OLC RIM7

In the Gospels, whenever we hear the words of Jesus, or read about his actions, we don’t automatically give him the title king. Yet he was called King of the Jews, first by the magi who, upon arriving in Jerusalem, asked, “Where is the newborn King of the Jews? (Matt 2:2). The title so bothered King Herod that he had all boys two years and less killed. So this title posed a threat to Jesus from his birth. It ultimately nailed Him to the cross when he faced Pontius Pilate during his Passion. The Jews used the title to have him condemned, saying to Pilate, who found nothing about him to crucify him, “If you release him, you are not a friend of Caesar. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” (Jn 19: 12). Not wishing to crucify Jesus, Pilate faced the crowd, asking, “Shall I crucify your king?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king except Cesar” (Jn 19: 15). Jesus never denied that he was King of the Jews when Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He replied,