The people and the soldiers who watched him on the cross sneered at him and jeered at him. They also made comments on him saying ‘he saved others’ , and ‘if you are the king of the Jews’ etc. Some believed him to be a king because he was doing the work of a king (saving people) others fooled him with the idea that he was the king.
His public ministry was one of proclaiming the kingdom. He was also doing the activities of the kingdom. His word and deeds were of the kingdom. But he never claimed himself to be a king. His entry into Jerusalem on a donkey was a symbolic action (like king David) but he never claimed to be one. Even when Pilot asked him ‘are you the king of the Jews his reply was they are your words.
His reply to the criminal was ‘today you will be with me in Paradise’. This reply speaks of his activity of saving people. This also shows the kingdom that he was talking about was about the kingdom of God. The cross on which he was nailed was his throne and his death was the saving act and he is a king.
