John 19:1-22

Today's reading tells the frightening story of the trial of Jesus. Filled with fear and conflicted by politics, the leaders of the day run a sloppy trial full of mistakes and missed opportunities. At the end of the day, Pilate hands Jesus over to the Jewish authorities for crucifixion.

Pilate posts a sign above the cross saying, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews" (19:19). Not only were these words written in Hebrew, but also in Latin and Greek.

Why would Pilate choose to write this message in three different languages?

I think Pilate recognized a great truth about Jesus. Jesus did not come to minister solely to the Jewish people. He came to minister to all people. In a short 3 years, He had broken down social and political barriers to preach the message of God's love to people of every race, gender, and social status.

Pilate's sign reflected the ministry of Jesus in that day, but it also made a great prediction for the Christian church. According to the International Bible Society, the Bible (or parts of it) have been translated into 2287 languages. Even within the English language, we have many different translations, ranging from the traditional King James to the contemporary Message Bible, and even including specialized versions such as dramatized and amplified Bibles.

The message of Jesus was not meant for a small population in a specific moment in time. It is meant for all of us, throughout history, regardless of country, race, or language.