What I Have Written I Have Written

Lesson #316

We ended the previous lesson with Pilate writing an inscription on a sign and attaching it to the cross declaring that Jesus was the King of the Jews. “Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek” (John 19:20 ESV). The place where Jesus was crucified was called Golgotha, or the Place of the Skull, and was located a short distance outside of the city. I decided to Google the location of Golgotha and found the following: “The notion that Golgotha, “The Place of the Skull” (Matthew 27:33), was named because of the appearance of the hill is a modern idea. From early Christian times, virtually all commentators held that Golgotha was so named simply because it was a place of execution, where the skulls and bones of criminals lay scattered.” (Link to quote.) It was a place where many would come and go to see what was happening. Pilate had the inscription written in three languages so all could read it to show that he claimed to be King over all. These three languages were the principal languages at the time and probably understood by Pilate so he chose to use them.

As you might expect, the chief priests of the Jews didn’t like this and said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’” (John 19:21 ESV). Why did this upset the Jews? The inscription “King of the Jews” was being painted in blood on the conscience of everyone who read it and communicated two important facts: that Jesus of Nazareth was in truth the King of the Jews and that the Romans had crucified him. In the minds of many people, this cast a very poor light on the priests who sought to get Pilate to change the inscription.

The priests began to understand the impact the inscription was having on the conscience of people. They also realized that their window of influence on Pilate had closed and no longer would he go along with their desires. Things were rapidly changing as history was hardening around the events of the day that Jesus, who had taught and performed so many miracles and had lived a life of such humility and meekness, had been crucified.

Pilate stood unwavering against the request and “. . . answered, “What I have written I have written.”” (John 19:22 ESV). Most assumed that what was done, was done and it was over, but before the day ended, the sun would hide behind dark storm clouds, the veil of the temple would be torn from tip to bottom, an earthquake would occur in the city, and a great apprehension would fall upon the people of the city of the great King (Matthew 5:35).

In our next lesson we will look at what the soldiers did after they had crucified Jesus.

Prayer

Father, as I write each lesson, I remain amazed at how sinful men continue to allow the powers of darkness to use them as pawns in his war against God and how by allowing them to continue in their sin, they are actually carrying out your plan of salvation. Even as Jesus, who lived such an exemplary life, dies on the cross, the inscription written by Pilate, a pagan, proclaimed to everyone the truth that Jesus is the King of the Jews. Little does anyone know that in this horrendous display of cruelty, you are at work preparing the next event, which will shake the very foundations of the powers of darkness. How amazing that out of something so evil can come something so beyond our comprehension.