Wednesday, March 19, 2014

King of the Jews

So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” 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. 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.’” Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.” (Jn 19:16-22)
“What I have written I have written.” The accusation of the Jews that Pilate was not a friend of Caesars if he recognized any other king has backfired. Now they want him to change what he has written to say that Jesus said he was king of the Jews. But Pilate will not bend. He has put to death the king of the Jews. He will have this placard remain. He meant it as a warning to be sure. But truth has a way of coming out. What Pilate wrote is true. It is something that every nation will one day recognize. Jesus is King of the Jews. Even today he is King, and the cross is his throne. Here he rules through the forgiveness of sins.

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