Why did Pilate do that?

[ZiSunka]

John 19:19 And Pilate posted a sign over him that read, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews." 20 The place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and the sign was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek, so that many people could read it.

Why did Pliate post that over Christ's head? What was his motive for posting THAT particular inscription?

 

[Charpaul]

Great Questions?? I am not sure ?? Hopefully someone will answer!!

 

[Gold Dragon]

I remember reading that the inscription on crucifixions identified the criminal and their crime. Jesus was brought to Pilate by Caiaphas on the charge of blasphemy for being the Messiah, which from a Roman perspective is the King of the Jews. This is my guess but I'll see if there are any other ideas out there.

 

[Gold Dragon]

This conversation that Pilate had with Jesus probably had something to do with his choice of words.

NASB - John 18:33-40

Therefore Pilate entered again into the Praetorium, and summoned Jesus and said to Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?"

Jesus answered, "Are you saying this on your own initiative, or did others tell you about Me?"

Pilate answered, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered You to me; what have You done?"

Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm."

Therefore Pilate said to Him, "So You are a king?"

Jesus answered, "You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."

Pilate said to Him, "What is truth?"

And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, "I find no guilt in Him. But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover; do you wish then that I release for you the King of the Jews?"

So they cried out again, saying, "Not this Man, but Barabbas."

Now Barabbas was a robber.

And then this happens right before the inscription is written.

NASB - John 19:14-15

And he said to the Jews, "Behold, your King!"

So they cried out, "Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him!"

Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your King?"

The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar."

 

[Gold Dragon]

Most of the writings on this passage deal with the apparent discrepancy of the inscription for the four gospels, but very few try to speculate deeper meanings to the choice of words besides acknowledging that the inscription names the criminal and his crime.

One source suggested that the title "King of the Jews" was a mockery of the Jewish people, showing his contempt for them and how pathetic they were to kill their own king. That theory is a possibility.