John 19:19-22

‘And Pilate wrote a title also, and put it on the cross. And there was written, JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. This title therefore read many of the Jews for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Hebrew (Aramaic?) and Latin and Greek. And the Chief Priests of the Jews therefore said to Pilate, “Do not write the King of the Jews, but that he said, ‘I am the king of the Jews'.” Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written”.'

It was normal for a man's crime to be recorded on his cross, and what Pilate wrote tied in with his earlier words (John 18:39; John 19:14). The Jews had charged Him with claiming to be a king, so Pilate was determined to let the Jews know that he saw Jesus as their king. Something about Jesus had impressed him, and besides, he hated these proud, demanding priests. He possibly felt that Jesus was their superior. So he was being deliberately provocative. The use of three languages ensured that all could read it wherever they came from. Aramaic was often spoken of as ‘Hebrew'. Aramaic and Greek were the two popular languages in the area.

The cross was clearly in a very public place where many people passed by and as they passed they read what was written. The city was still full of people there for the Passover, which would include many Galileans. And as they looked at this One whom they had seen as a prophet, no doubt many a word was said, and many a rumour passed round. The King of the Jews had been crucified. And the stories built up, and blame was ascribed. It is not surprising that the Chief Priests were unhappy.

They therefore approached Pilate to ask him to change the words. But Pilate knew that he was on safe ground here. He had had enough of these interfering priests, and it must have given him great pleasure to be able to say, ‘what I have written, I have written.' As far as he was concerned, if anyone deserved that miserable title of ‘King of the Jews' it was Jesus. As far as the writer was concerned he wanted his readers to know that Jesus' claim bore Pilate's approbation.

‘The chief priests of the Jews'. This is an expression only used here. There is an ironic contrast between ‘the king of the Jews' and the ‘chief priests of the Jews'. He came to His own and His own received Him not (John 1:11). They were the chief priests of the very people over whom He was king, but they disowned Him. And they were supposed to be representing God.