Friday, March 30, 2007
John 19:19 Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
MEMENTOS OF HIS PASSION: A SIGN ABOVE HIS HEAD
Maybe you've seen the letters "I-N-R-I" used in church decorations. Those letters stand for the Latin, "Iesus Nazaretum Rex Iudeorum," or, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews." This was the superscription that Pontius Pilate gave to Jesus.
A criminal condemned to die by crucifixion was forced to carry his own cross to the place of execution. Normally, he'd be accompanied by a procession of soldiers. At the head of the procession marched a herald, who carried the criminal's "title" -- a sign, proclaiming the crime for which he was being executed. The sign might say, "THIEF," or "MURDERER," or "REVOLUTIONARY." When they reached the place of execution, the sign would be hung on his cross. That way, the passing public could learn a lesson about what happens to such people. Today, we learn a lesson from the title hung on Jesus' cross.
To the unbelieving Jews the sign was a mistake. This man had only claimed to be a king. He had even claimed to be the Son of God! To the unbelieving Jews, Jesus' title might as well have read, "Blasphemer".
To Pilate, the sign was a joke. Pilate hadn't wanted to crucify this man. He was obviously innocent. But Pilate had been bullied into doing it anyway. To Pilate, Jesus' title might as well have read, "Innocent Man".
To Christians, the sign hung above Jesus means what it says: This Man is a King. Sometimes a king sits on a throne, clean shaven and pronouncing judgments in service to his citizens. Sometimes a king stands on the battlefield, face dirty and bloodied, cutting down the enemies of His people.
Jesus' throne was a cross instead of a jeweled chair. His hand held a nail instead of a shimmering sword. But the sign got it right. He is our King, and more. He is our God, our Savior and our Eternal King.
