The last day alone, perhaps, will disclose the effect this title had on those who read it. When the priests and their com- panions saw it, they mocked and scoffed : " King indeed I Let Christ the King of Israel descend from the cross, and we will helieve." (Mark xv. 32.) But there was one man who saw the title probably with very different eyes. The penitent thief perhaps grasped at the word " King," and believed. Who can tell that this was not tlie root of his cry, " Lord remember me, when Thou comest into Thy kingdom." (Luke xxiii. 42.) Per- haps Pilate's title helped to save a soul !
Brentius remarks, that when we think of the cross of Christ, and tlie title on it, which so many read, we should remember there was another handwriting nailed to that cross spiritually, which no mortal could read. Jesus Christ, by His vicarious death for us, " Blotted out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to.us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross." (Col, ii. 14.)
21. — {Then said the chief priests, etc.] This verse brings out the feeling which the sight of Pilate's title excited in the minds of the chief priests. They were annoyed and angry. They did not like tlie idea of this crucified criminal being publicly declared " the King of tlie Jews." They detected the latent scorn and irony which guided Pilate's hands, and lay at the bottom of his mind. They did not like so public an announcement that they had crucified their own King, and wanted " no King but Caesar." They were vexed at the implied reflection on themselves. Be- sides this, they were probably uncomfortable in conscience. Hardened and wicked as they were, they had, many of them, we may be sure, a secret conviction which they vainly tried to keep down, that they were doing a wrong thing, and a thing which by and by they would find it hard to defend either to themselves or others. Hence they tried to get Pilate to alter the title, and to make it appear that our Lord was only a pre- tended King, — an impostor who " said that He was King." This, they doubtless thought, would shift some of the guilt off their shoulders, and make it appear that our Lord was crucified for usurping a title to which He was legally proved to have no claim.
When and where the chief priests said this to Pilate does not appear. It must either have been when the whole party was leaving the judgment-seat for Golgotha, or after our Lord was nailed to the tree, or while the soldiers were nailing Him. Looking at St. John's account, one might fancy that the centu- rion sent word to Pilate that the prisoner was being nailed to the cross, and asked for a title to put over His head, before the cross was reared. If we do not suppose this, we must believe that Pilate actually accompanied the party outside the walls, and was only at a little distance off during the last horrible preparations. In that case he might easily write a title, and the