The Dig – John 19: 19-22

Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews. Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. 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.”
Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”

The past three and a half weeks have largely been devoted to Pilate. During this time I feel like I have come to know him more as a person. The Pilate we see in the other gospels doesn’t always come off so human. John spends considerable time describing this man and the efforts he made to avoid killing a man he considered innocent.

From the first, when Jesus is brought to Pilate, until handing him over the soldiers several hours later, Pilate sought to release Jesus. Not until the Jews finally forced his hand did he relent. Today’s verse suggests he wasn’t happy about it.

While the soldiers are forcing Jesus to carry his cross on the long walk to Golgotha, Pilate is busy. He has a sign made to have mounted on Jesus’ cross. He does not have long before Jesus reaches the place of crucifixion. Even so, he takes the time to have the message written in three languages: Aramaic, Latin, and Greek. The message says:

JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS

JESUS NAZARENUS, REX IUDÆORUM

Ο ΙΗΣΟΥΣ ΤΗΣ ΝΑΖΑΡΕΤΗ, Ο ΔΗΜΟΣΙΟΝΟΜΟΣ ΤΩΝ ΙΑΒΩΝ

We don’t know how much Pilate knew about the Jewish religion, but he knew that calling Jesus the “king of the Jews” irritated the Jewish leaders. He would have the last word. To use an old expression, he “got his digs in.” It may be, in some strange way, he also wanted to honor the unusual man he had condemned to death. The man who was king, but not of a kingdom on earth.

The Jews, of course, were incensed. Writing those words on a sign seemed to be an accusation. Like they had done something wrong instead of cleansing the world of a horrible blasphemer. They appeal to Pilate to change the sign. Pilate’s answer is classic, “What I have written, I have written.”

Application: Pilate is outflanked by the Jews politically and forced to do something against his better judgment. But he doesn’t have to like it. He is not above voicing his protest. Perhaps the application here is that we, too, should remember that even when we are powerless to change events, we are always able to speak the truth.

Food for Thought: Why did Pilate write the sign in three languages if he was just trying to provoke the Jews?

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