3/24/10 John 19
Behold the Man!
(Jn 19:5)5Jesus then came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold, the Man!”
Isn’t it interesting how we only hear half of the story many times? Most of us have dealt with children, spouses, or co-workers and hear one side of the story, but do we bother to investigate the other part of the story. At the end of John 18 Jesus is taken before Pilate and is being judged. Pilate is trying to figure out what it is that has caused the Jewish officials to take such an issue with this man Jesus. Pilate learns of an issue that Jesus has claimed to be a King. As Pilate investigates Jesus he states to the Jews in John 18:38 that he finds no guilt in Him. The Jews did not agree and demanded Pilate to release Barabbas so Pilate has Jesus scourged and humiliates Jesus, and then Pilate states again that he finds no guilt in Him. Pilate then displays Jesus to the Jews with a crown of thorns and wearing a purple robe and says “Behold the Man!”
The question seems to be if Jesus was just a man then why is there such hatred and animosity toward Him? Well, that is where we need to hear the other side of the story. Jesus was certainly a man that is confirmed by Pilate’s announcement here, but He is much more. Jesus is also a King which he claimed to be and testified to Pilate in John 18. Jesus is not only a Man and a King, but He is the Son of God (John 5:18, 10:33) which for the Jews was blasphemy because that title was a claim to be God.
How could have Pilate known the other side of the story that Jesus was in fact a Man, a King, and the Son of God? Well, he would have had to do some investigative work and a review of the news events within the last few years. Had Pilate or some advisor of his provided him with information from the book of Isaiah that speaks a great deal about the Messiah and then made the link with the ministry of John the Baptist and how he described himself from the book of Isaiah 40:3-5, then Pilate could have had an all together different declaration to the Jews straight from the book of Isaiah. Instead of making a mockery of Jesus being a King and stating, “Behold the Man!” he could have presented Jesus in his own clothing and untouched, and state to the Jews, “Behold Your God!” (Isaiah 40:9, 25:9, 35:4).
We must know and investigate the scriptures to declare the other side of the story to anyone who may wrongly accuse our Lord Jesus Christ.
Prayer: Father glorious and deserving of worship. You revealed yourself to humanity through the man Jesus, but many have rejected Him. Father give me the boldness and confidence to tell people the other side of the story that Jesus was more than a man, and that He is a King and God, in Jesus name. Amen.