“And set up over His head His accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.” -MATTHEW 27:37 [KJV]

Pilate wrote this inscription in Hebrew, Greek and Latin and attached it to the top of the cross (John 19:20).

Pilate …what a strange man. He could find no fault in Christ but delivered Him to be crucified. And now, according to custom, he must write a notice declaring why the condemned One was going to suffer. But, what could he write? Three times he had pronounced Christ faultless, so what can he now state as our Master’s crime?

God’s hand, I believe, guided Pilate to write this inscription in the three great world languages Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. Whatever Pilate's thoughts, God had a truthful testimony. The chief priests were hopping mad at this inscription and confronted the Roman Governor demanding— "Write not, the King of the Jews, but that He said I am King of the Jews." Nonetheless, Pilate replied sternly, “What I have written I have written” (John 19:22).

The Jewish leaders crucified their King. What an awful crime! Yahweh had come to them in the person of the Lord Jesus, but He was betrayed for the price of a slave. Much as they disliked the yoke of Rome, they infinitely preferred it to the presence of Jesus, so they cried out, “We have no king but Caesar" (John 19:15).

Look at the cross. Although it was the worst thing man ever did, it was the best thing that God ever accomplished. Look at the cross. There we see the words, “This is Jesus." This brings us back to what the angel said, "...thou shalt call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). What depths of grace are enfolded in the name of Jesus! We were wretched and guilty; but in His name He pledged to be our Saviour.

But how could He save us?

Only by dying as a blood sacrifice for our sins could He accomplish such a thing. Death, judgment, and the lake of fire were all deserved by us; but, at the cross, in love, He offered Himself without spot to God (Hebrews 9:14).

Mockingly the chief priests said, “He saved others, Himself He cannot save” (Matthew 27:42). How true! If He would be faithful to His name, Jesus, He could not save Himself. He endured the awful agonies of the cross and bore the judgment due to His people's sins. Never was there a more wonderful manifestation of grace than at the cross.

“This is Jesus.” See our Saviour upon Calvary's cross, suffering judgment for us.