not by earth, because it is his footstool, and not by Jerusalem, ¹  because it is the city of the great King.

What ¹  did you go out to see? A man dressed in fancy clothes? ²  Look, those who wear fancy clothes are in the homes of kings! ³ 

“For this reason, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves. ¹ 

“Tell the people of Zion, ¹  ‘Look, your king is coming to you, unassuming and seated on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’” ² 

The ¹  king was furious! He sent his soldiers, and they put those murderers to death ²  and set their city ³  on fire.

And the king will answer them, ¹  ‘I tell you the truth, ²  just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters ³  of mine, you did it for me.’

Above ¹  his head they put the charge against him, ²  which read: ³  “This is Jesus, the king of the Jews.”

“He saved others, but he cannot save himself! He is the king of Israel! If he comes down ¹  now from the cross, we will believe in him!

Immediately she hurried back to the king and made her request: ¹  “I want the head of John the Baptist on a platter immediately.”

“You must watch out for yourselves. You will be handed over ¹  to councils ²  and beaten in the synagogues. ³  You will stand before governors and kings ⁴  because of me, as a witness to them.

So ¹  Pilate asked him, “Are you the king ²  of the Jews?” He replied, ³  “You say so.” ⁴ 

So Pilate spoke to them again, ¹  “Then what do you want me to do ²  with the one you call king of the Jews?”

Let the Christ, ¹  the king of Israel, come down from the cross now, that we may see and believe!” Those who were crucified with him also spoke abusively to him. ² 

So ¹  Jesus ²  said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ ³ 

So ¹  Pilate asked Jesus, ²  “Are you the king ³  of the Jews?” He replied, “You say so.” ⁴ 

Then Jesus, because he knew they were going to come and seize him by force to make him king, withdrew again up the mountainside alone. ¹ 

So Pilate went back into the governor’s residence, ¹  summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” ² 

But it is your custom that I release one prisoner ¹  for you at the Passover. ²  So do you want me to release for you the king of the Jews?”

(Now it was the day of preparation ¹  for the Passover, about noon. ² ) ³  Pilate ⁴  said to the Jewish leaders, ⁵  “Look, here is your king!”

Pilate also had a notice ¹  written and fastened to the cross, ²  which read: ³  “Jesus the Nazarene, the king of the Jews.”