“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 attached to the cross. We know from scripture that Pilate was responsible and took the initiative in writing these words, while it would normally be a scribe to commission this type of work. On this Titulus inscription, Pilate had asserted Jesus’ royal status during his trial, as it was written in three languages, Hebrew, Latin and Greek which were the great languages of the cultured world in the Roman empire.
Every nation had something to teach the world. Greece taught the world form and thought in Philosophy. Rome taught the world law and good government, and Hebrews taught world religion in worshipping the one true God.
Jesus was the law of God and the image of God. It is symbolic that the great languages of the nations in the world should claim Him King.
Jesus’ Kingship was ironically universally proclaimed to passers-by, this multi-lingual announcement indicated that Jesus was drawing all people to himself. The ‘Jews’ rejected this title and insisted that Jesus was only a pretender to these claims, but Pilate replied, ‘What I have written, I have written,’ and he would not allow this inscription to be altered.
Since Pilate seemed to crumble to the pressure in the trial by the High Priest and Pharisees’, Pilate is now reasserting his authority, forcing the priests to live with his decision, giving a title which, the Jewish authorities had precisely denied in Jesus’ trial.
In this title of honour, Pilate oddly becomes a witness, confirming Jesus’ Kingship, since the ‘Jews’ were unable to stamp it out.
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, about the manifestation of Jesus’ Kingship, which was an undesirable thought for the ‘Jews’. The advantage for having the inscription in three languages, helped to formally announce ‘Jesus is King’ to 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.
We read in the first chapter of John’s Gospel, the ‘Word became flesh, and dwelt amongst us.’ Jesus is the ‘Logos,’ Word of God; He came to earth over 2000 years ago as a child. But 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, the Holy Trinity. Jesus was with God the Father from the very beginning.
When God the Father, thought and spoke about the creation of the universe for the love of mankind, Jesus Christ as God’s Word, made it a reality. Jesus is truly the King of the Universe.
Jesus has opened the doors to everlasting life, through his ‘Hour’ of Glorification and Exaltation on the cross. Through our Baptism in his Death & Resurrection, and by leading a repentant holy life, may we too enjoy his Kingship as anointed ‘Children of God’, singing God’s praises with all the angels and saints in his Heavenly Kingdom.
Rev. Fr Philip Wrigley's Blog 