was Jesus. It identified him and his crime. It said JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS. When the Jews saw it, they told Pilate to change it to read that Jesus said he was king. Pilate, however, said what I have written I have written. The people saw it and knew it was true because it was handwritten by Pilate.
Your handwriting is exclusive to you. No two people have the same. Just like your retina, your DNA, and your fingerprints are unlike anyone else’s, neither is your handwriting. It defines you. It identifies you. Experts can tell a lot about you by your handwriting. It is your responsibility. The spiritual matters of your soul are your responsibility. You cannot blame anyone else for your spiritual condition; you cannot pass the buck. You and you alone are responsible for your soul. Someone may forge your signature, but an expert can tell. God knows the handwriting of the spiritual book that you’re writing. When the dust settles, you will have lived how you wanted. You will have made your own choices.
Before you wrote the first page in your spiritual book, the fingers of God wrote in stone the Ten Commandments, the moral law of the world. True and false, right and wrong were made known to all. Those commandments were written on stone by the fingers of God, not Moses. They are our responsibility. We have all sinned and come short. We cannot keep the commandments; that sin is our responsibility individually. The truth of God’s word gives us the clear vision of what is right and wrong. The devil doesn’t want us to know that. The Word runs contrary to us because our Adam nature is prone to sin against the truth of God. While the Word was given to help us, we find ourselves against it by our own sin. The Word was given as a light to illuminate the night. It was given by God, the handwriting of the truth. It shows us our sin. It shows us who we really are. We’re frail. We’re a fallen race that deserves judgment.
The thieves crucified with Jesus deserved their punishment. One even testified to that saying they were there justly. The man on the middle cross had done no wrong. He was guilty of one thing, and Pilate correctly wrote it on his inscription. We could not and cannot get it right. God knew we needed a Savior. He could have easily destroyed us, but instead he gave us his son. John 3:17 says for God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. The innocent became guilty. Jesus deliberately came and suffered to the death when he willingly stretched out his hands to be nailed to the cross. Our sins can now be forgiven.
Every sin you commit is your responsibility. Sin is the result of failing to follow the truth of God’s Word. You are the author of your own sin. You wrote it. No one else does it for you. It’s important to understand that. It’s your condemnation, your judgment. It’s your hell that Jesus came to save you from. With his own blood he wrote the plan of salvation that would deliver you from the condemnation of your sin and supersede even your own handwriting. He took the handwriting of ordinances that was against us and nailed it to the cross. He was wounded for our transgressions and by his stripes we are healed. You can take God at his Word; it’s written in his own handwriting.
You cannot trust your hands, your eyes, or your feet. They may lead you to wrong. You cannot save yourself. I’m so glad someone came from heaven. I was writing my own plaque, but Jesus took my place on the cross and nailed my sins to it with his own hands. He did that for you too.
What kind of book are you writing? You are writing one, and it’s all yours. You have sole responsibility for it. That’s why you need a Savior. Jesus successfully nailed the book you’re writing to the cross with his blood. The only written invitation you have is in the Bible, God’s holy Word. Will you accept the invitation and let him handle the handwriting in your book?
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 