John 19:1-5: a reflection

1So Pilate then took Jesus and flogged him. 2The soldiers twisted thorns into a crown and put it on his head, and dressed him in a purple garment. 3They kept saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and they kept slapping him. 4Then Pilate went out again, and said to them, “Behold, I bring him out to you, that you may know that I find no basis for a charge against him.” 5Jesus therefore came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple garment. Pilate said to them, “Behold, the man!”

In the course of Jesus' trial, Pilate has him flogged, and the soldiers mock him cruelly: they twist together a crown of thorns and press it onto his head, drape him in a purple robe as a false king, strike him, and jeer, Hail, King of the Jews! Then Pilate brings him out before the crowd, beaten, bleeding, crowned with thorns, and says, Behold, the man! There stands Jesus, the King of glory, in shame and suffering, held up for all to see.

Notice the sight Pilate presents: Behold, the man. Here is Jesus, the Son of God, the King of glory, and he is beaten, mocked, crowned with thorns, robed in a mock king's purple, an object of scorn. The one through whom all things were made stands bruised and bleeding before a jeering crowd. Behold him, Pilate says, not knowing how deep those words go: behold the man who bears all this for the sake of others.

That sight is meant to be beheld, and to move us. For Jesus endured this shame and suffering not for any wrong of his own, but for us; the crown of thorns, the mockery, the blows, all of it he bore in our place, for our sake. When Pilate says, Behold the man, he unknowingly invites us to gaze on the suffering Christ and to consider what he endured for us. Behold him: the King of glory bearing shame, the innocent one suffering for the guilty, love enduring the worst that hatred could do. Let the sight of the suffering Christ move you to love and gratitude, and never take lightly what he bore for you. Behold the man, who suffered all this for your sake.

Lord Jesus, in your trial you were flogged and mocked, crowned with thorns, robed in mock purple, struck and jeered at; and Pilate brought you out, bruised and bleeding, saying, Behold, the man. Help me behold you. Here you are, the Son of God, the King of glory, beaten, mocked, an object of scorn; the one through whom all things were made, standing bruised before a jeering crowd. And you endured this shame and suffering not for any wrong of your own, but for me; the crown of thorns, the mockery, the blows, all of it you bore in my place, for my sake. Help me gaze on you, the suffering Christ, and consider what you endured for me. Let the sight of you move me to love and gratitude, and never let me take lightly what you bore for me. Behold the man, who suffered all this for my sake; thank you, Lord, for so great a love.