Luke 23:38
And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
The inscription was set over Jesus at His death at Calvary, outside Jerusalem's gate, among the execution grounds for criminals. It stands in the account of His passing the gate of Pilate's court with the cross prepared for Barabbas laid upon His bruised and bleeding shoulders, while two companions of Barabbas also bore crosses to suffer death at the same time. He was too weak to carry His burden, having taken neither food nor drink since the Passover supper, having agonized in the garden of Gethsemane in conflict with satanic agencies, having endured betrayal and desertion by His disciples, examinations before Annas, Caiaphas, Pilate and Herod, insult upon insult and mockery upon mockery, and two scourgings borne with firmness and dignity speaking no word but what tended to glorify God, until He fell fainting beneath the cross when human nature could bear no more. The following crowd taunted and reviled Him for inability to carry it without showing compassion, and the persecutors found none to bear the humiliating load because the Jews feared defilement that would prevent keeping the Passover and none of the mob would stoop to it. It belongs to the leading of Jesus from the judgment-hall to Calvary after news of His condemnation had spread throughout Jerusalem, when people of all classes and all ranks flocked toward the place of crucifixion and disciples and believers from the city and surrounding region joined the throng following Him because the priests and rulers were bound by a promise not to molest His followers if He Himself were delivered to them.
The superscription placed over Jesus on the cross proclaimed Him King of the Jews even as He was lifted up and died as a malefactor. The title was set in cruel irony, for He was mocked in a kingly purple robe, crowned with thorns, given a reed in His hand as a scepter only to be mocked and struck with it, scourged as the worst of criminals, and set aside while the murderous Barabbas was chosen in His place.
The disciples had centered their hopes of eternal life in Him and expected Him to take His place on David's throne, so seeing Him in the hands of wicked men with His own nation clamoring for His blood gave them cause to mourn and fast, and with the Bridegroom taken away their faith was tried and their hope and courage failed. The verse places Jesus lifted up on the cross between the two thieves, who represent two classes of people: all have been poisoned by sin, but those who look to Jesus and believe in Him will live forever, while those who refuse to believe will die without hope.