Scripture Notes: Hail (John 19)

One of the most horribly ironic lines in Sacred Scripture is spoken by the soldiers mocking Jesus as they crown Him with thorns. They proclaim, “Hail, King of the Jews!” as they strike Him. The word translated here as “Hail” is chaire in Greek. It is a common greeting, and “hail” is the usual translation, but deeper down, the word actually means “Rejoice!” So the soldiers are literally telling Jesus to rejoice as they crown Him with thorns and strike Him and mock Him. Yet little do they know, there is indeed cause to rejoice, not at the suffering of Jesus but at what He is accomplishing through that suffering, what He is showing us through that suffering: our salvation and His infinite love.

The soldiers address Jesus as King of the Jews, but they have no idea that they are actually speaking to the King of the whole universe, to the Creator and Ruler of the whole universe. The irony is thick and heavy. Jesus could literally annihilate them right then and there if He so chooses. He has full divine power over life and death and everything else. But He does not act or even speak. This King remains silent. He takes the abuse, and He loves the abusers. This King willingly chooses to hand Himself over, to give Himself fully, to suffer in the extreme, and all so that we might live in His kingdom. Now there is a reason to rejoice!