THE FAMILY ALTAR (F.W. Herzberger -  1922)

 March 26.

"And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the

writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

This title then read many of the Jews; for the place where Jesus

was crucified was nigh to the city; and it was written in Hebrew

and Greek and Latin. Then said the chief priests of the Jews to

Pilate, "Write not, The King of the Jews, but that He said, I am

King of the Jews." Pilate answered, "What I have written,

I have written." John 19, 19— 22.

The Jews feel the implied scornful charge in the title which

Pilate affixed to the cross of our Savior. They ask the Governor

to change the writing, but he curtly replies: "What I have writ-

ten, I have written." God from heaven Himself guided Pilate's

hand when he wrote that title; and He has seen to it that the

blessed message it contains has not perished from the earth. It

was written in letters of Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin, — the

three most important languages of the then civilized world.

Hebrew was the language of the Old Testament, the language

of religion. Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews, is the

Alpha and Omega of our holy religion. In Him we have the

covenant of saving grace which Almighty God made with us chil-

dren of sin and death. Greek was the language of science and art.

All true science and art must tend to glorify Jesus, the Son of

God, made manifest in the flesh. Latin was the language of the

state. No state, no political commonwealth, can survive which

opposes or suppresses Jesus of Nazareth and His saving Gospel.

Napoleon, while in captivity on St. Helena, speaking of the Savior,

declared : "Jesus Christ was more than man. Alexander, Caesar,

Charlemagne, and myself founded great empires; but upon what

did the creation of our genius depend? Upon force. Jesus alone

founded His empire on love, and to this day millions would die

for Him." The thrones and empires of earthly kings all pass

away. Jesus, the King of the Jews, the King of kings and Lord

of lords, shall reign forevermore.

O Jesus, we adore Thee,

Upon the cross, our King:

We bow onr hearts before Thee;

Thy gracious name we sing:

That name hath brought salvation,

That name, in life our stay;

Our peace, our consolation

When life shall fade away.

Ah, Lord, our sins arraigned Thee,

And nailed Thee to the tree:

Our pride, 0 Lord, disdained Thee;

Yet deign our hope to be.

0 glorious King, we bless Thee,

No longer pass Thee by;

O Jesus, we confess Thee

Our Lord enthroned on high.