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The Desire of Ages
God’s purpose was reaching its fulfillment. Jesus was earning the right
to become the advocate of men in the Father’s presence.
That prayer of Christ for His enemies embraced the world. It took
in every sinner that had lived or should live, from the beginning of the
world to the end of time. Upon all rests the guilt of crucifying the Son
of God. To all, forgiveness is freely offered. “Whosoever will” may
have peace with God, and inherit eternal life.
As soon as Jesus was nailed to the cross, it was lifted by strong
men, and with great violence thrust into the place prepared for it. This
caused the most intense agony to the Son of God. Pilate then wrote
an inscription in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, and placed it upon the
cross, above the head of Jesus. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth the King
of the Jews.” This inscription irritated the Jews. In Pilate’s court they
had cried, “Crucify Him.” “We have no king but Caesar.”
John 19:15
.
They had declared that whoever should acknowledge any other king
was a traitor. Pilate wrote out the sentiment they had expressed. No
offense was mentioned, except that Jesus was the King of the Jews.
The inscription was a virtual acknowledgment of the allegiance of
the Jews to the Roman power. It declared that whoever might claim
to be the King of Israel would be judged by them worthy of death.
The priests had overreached themselves. When they were plotting
the death of Christ, Caiaphas had declared it expedient that one man
should die to save the nation. Now their hypocrisy was revealed. In
order to destroy Christ, they had been ready to sacrifice even their
national existence.
The priests saw what they had done, and asked Pilate to change the
inscription. They said, “Write not, The King of the Jews; but that He
said, I am King of the Jews.” But Pilate was angry with himself because
of his former weakness, and he thoroughly despised the jealous and
artful priests and rulers. He replied coldly, “What I have written I have
written.”
A higher power than Pilate or the Jews had directed the placing of
that inscription above the head of Jesus. In the providence of God it
was to awaken thought, and investigation of the Scriptures. The place
where Christ was crucified was near to the city. Thousands of people
from all lands were then at Jerusalem, and the inscription declaring
Jesus of Nazareth the Messiah would come to their notice. It was a
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living truth, transcribed by a hand that God had guided.