Lent Day 37 [04.01.2026] The King of the Jews

Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: Jesus of Nazareth, The King of the Jews. - John 19:19

Scripture: John 19:1-27

In preparation for Jesus’ crucifixion, Pilate has a notice prepared and fastened on the cross. The notice read “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” The Jews read this sign and protested, requesting that the sign say that Jesus claimed to be the king of the Jews. However, Pilate refuses and prepares this sign in Aramaic, Latin, and Greek so that all peoples would be able to read what it said.

The sign fastened to the cross was known as a titulus. This sign would state the crime of the one being crucified. To Pilate, who repeatedly found not fault in Jesus, the only crime that was lodged against Jesus that applied to Roman law was a claim to His kingship. Any claim of kingship was a direct rebellion against Caesar, so ironically the only statement that could be written on this titulus was the phrase, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” This inscription was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek so that all would know that Jesus was crucified as the king of the Jews, and now we are reminded today by the inscription, that the cross did not belong to anyone but Jesus.

As the King of all Kings, Jesus chose the path of His glorification. We know that prior to His arrest, God had already placed all things under His power according to John 13. Before His arrest, Jesus speaks repeatedly of His glorification, and it is in our reading today that reveals how He would receive His coronation. He would be welcomed as a king and lifted so that all would know He is the King of the Jews. However, rather than a crown of gold and a throne, Jesus would receive a crown of thorns and a cross.    

Reflection:

1.     How has Jesus become the king that not only rules with authority, but commands our hearts in love?

2.     What kind of choices are we called to make for others as we live our life of faith?

Prayer:

Dear God, thank you for the cross. I believe that you are the King of all Kings who chose to bear the cross for His people. Thank you for your sacrifice and glorification. Help me to live out that love in every part of my life. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

제목: 유대인의 왕

본문: 요한복음 19:1-27

예수님의 십자가 처형을 준비하며, 빌라도는 한 표지를 만들어 십자가 위에 붙였습니다. 그 표지에는 “나사렛 예수, 유대인의 왕”이라고 적혀 있었습니다. 이 표지를 본 유대인들은 항의하며, 예수가 스스로 유대인의 왕이라 주장했다고 써야 한다고 요구했습니다. 그러나 빌라도는 이를 거부하고, 모든 사람들이 읽을 수 있도록 이 글을 아람어, 라틴어, 헬라어로 기록하게 했습니다.

십자가에 붙여진 이 표지는 ‘티툴루스(titulus)’라고 불렸으며, 십자가에 못 박힌 사람의 죄목을 나타내는 것이었습니다. 예수님에게서 아무 죄도 찾지 못했던 빌라도에게, 로마 법에 해당되는 유일한 죄목은 왕이라고 주장했다는 것이었습니다. 왕을 자처하는 것은 곧 가이사에 대한 반역이었기 때문입니다. 그래서 아이러니하게도, 이 티툴루스에는 “나사렛 예수, 유대인의 왕”이라는 문구만이 기록될 수밖에 없었습니다.

이 글은 히브리어(아람어), 라틴어, 헬라어로 기록되어 모든 사람들이 읽을 수 있도록 했고, 그로 인해 예수님께서 유대인의 왕으로 십자가에 달리셨다는 사실이 온 세상에 드러나게 되었습니다. 우리는 이 표지를 통해, 그 십자가가 누구의 것도 아닌 오직 예수님의 것임을 다시금 깨닫게 됩니다.

만왕의 왕이신 예수님은 스스로 영광의 길을 선택하셨습니다. 요한복음 13장에서 이미 하나님께서 모든 것을 그의 손에 맡기셨음을 알고 계셨고, 예수님은 반복해서 자신의 영광에 대해 말씀하셨습니다. 그리고 오늘 본문은 그 영광이 어떻게 나타났는지를 보여줍니다.

예수님은 왕으로 맞이되어 모든 사람이 볼 수 있도록 높이 들리셨습니다. 그러나 금관과 보좌 대신, 그분이 받으신 것은 가시관과 십자가였습니다.

묵상 질문

1. 예수님은 어떻게 권위로 다스리는 왕을 넘어, 사랑으로 우리의 마음을 다스리는 왕이 되셨습니까?

2. 우리의 신앙의 삶 속에서 우리는 다른 사람들을 위해 어떤 선택을 해야 합니까?

   
   

기도

하나님 아버지, 십자가를 허락해 주심에 감사합니다. 주님께서 만왕의 왕이심에도 불구하고, 자신의 백성을 위해 십자가를 지신 것을 믿습니다. 주님의 희생과 영광에 감사드립니다. 그 사랑을 삶의 모든 부분에서 살아내게 도와주세요. 예수님의 이름으로 기도드립니다. 아멘.