“The Inscription”
“The Inscription”
John 19.17-22
John 19.17-22
In the name of the Living God and the crucified Christ. Amen.
“Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” (John 19.19)
This Lententide we’ve encountered together some of the “Objects of the Passion”—individual items which appear in the gospel accounts of Jesus’ suffering and death. We’ve seen thirty pieces of silver shimmering in the sunlight, grimaced as a sword severed a servant’s ear, heard the temple curtain torn in two from top to bottom. Behind these objects pulses a love from our Lord for us and for all people. Today this heartbeat of love beats strongest, even as the darkness of Good Friday is deepest.
Of all the items we’ve encountered other than the cross itself, The Inscription “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews,” is arguably the most public. This is no accident. It was required for condemned criminals to have the charges of their conviction hung around their necks or processed before them as they stumbled towards death. Once they reached the place of crucifixion, the tablet or placard would be fastened on top of the cross for all to see.[1]
Pilate writes the cause of Jesus’ death (which was actually the initial charge he was accused of) in Aramaic (the language of the locals), Latin (of Roman military and law), and Greek (the common tongue of the whole Empire, and well known up in Galilee).[2] The Lord is crucified along the roadside just outside the city wall, at an entrance and exit point where multitudes would read and see his crime: “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” This was a public object indeed.
But this particular inscription is more than a legal declaration or a deterrent for rebellious subjects. It’s a bit personal this time. Pilate’s tone is a deliberately provocative against the religious leaders of Jerusalem who originally accused Jesus of this crime. Pilate seems to be mocking their hypocritical insistence that, “We have no king but Caesar!” (John 19.15) and tries to put them in their place at bit by reminding them that a crucified criminal is the best they can hope for: “Here’s your king!” We get the sense that Pilate tries to stick it to them one last time after they cornered him into this bloody mess.
But none of this is the true meaning of The Inscription. If it were just a legal declaration or oppressive deterrent or a parting shot from a resentful governor, none of us would be here today, would we? It would be just one more example of our world’s injustice, cruelty, and bitterness between peoples. And we don’t need more of those, do we?
No, “The Inscription” above Jesus’ dying head means more than any of them could have imagined. We know now that it is indeed the most meaningful title ever given.
Jesus was indeed “King of the Jews,” for so he is, but a king of a different and unexpected kind. His victory for them would be found in suffering. His method, humility. His law, the law of love. His declaration, “father, forgive.” His throne, an instrument of execution. His purposes, to bring peace and reconciliation. Jesus is indeed, “King of the Jews,” for Yahweh would now rule them through the person and work of this same Jesus of Nazareth.
The Lord’s kingship is beyond one particular race or people or location, however. He’s all of our king too. For through the glory of his crucifixion he has wrought the forgiveness of all of our sins and reconciliation between us and God, and us and one another. His is a rule of grace. What greater king could we have?
Jesus himself prepared his disciples for the ironic reign from the cross when he said, “The hour has come for the son of man to be glorified” (John 12.23); and “I, when I am lifted up from the earth will draw all people to myself” (John 12.32).
One commentator put it this way: “The Crucified One is the true king, the kingliest king of all; because it is he who is stretched on the cross, he turns an obscene instrument of torture into a throne of glory and reigns from the tree.”[3]
This is your king too today: hanging dying, love beating, but soon to be risen, ascended and glorified. Even if you feel like the world’s injustice is too great, or your suffering too long, or the darkness in your life too deep. Kneel before him in sorrow, but remember though it’s Good Friday, Easter’s coming and this King reigns forever.
Come soon, Lord Jesus. Amen.
[1] I follow D. A. Carson, The Gospel According to John, 610.
[2] Ibid.
[3] F. F. Bruce, The Gospel of John, 369, emphasis added.