Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is jesus, the king of the jews.

Those who passed by hurled insults at him…In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him.  ^“He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.  He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”  In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him

Matthew 27:36 – 44, here and there.

“This is jesus, the king of the jews.”  This was written in hate!  But, dear reader, truer words were never written!  I suppose the Roman officials wrote it. It was a warning to the Jews that they were ruled by Rome and should be content with that.  No insurrection will be tolerated!

Of course, the rulers of the Jews were happy with the sign because they hated Jesus fiercely.  He would never be their king!  So, even things like the sign spoke volumes.

Jesus endured their taunts. “He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.”  The scoffers struck at the heart of the issue.  They challenged his credibility.  I am quite sure nothing, at this point, could cause them to believe. Jesus had performed one miracle after another in their towns and homes.  He healed the blind, fed multitudes with a few fish and loaves and many other miracles.  As I hear their taunts I find myself doubting if these Jewish leaders would change their minds about Jesus no matter what he did or said. It was a dark hour for Jesus, indeed.  He said not a word.

The two criminals who were hanging there on their crosses turned on Jesus. I find that hard to believe.  But that is not the end of their story, one believed in Jesus.  He declared his faith openly as he breathed his last breaths.