19:3 King of the Jews. Jesus had never claimed such a title, and Pilate had tried without success to get Him to acknowledge it (John 18:33). Perhaps, however, Pilate gave him this title in a sarcastic put-down of the hated Jewish leaders in front of the multitude (John 18:39), and then the soldiers also mocked Jesus with it. The title would finally be nailed to the cross (John 19:19).