November 25

Behold the Man!

When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!” — John 19:5 BSB

Pilate’s words, “Behold the man!” invite us to fix our gaze on Jesus as He is brought out from the palace to stand before the crowd. He wears a crown of thorns on His head, and a purple robe, a mocking symbol of royalty, is draped around His wounded body. The soldiers had heard Him called King of the Jews, and they carried out a cruel parody of what they thought a king should look like.

“Behold the man!” Behold Him enduring shame and mockery, standing before the people as a spectacle of scorn, so that one day we might stand before God in glory and honor. Behold Him wearing a crown of thorns so that we might wear a crown of life and righteousness. Behold Him clothed in a robe of mockery so that we might be clothed in the garments of His righteousness. Behold the majesty of meekness—reviled, yet not reviling in return; hated, yet loving still; wronged, yet never speaking a resentful word.

We should study the character of Jesus as it shines through the terrible events of that day. How His patience puts our impatience to shame! We fret and complain over the smallest inconveniences, yet Jesus endured with peace in the midst of the greatest trials. We harbor anger and resentment over the slightest offenses, yet Jesus, who suffered the greatest wrongs ever inflicted on any human being, remained gentle and loving.

Behold the man—God in human form, humbling Himself and becoming obedient to shame and death so that He might save our souls. Behold the man—holy, undefiled, and bearing the sin of the world. Let us look on Him with love, trust, and joy, and let our hearts be transformed by the sight of His sacrifice.