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Jesus suffered and died under the forms of law. His execution was the result of a six-fold trial — three trials at the hands of the Jews, and three at the hands of the Romans. When Jesus was led to Golgotha bearing His cross, He had stood at the focal point of the world's best light and been pronounced guilty of death. For what offence? Pilate, as the custom was, with his own hand wrote the charge. "And the superscription of His accusation was written over, 'The King of the Jews.'"

I. THE WORDS OF THE SUPERSCRIPTION CORRECTLY EXPRESS WHAT JESUS CLAIMED. He was condemned, not so much upon the testimony of the non-agreeing witnesses, as upon His own admission of this. He maintained it to the last. No terror from the sight of the cross could make Him withdraw the claim. He died resolutely claiming that He was King.

II. THE WORDS OF THE SUPERSCRIPTION INDICATE THE CLAIM CHRIST MAKES TODAY. Eighteen centuries have not dimmed the title Pilate wrote. As decisively now as then He stands at every court, at every public and private tribunal, at the door of every man's heart, at every turn in our journey, before every thought of our mind, every choice of our will, every act of our life, and says, "I am King." If He be indeed King, His offices and attributes are kingly and He has the right to demand that no one dim the lustre of His crown, or weaken the sway of His sceptre. It is sometimes said that it matters little what place we assign to Christ, or with what attributes we clothe Him, so that life is only upright, and our conduct such as He would not condemn. At His trial before the Jewish and Roman Courts it mattered much what place was allotted Him and what title He should be allowed to bear. He died rather than disown His royal title. Is He less mindful of it now in His exalted glory, and less regardful of those attributes which rightfully constitute His regal claim? If He be a King, His is the right to hold the name and place thereof. Who shall dare to put forth the hand and pluck one jewel from His diadem of omnipotence, or efface one ray from His halo of infinite wisdom?

III. THE WORDS OF THE SUPERSCRIPTION INDICATE WHY SO MANY NOW REJECT CHRIST. Because He asserts kingly authority — the right to rule, and to control men's hearts and lives. Men exalt the compassion of Jesus; they praise His teachings; they laud the good deeds with which His life was full; they extol the lustre of His example; but when asked if they have placed within their heart a throne on which He may sit and reign, they falter. The title they apply to Him is burden bearer rather than lawmaker, benefactor rather than king, counsellor rather than judge, one to admire and extol rather than obey.

IV. THE WONTS OF THE SUPERSCRIPTION INDICATE IN WHAT WAY CHRIST IS NOW TO BE RECEIVED. As the world's Redeemer Christ fulfils the threefold office of Prophet, Priest, and King. To accept Him as the first is to believe and adopt His teachings; as the second, to rely for pardon and approach to God upon His atonement and intercession; as the third, to add to the others a surrender of the will to Him in loyalty and love, to install Him as ruler of our hearts and lives. We thus receive Him as our Saviour and Lord; we at once believe in Him and submit to Him; we ask Him to both pardon us and control us; and while He justifies He takes us, with our cordial consent, into His own care for the direction and government of our life both here and hereafter. Henceforth the thought that Christ is King is welcome. A place is gladly made in the heart for His throne to stand immutably. He is supreme. His will is law.

(P. B. Davis.)

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KJV: And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

WEB: The superscription of his accusation was written over him, "THE KING OF THE JEWS."