155. Saturday after Fourth Sunday in Lent.
The kingdom is the Lord’s.
Thou, thou art the king of Israel!
John 19, 19-22. And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, Jesus of Nazareth the king of the Jews. This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin. Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews. Pilate answered, What I have written I have written.
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The governor wished to mock and insult the Jews, who had caused him so much vexation and uneasiness of conscience, and who had in such a scandalous way forced him to become their obedient servant. He had said to them: “Behold your King!” Now he fastened above the head of the Crucified One a writing which said: “Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews.” We may see and admire God’s glorious providence in all things, but it is especially wonderful in every detail of the passion of our Savior. The surliness of Pilate puts on his lips an answer which was to be proclaimed and heard throughout all the world. “What I have written I have written, and it shall so remain; it shall not be changed. Jesus, the Nazarene, is the King of the Jews, the Messiah. This despised branch out of the root of David, this Jesus, who hangs on the accursed tree, is the King of the house of Jacob, and for this reason he dies; not because he calls himself, but because he is in very truth the King of the Jews.” The writing, “Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews,” placed above the head of the Savior who was crowned with thorns and crucified, is a summary, as it were, of the prophecies concerning the Messiah as the King of Israel who was to be victorious through suffering and death.
The writing is in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin. The word of the cross is to be preached not only in Hebrew, that is, in the language of the Jews; but also in the several tongues of the gentiles. The furious Jews forced Pilate to crucify the Lord of glory; but no clamor or threats on the part of earth or hell shall be able to tear this truth down from the cross, or prevent its being preached in all tongues. This gospel shines like the sun over all the earth: This man of Nazareth, who hangs on the cross, is Jesus, the Son of God, the Savior of the world, the King who was to come to his people; and for this reason he dies. This is the cause of his death. By his death he acquires the kingdom; he thereby renders the prince of death powerless, and thus he makes the preaching of the cross his sword of state. — Be a son of Jacob, an Israelite without guile, dear friend; then it is an established fact that Jesus is your King, who with his royal grace as your Savior, a power stronger than the omnipotence that sustains the heavens and the earth, stretches out his sceptre over you to govern and protect you, and writes with indelible letters in your soul: I am your King; the kingdom is mine, and you are of my blessed people.
Precious Savior, Lord of glory, let this come to pass. Extend thy royal power over all the earth; gather thy Israel out of all peoples. Amen.
On my heart imprint thine image,
Blessed Jesus, King of grace,
That life’s riches, cares, and pleasures,
Have no power thee to efface;
This the superscription be:
Jesus, crucified for me,
Is my life and glory ever;
Nothing me from him shall sever.