Calvary
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feelings of humanity in ting to a torturous death an innocent man.
Jesus was earning the right to become the Advocate for man in the
Father’s presence. That prayer of Christ for his enemies embraced the
world, taking in every sinner who should live, until the end of time.
After Jesus was nailed to the cross, it was lifted by several powerful
men, and thrust with great violence into the place prepared for it,
causing the most excruciating agony to the Son of God. Pilate then
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wrote an inscription in three different languages and placed it upon
the cross, above the head of Jesus. It ran thus: “This is Jesus, the
King of the Jews.” This inscription, placed so conspicuously upon the
cross, irritated the Jews. In Pilate’s court they had cried, Crucify him!
We have no king but Caesar! They declared that whoever claimed
other than Caesar for a king was a traitor. But they had overreached
themselves in disclaiming any desire to have a king of their own
nation. Pilate, in his inscription, wrote out the sentiments which they
had expressed. It was a virtual declaration, and so understood by all,
that the Jews acknowledged that on account of their allegiance to the
Roman power, any man who aspired to be king of the Jews, however
innocent in other respects, should be judged by them worthy of death.
There was no other offense named in the inscription; it simply stated
that Jesus was the king of the Jews.
The Jews saw this, and asked Pilate to change the inscription. Said
the chief priests, “Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said,
I am King of the Jews.” But Pilate, angry with himself because of
his former weakness, and thoroughly despising the jealous and artful
priests and rulers, coldly replied, “What I have written I have written.”
And now a terrible scene was enacted. Priests, rulers, and scribes
forgot the dignity of their sacred offices, and joined with the rabble
in mocking and jeering the dying Son of God, saying, “If thou be
the King of the Jews, save thyself.” And some deridingly repeated
among themselves: “He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he
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be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and
we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if
he will have him; for he said, I am the Son of God.” “And they that
passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou
that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself,
and come down from the cross.”