“There was a custom in Rome, when a man was condemned for a crime, if he were put in prison, they would nail a certificate of debt to the prison door. On that certificate of debt would be written the crime that this man was guilty of, the number of years that he would stay in prison—days, months, or whatever. And, when he had fulfilled his duty to the law, his certificate of debt was marked paid in full. It was taken, given to the judge, who would have it notarized; and, he would carry it with him. And, if anybody were to accuse him of that crime again, he could pull out the certificate of debt, and say, “Yes, I may have been guilty, but I have paid in full. You’re not going to bring me into double jeopardy; I’ve already paid for that crime.” - (Adrian Rogers: Nailed to the cross)

If a man was guilty of a capital offense and condemned to die, they would write that offense on a placard and nail it to his cross above his head. Remember that Pilate did this to Jesus. Above His head, nailed to His cross was a sign that stated “Jesus Christ, the King of the Jews”

Roman crucifixions were done in public. The authorities wanted people to see a man die in agony. On that cross, would be the crime that was committed. The goal was for every citizen who walked by to say, “I’ll never do that!  In Colossians 2:11-15 we find that there was something else “Nailed to the cross of Jesus” – v. 14 speaks of “the handwriting of ordinances that was against us”

We know that Jesus was sinless - 2 Corinthians 5:21 “Him who knew no sin, God had made to be sin for us” - Christ became sin for us and from God’s point of view, our sin was “nailed on the cross.”

If we had been on that cross God could have nailed many different sins over our head! What would yours say?”

-Kevin Jones (from sermoncentral.com)

 

Lord Jesus, this is Dennis, thank You for dying on the cross for my sins.

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