November 11, 2023

Posted For All To See

(Some information may be too graphic for small children)

“Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It was written, ‘JESUS THE NAZARENE, THE KING OF THE JEWS.’ Therefore many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Latin and in Greek.” John 19:19-20 (NASB)

            In practically every uniform in the world, the person’s name is on the uniform, and the organization he/ she is a part of helps identify the person’s affiliation. I had it on the U. S. Army and Sheriff’s Office uniform. It helps everyone to know who you are, and what organization you are affiliated with. It makes proper identification. In Jesus’s case, He had an inscription from Pilate placed above His head so all would know who He was, and where He was from.

            “Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It was written, ‘JESUS THE NAZARENE, THE KING OF THE JEWS.’” What would have been seen on the cross was:

(Hebrew)     ישוע הנצרי ומלך היהודי;

(Latin)             IESUS NAZARENUS REX IOUDAEORM,

(Greek)            Ἰησοῦς ὁ Ναζωραῖος ὁ Βασιλεὺς τῶν ουδαίων

            “Normally, the accused and condemned wore a placard or tablet around the neck of the victim as he made his way to execution. The tablet would then be nailed to the victim’s cross (see Matt. 27:37; Mark 15:26; Luke 23:38).”[1] Irritated by the Jew's constant complaining, “The game between Pilate and the priests continued with the writing of the notice (Gr., titlon; Latin, titulus) which was usually attached to a criminal’s cross. It read, Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews. Since the sign was written in three languages—Aramaic, Latin, and Greek—and the Crucifixion was in a public place, all who could read saw a clear proclamation.”[2] These three languages represented the entire known world at the time. During this time preparation was still underway for Passover. There would have been people from all over the known world traveling through the city of Jerusalem and the countryside. What is also interesting is Jesus, while residing in Nazareth at the time was not originally from Nazareth. He was born in Bethlehem (Luke 2:4). Technically Jesus was from Bethlehem. Nicodemus was charged with this investigation by the Pharisees back in John 7:50-52, “Nicodemus (he who came to Him before, being one of them) said to them, “Our Law does not judge a man unless it first hears from him and knows what he is doing, does it?’ They answered him, ‘You are not also from Galilee, are you? Search, and see that no prophet arises out of Galilee.’” When the Pharisees charged Nicodemus with the investigation, they didn’t remember Jonah and Nahum came from Galilee.

            The Jews would hate this sign. It mocked their belief that Jesus was the King of the Jews. Pilate but Pilate didn’t care. In tomorrow’s time, we will see he was through with the Jews. Even though the Jews didn’t like the sign, it still was not accurate. This was another mockery by Pilate of the Jew's failures in condemning Jesus and they didn’t even see it.

[1] (MacArthur, John, 1997). 1624.

[2] Blum, E. A. (1985). In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 339). Victor Books.