It Is What It Is

It is What it Is  ||  John 19:16-22  ||  Dr. Lakeba Hibbler Williams

Our use of African American Vernacular English (AAVE) to communicate is so popular it’s being misidentified as Gen Z lingo. One of the ways AAVE has become popular is through the use of memes. Dictionary.com defines a meme as a cultural item in the form of an image, video, phrase, etc., that is spread via the internet and often altered in a creative or humorous way. Some memes are side splitting, rib cracking funny; and some memes communicate hard truths.

If the internet existed Friday, April 1st 33 C.E. (AD) on the Gregorian calendar the memes depicting the commentary of Pontius Pilate (the fifth governor of the Roman province of Judea) would be coming in hot! In particular, the ones describing the conversation between the chief priests of the Jews and Pilate regarding the power, supremacy and influence of Jesus.

Pilate wrote the following inscription “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews” at the place of Jesus’ crucifixion in Aramaic, in Latin and in Greek. He wanted everyone to know who Jesus was. When the chief priests asked Pilate to change the inscription from “The King of the Jews” to “This man said, I am the King of the Jews.” Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.” Or in the AAVE meme version of a hard truth “It is what it is.”

As we reflect on the death, burial and resurrection of our revolutionary Messiah, let us never forget He is King. He demonstrated his lordship over the Sabbath by healing a man and this set the plan in motion for Pharisees to plot against Him. Numbers 15:35 declares “And the Lord said to Moses, “The man shall be put to death; all the congregation shall stone him with stones outside the camp.”

Jesus laid down his life for you and I, so that we can be free. He personally carried our sins in His body on the cross [willingly offering Himself on it, as on an altar of sacrifice], so that we might die to sin [becoming immune from the penalty and power of sin] and live for righteousness; for by His wounds you [who believe] have been healed. 1 Peter 2:24 AMP

Prayer: King Jesus, God’s perfect sacrifice. Your sacrifice for us is the most important event that ever happen, period. “It is what it is!” Amen.
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