Moment of Meditation: INRI (Matthew 27:37)

''And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews" (Matthew 27:37).''

This morning we discuss the most familiar four letters in the Bible: INRI. Jesus Nazarenus Rex Judaeorum. Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews. The charge that was nailed over Jesus' head. Why He was crucified. Because He was the King of the Jews.

Although the chief priests piled up bogus charge after bogus charge against Jesus, none of them stuck. Only the charge that God Himself had given against Jesus. He was the King of the Jews. The Messiah. The Suffering Servant. The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. This is the charge that sticks to Jesus. The only thing that found basis in fact.

St. John records that Pilate refused to change the charge after it was posted. "What I have written I have written" (19:20-22). It will not change. Jesus of Nazareth is the King of the Jews. But He is also the King of the Gentiles because He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords who died to provide entrance into His kingdom. Amen.