Matthew 27:37

‘And they set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.'

Then we come to the climax of the passage, ‘they set up over His head His accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS'. This would have taken place as soon as He was crucified, but is described here for emphasis. It sums up the whole. To Pilate this was an act of mockery at the Jews, and had become a way of getting back at the Jewish rulers, a piece of revengeful irony; to the Chief Priests it was the charge that they had brought against Him which they now had thrown back in their unhappy faces; to the world it was a joke and a warning as they looked on that bloodied and naked figure hanging twisted on the cross; but to Matthew's readers it was a reminder of Who He is. Here is the One Who has come to save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21). Here is the Messiah Who was expected and Who has come on behalf of the whole world (Matthew 2:2). Here is the One of Whom God had said, ‘This is My beloved Son' (Matthew 3:17). Here is the One Who as King has brought hope to mankind (Matthew 21:5; Matthew 22:42). Here is the One Who has commissioned His Apostles to oversee His people as they sit on their ‘sub-thrones' (Matthew 19:28). Here is the One Who will one day judge the world from His glorious throne (Matthew 25:31). Here is the One to Whom all authority in Heaven and on earth is to be given (Matthew 28:18). And it is because He is all these things that He has to suffer in these ways. He Who could not even bear His own cross will bear the whole weight of the sins of His people (Matthew 1:21), He Who would not drink drugged wine will drink to the full the cup that the Father has given Him (Matthew 26:42), He Who was stripped of His clothing and was rendered naked will provide men with righteousness for their clothing and cover their nakedness (Matthew 22:11), He Who was watched by others will stand guard over His own (Matthew 28:20).

The fact that the superscription was put over His head probably indicates that Jesus died on a traditional cross, rather than a T shaped one. The fact that He had been carrying a crosspiece indicates that it was not just a stake on which He hung. (The main stakes would have been implanted there long before the prisoners got there). The placing of an inscription indicating the victim's crime was a recognised element in Roman justice. It acted as a warning to others. It may well have been carried before Him as He was paraded through the city, or even have been hung around His neck. (The full inscription was probably ‘this is Jesus the Nazorean, the King of the Jews').