The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.” [John 19:21 NIV]
Pilate had made his point and the Jewish religious leaders did not like the implications of the writing on display above the cross. It is interesting that Pilate instructed his soldiers to make a sign to state who Jesus is and why he is being crucified. It is likely that it was the custom at public crucifixions to place some sign near the cross to identify the 'crime' of the victim so that others would be warned not to follow the example of this person hanging in such a degrading fashion. The whole point of crucifixion was to make an example to others who would watch this long, slow agonising tortuous death. Pilate was determined to make his point. He had the writing translated into three languages Aramaic, Greek and Latin. He wanted people to see this shameful sight. He was making sure that the Jews would get the point and that explains the Aramaic version of the sign but he wanted to shame them by insisting on the translation into Latin (the language of the Roman empire) and the soldiers and Greek (the language of the civilised world.) John tells us that the site of the execution was very public. (John 19:20)
The wording of the sign was too much for the Jewish religious hierarchy and the chief priest protested to Pilate. He wanted a subtle but significant change. According to the chief priests, Jesus claimed to be the King of the Jews, but he cannot be labelled as this because the Jewish religious leaders had rejected the claims that Jesus made to be Son of God and it was this rejection that led them to hand him over to the Roman army to have him executed.
Pilate's unwillingness to agree to this request is very interesting. On the one hand, he appears to be childish - having given in to their demand to have him crucified, he is making a fuss about an apparently trivial point - the wording of the inscription over the cross. But Pilate is showing his contempt for the Jewish people in general and for their religious leaders in particular. This was a massive insult to them and a reminder that the Romans are still in control of Judea. He wanted other nations to witness his contempt for the Jews. He is taking this opportunity to slander the Jews. This was the King of the Jews - see what has happened to him. This is what the Romans do to those who oppose him. This is what the Romans think of the Jews.
There have been two millennia where the Jews have been subjected to abuse and contempt. The history of the Jewish people has been tragic. If only, the Jews had recognised their Messiah, things could have been so different. The early Christians had to preach to the Jews and the other nations that this same Jesus - the object of utter contempt - was indeed the King of the Jews and the long promised Messiah. He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Our attitude to him is critical and life changing. Our attitude to him determines our future destiny after this life is over.
There were those who derided Jesus claim to be King of the Jews while he was hanging upon the cross. Matthew tells us that the chief priests with the scribes and the elders took the opportunity to mock his claim to kingship. They suggested that he had the ideal opportunity to prove that he was the Messiah. "He saved others (a reference perhaps to Lazarus or the healing of the sick) but he cannot even save himself," they jeered at him. "If he is the King of Israel, here is his opportunity to prove that by coming down from the cross." They even had the audacity to add, "and we will believe him." They had discounted the many miracles and they would dispute the proof of his resurrection. So Pilate's inscription was used to powerful effect. The soldiers who would understand the Latin inscription, offered him sour wine, not likely to reduce his suffering and maybe the exact opposite - to prolong his agony. They wanted him to suffer as long as possible and thirst was likely to weaken him and cause him to fall into a state of unconsciousness. They also mocked his claim to be king, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself." [John 19:36-37 NIV]
Pilate did not appreciate that he was making a true statement. Jesus is the promised Messiah, the descendant of King David whose kingdom will have no end. Here is a quotation from a Psalm which was originally applied to King Solomon but in its fullest application it applies to the rule of the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth
May he endure as long as the sun, as long as the moon, through all generations. May he be like rain falling on a mown field, like showers watering the earth. In his days may the righteous flourish and prosperity abound till the moon is no more. May he rule from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth. [Psalm 72: 5-8 NIV]
There are many statements in John's Gospel which have a double meaning - See, for example, John 3:14 ('lifted up.'); John 4:10 ('living water'); 8:24 ('I am'); John 11:50-51. See also John 3:3-6 ('born again.') John, the writer of the fourth gospel often employs terms which can be applied at a deeper level. Little did this Roman governor realise that his description of the man on the cross is entirely appropriate as Jesus was the promised Messiah, the descendant of King David.
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