Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: Jesus of Nazareth, the king of the Jews. (John 19:19 NIV)
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him (Matthew 2:2-3). Fast forward thirty-plus years later, after Jesus is crucified with a charge that reads, Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews, “The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.” Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written” (John 19:21-22).
Someone once noted that Jesus was born a King, died a King and lives a King. The star led to the promised King, the cross displayed the redeemer King and the empty tomb revealed the resurrected King. Jesus may not have been the King the Jewish people expected, but He was the King they – and we – needed. The One who would deliver us from our greatest enemies – sin and death. Is He your King?
Rising with the Son 