Topical Bible: the King Christ: Written on his Cross

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The phrase "King Christ: Written on His Cross" refers to the inscription placed above Jesus during His crucifixion, which declared His identity and the charge against Him. This event is recorded in all four Gospels, each providing a slightly different account of the wording, reflecting the multilingual nature of the inscription and the theological emphasis of each Gospel writer.

Biblical Accounts:

1. Matthew 27:37 : "Above His head they posted the written charge against Him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS."

2. Mark 15:26 : "And the charge inscribed against Him read: THE KING OF THE JEWS."

3. Luke 23:38 : "Above Him was posted an inscription: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS."

4. John 19:19-20 : "Pilate also had a notice posted on the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Many of the Jews read this sign, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, Latin, and Greek."

Historical and Theological Context:

The inscription was ordered by Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, as a formal declaration of the charge against Jesus. It was customary for the crime of the condemned to be displayed publicly, serving as a deterrent to others. In this case, the charge was that Jesus claimed to be "The King of the Jews," a title with both political and messianic implications.

The title "King of the Jews" was significant in several ways:

· Political Implications: From a Roman perspective, any claim to kingship was seen as a challenge to Caesar's authority. Pilate's inscription was likely intended to mock the Jewish leaders and to emphasize Roman dominance. However, it also inadvertently proclaimed a profound truth about Jesus' identity.

· Messianic Fulfillment: For the Jewish people, the title "King of the Jews" was a messianic claim. The Old Testament prophesied a coming king from the line of David who would establish God's kingdom (2 Samuel 7:12-16; Isaiah 9:6-7). Jesus' crucifixion under this title highlighted the fulfillment of these prophecies, though in a manner unexpected by many.

· Universal Message: The inscription was written in Aramaic, Latin, and Greek, the three major languages of the region. This multilingual declaration symbolized the universal nature of Jesus' kingship, extending beyond the Jewish people to all nations.

Reactions and Significance:

The chief priests objected to Pilate's wording, requesting that it be changed to indicate that Jesus claimed to be king, rather than stating it as a fact (John 19:21). Pilate's response, "What I have written, I have written" (John 19:22), suggests a finality and perhaps an acknowledgment of the truth in the statement, whether intended or not.

Theologically, the inscription on the cross serves as a profound declaration of Jesus' identity and mission. It underscores the paradox of the crucifixion: the King of kings reigning from a cross, achieving victory through apparent defeat. This moment encapsulates the heart of the Gospel message, where Jesus' sacrificial death paves the way for His resurrection and the establishment of His eternal kingdom.

In Christian tradition, the inscription is often abbreviated as "INRI," derived from the Latin "Iesus Nazarenus, Rex Iudaeorum." This symbol has become a powerful reminder of Jesus' kingship and His redemptive work on the cross.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

John 19:19
And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

John Chapter xix. 17-22.
... would we have some great mystery [1876] to be understood in this superscription,
wherein it was written, "King of the Jews," if Christ is king also of ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate cxvii john chapter xix.htm

The Title on the Cross
... thus became an unconscious prophecy of Christ's universal dominion. ... of Nazareth to
be the acknowledged King of the ... is for ever true, and is written again in ...
/.../the title on the cross.htm

Christ Crucified
... And the superscription of His accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS. ...
Let the Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, that we ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 15 21-32 christ crucified.htm

Of the Fact that Matthew, Together with Mark, had Specially in ...
... Pilate replied, "What I have written, I have written." [507] For it ... in many other
testimonies of the divine Scriptures, Christ appears both as King and as ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter iii of the fact that.htm

Christ and his Cross the Centre of the Universe
... not only of prophet, but of priest and king and nation ... that, and the other bit of
the Book was written, that he ... Old and the New are a unity, and Christ and His ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture ephesians peter/christ and his cross the.htm

The victory of the King
... To the Jews He was wont to answer, 'I say unto you'; to Satan He answers, 'It is
written.' He puts honour on 'the sword of the Spirit ... Christ is King of all ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/the victory of the king.htm

Christ Foreseeing the Cross
... In the volume of the book it is written of Me, I delight to do ... died for our sins,
and rose again to live for ever, our Priest and King. We need a whole Christ. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/christ foreseeing the cross.htm

It is with no Loss or Disparagement Therefore of his Divine Nature ...
... The king, therefore, is said indeed to have been ... Cross." Read, therefore, what you
find written in the ... Jeremiah: "The Spirit of our countenance, Christ the Lord ...
/.../17 it is with no.htm

A New Kind of King
... Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made
it a den of ... But cool, unemotional recognition of Christ as King is as ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/a new kind of king.htm

To the King of France
... This letter to Charles V. was evidently written during her ... maid of Siena serenely
to the great King""So you ... slave of the servants of Jesus Christ, write to ...
/.../benincasa/letters of catherine benincasa/to the king of france.htm