Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
“Above him there was an inscription: ‘This is the King of the Jews.’” The technical term for this inscription is called the ‘Titulus Crucis’, and according to Roman custom it was a board that was carried in front of the condemned person or sometimes put around their neck, so it could be easily be attached to the cross.
We know from scripture that Pilate was responsible and took the initiative in writing these words, while it would have normally been a scribe to commission this type of work. This inscription was written in three languages, Hebrew, Latin and Greek which were the great languages of the cultured world at that time in the Roman empire.
Every nation had something to teach the world. In Greece they taught the world – Philosophy. Rome taught the world – The law and right government, and the Hebrews taught world – religion in worshipping the one true God.
Since Jesus was ‘The law of God’ and the ‘image of God’, it is symbolic that the great nations of the world should claim Him King. Jesus’ Kingship was universally proclaimed to all passers-by, through this multi-lingual announcement, indicating that Jesus was drawing all people to himself.
The ‘Jews’ as you can imagine, rejected this title and insisted that Jesus was only a pretender to these claims. However, Pilate replied, ‘What I have written, I have written,’ and he would not allow the inscription to be altered.
While, Pilate seemed to crumble under the pressure at Jesus’ trial by the High Priest and Pharisees’, Pilate now is reasserting his authority, forcing the Pharisees’ to live with his decision, to a title of honour, confirming Jesus’ Kingship, that the ‘Jews’ were very keen to stamp out from the very beginning.
As we know, Jesus was crucified close to the city walls, and as a result, the Titulus inscription publicly became a talking point among the people. The advantage of it being written in three languages, was to help formally announce ‘Jesus as King’ across the whole world.
Originally the Titulus inscription was to charge Jesus as a royal pretender. But now this real enthronement on the cross shows Jesus’ Royal Sovereignty and Kingship which is now acknowledged for all time. Heralded by Pilate as a prophecy, who represented the greatest political power in the world, written in the sacred and secular languages of the era, shows the event of Jesus’ ‘hour’ on the cross, his only sacrifice as High Priest, Prophet and King as an important divinely event that concerns the entire world, giving humanity a last chance of salvation, to repent and believe.
We read in the first chapter of John’s Gospel, the ‘Word became flesh, and dwelt amongst us.’ Jesus is the Word of God; He came to earth over 2000 years ago as a child.
However, Jesus existed longer than that. He has no being and no end, like the Father & the Holy Spirit.
They are the Alpha and the Omega, being with God the Father from the very beginning. When creation of the universe began, Jesus was there as God’s Word, making everything come into reality. Jesus is truly the King of the Universe.
Jesus has now opened the doors to everlasting life, through his ‘Hour’ of Glorification and Exaltation on the cross. Through our Baptism in his Death & Resurrection, may we too enjoy his Kingship as anointed ‘Children of God’, as we continue to sing God’s praises with all the angels and saints during our liturgy of Holy Mass.
Rev. Fr Philip Wrigley's Blog 