Stark Contrast
| The written notice of the charge against Him read: THE KING OF THE JEWS. They crucified two robbers with Him, one on His right and one on His left. (Mark15:26-27) |
From the other gospels we learn that it was Pilate who had the sign written for the cross.
Here's how John describes it:
"Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek.
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 19:19-22)
It is very likely that Pilate wrote this to anger and ridicule the Jews. ("Look at your king on the cross")
It was also a veiled threat that anyone who wanted to be a political leader in opposition to Rome would suffer the same fate.
But the chief priests were quick to nitpick - they were worried - many people would see the sign.
Perhaps they were worried that some would make the connection to Isaiah 53 which is about the suffering Messiah.
So they wanted the sign tweaked to say that Jesus had made a false claim.
Up to now Pilate has come across weak and indecisive. In this moment he is decisive and firm of purpose.
His sign became the silent preacher, explaining the tragedy and triumph playing out beneath it.
In sharp contrast to the sign which proclaimed the royalty of the One being crucified, we see Him crucified between two criminals. The Greek word that is translated here as "robbers" is "lēstai" and it had the connotation of "guerrilla fighters", "revolutionaries", or "anti-Roman insurgents." Barabbas, the murderer, was also counted as a "lēstai". These are not petty criminals, they are enemies of the state.
Jesus is crucified between them, and it seems that the purpose was to imply that He was the worst of them.
(The one criminal actually later acknowledges that he has done things that deserve being crucified.)
Initially Jesus will be subjected to their derision, but later one of them comes to faith.
So we have a stark contrast.
A sign proclaiming greatness is meant as mockery and warning, but it actually conveys a great truth.
The providing of "bad company" is meant to besmirch character but leads to salvation.
The King is condemned among rebels so that rebels like us might go free.
