And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross, and the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. (20) This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin. (21) Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews. (22) Pilate answered, What I have written, I have written.
There is somewhat very striking and well worthy of our regard, in the title which Pilate wrote and put on the cross of Christ. I will beg to detain the Reader while I propose an observation or two upon it.
It appears from history, that it was the custom of the Romans, when at any time inflicting capital punishment, first to proclaim the name and crimes of the person going to suffer. Sometimes this was done by an herald going before the culprit to the place of execution, and sometimes by publishing his name and crimes over his head, that all passing by might read. And in all those cases, it was done with a view to justify the sentence, and to make known the equity of the Roman nation and character.
In this instance of our dear Lord, there are two points which are more particularly deserving our notice. The first is, that the Inscription on Christ's cross was the very reverse of what they intended, for it confirmed both Christ's innocency, and proved by their own confession what Jesus had claimed; This is the King of the Jews. And the other is, that Pilate himself who had passed sentence of death upon Jesus for the claim, now confirmed it with his own hand. And no sooner was the thing done, than some of the more knowing ones perceived the oversight, and begged Pilate to alter it. But the Lord who compelled Pilate's hand thus to honor Christ, and write his own mittimus of condemnation, restrained his heart from allowing any change. What I have written, (said he), I have written. And this positiveness in such a character as Pilate is the more wonderful, who had before shewn such a changeable, fearful, and irresolute mind. Reader! think of it, and behold how the Lord thus overruled the whole to vindicate Christ's innocency, to proclaim his royalties, and to have his name published in the three great languages of the chief part of the then governing world. The Hebrew tongue being the language of the Jews, the Greek of the Gentiles among the greater parts of the earth, and the Latin the ordinary dialect of the Romans. What but the predisposing power of the Lord could have induced all these things? And who but must see the divine hand in the whole?