36 Then they sat down and kept watch over him there. 37 And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” (Matthew 27:36–37 (ESV)
26 And the inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” 27 And with him they crucified two robbers, one on his right and one on his left.” (Mark 15:26–27 (ESV)
38 There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.” (Luke 23:38 (ESV)
18 There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. 19 Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” 20 Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. 21 So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’ ” 22 Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.” (John 19:18–22 (ESV)
In our study of the Gospel of Matthew’s record of the Passion Week of the Lord Jesus Christ, it is necessary, and insightful, to examine all four Gospel accounts. This discipline provides us understanding of all the events and encounters which took place during those hours.
For the next several days we will examine what occurred during the first three hours of Jesus’ crucifixion. Today’s focus is the inscription Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.
What is an inscription? An inscription (ἐπιγραφή; epigraphe) are words inscribed on a monument or in a book. Historically, they were written mostly on rocks, stones, walls of buildings, metals etc.
For example, the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. prominently features inscribed texts of two speeches by President Abraham Lincoln: The Gettysburg Address and his Second Inaugural Address. Within the historical context of first century crucifixions by the Romans, “the condemned person often carried the charge (Latin titulus) to the site of execution,” explains commentator Craig Keener.
John’s Gospel explains Pontius Pilate wrote the inscription placed on Jesus’ cross. It was located above the Lord’s head and read, ““Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” Matthew’s Gospel states, ““This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” Mark records, ““The King of the Jews,” while Luke’s Gospel says, ““This is the King of the Jews.” Additionally, John records Pilate wrote the inscription in Aramaic, Latin and Greek.
Matthew and Mark indicate the inscription contained a charge (αἰτία; aitia) against the Lord. A charge contained “the content of legal charges brought against someone—‘accusation, charge, complaint,” explains the Louw and Nida Greek Lexicon.
The Jewish chief priests, Caiaphas and Annas, were not pleased. They said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’ “ (John 19:21). Pilate replied, “What I have written I have written,” (John 19:22). Pilate’s actions reflected more his disdain for the Jewish leaders than any personal condemnation of Jesus or any commitment in receiving Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
“The Jewish leaders desired to have the ambiguity removed. For reasons of his own Pilate refused. If we bear in mind that by means of this very cross Jesus actually won the victory (John 12:32) we shall understand that he is indeed King over all, including the Jews,” explains Dr. William Hendriksen.
Soli deo Gloria!
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