John 19:19 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews."

NIV: Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

NASB: Now Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It was written: 'JESUS THE NAZARENE, THE KING OF THE JEWS.'

CSB: Pilate also had a sign made and put on the cross. It said: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

NLT: And Pilate posted a sign on the cross that read, 'Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.'

KJV: And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.

NKJV: Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Crucifixion was an act of violation and terror. Victims were subjected to humiliation, their nude, mutilated bodies hung in public, as they slowly died in unimaginable pain. Most often, bodies were left to decay and scavengers. All of this sent a message about Rome's power and dominance. Along with those purposes, crucifixion victims would often be labeled with the crimes, so passers-by would connect those acts with their consequences (John 19:20).

Pilate is the Roman governor who ordered Jesus' execution. He knew Jesus was the innocent victim of a personal feud (John 18:36–38; Matthew 27:24). However, Pilate was also successfully bullied by a mob. His constant references to Jesus as "King of the Jews" (John 19:14–15) have two purposes. One is to preserve Pilate's ego; the crucifixion becomes a powerful Roman leader destroying the king of a lesser nation, instead of a cowardly politician executing the innocent to preserve his own power. The other purpose is more direct: the "crime" for which Rome is executing Christ is insurrection.

The religious leaders who conspired to have Jesus executed (John 11:48–53) will be offended at this label (John 19:21). They don't acknowledge Jesus as King, in any sense (John 5:39–40; Matthew 23:37). Irritating them is probably an extra benefit for Pilate, who will refuse to change the inscription (John 19:22).

Artwork depicting the crucifixion often shortens the inscription. In Latin, the phrase "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews" is Iēsus Nazarēnus Rēx Iūdaeōrum, initialized as I.N.R.I.

John 19:17–30 describes Jesus' unjust execution by crucifixion. The Roman governor, Pilate, ironically puts a sign on Jesus' cross proclaiming Him "King of the Jews." This angers Jewish religious leaders, but the governor refuses to take the sign down or change the wording. As Jesus calls out to John to care for His mother, Mary, soldiers gamble for what's left of His clothes. Jesus pronounces the completion of His atoning sacrifice and dies. Matthew 27:31–56, Mark 15:22–41, and Luke 23:32–49 cover this same series of events.

Pilate recognizes Jesus' innocence, but fears the mob assembled by Jewish religious leaders. He attempts to satisfy them by having Jesus viciously whipped and mocked. This only results in more cries for Jesus' death. The governor then shifts to protect his own reputation, ordering Jesus to be crucified on a charge of being "King of the Jews." John is directly present as Jesus is executed. He notes the fulfillment of several prophecies as Jesus dies. Once He is confirmed to be dead, Jesus' body is taken by two friendly members of the ruling council. They hastily bury Him in the borrowed crypt of a rich man.

When Jesus was first brought to Pilate, His innocence was obvious (John 18:36–38). However, the mob refuses to be satisfied with anything less than crucifixion. Pilate gives in to these demands. John, who is present for the entire gory spectacle, notes several instances of fulfilled prophecy (Psalm 22:18; Psalm 69:21; Exodus 12:46; Zechariah 12:10). Jesus is then buried in the borrowed tomb of a rich man (Isaiah 53:9) to complete yet another Old Testament prediction. A guard will be posted to ensure no one steals the body (Matthew 27:62–68), which will only serve to confirm that Jesus' eventual resurrection was a true miracle (John 20:1–8).

The disciple John wrote the gospel of John decades after the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke were written. The author assumes that a reader is already familiar with the content of these other works. So, John presents a different perspective, with a greater emphasis on meaning. John uses seven miracles—which he calls "signs"— to prove that Jesus is, in fact, God incarnate. Some of the most well-known verses in the Bible are found here. None is more famous than the one-sentence summary of the gospel found in John 3:16.