Behold the Man

A. Behold (def.)

To see; gaze upon; to observe Webster

It is to study and come to a conclusion. It calls for action to decide what to do with the information.

B. In his book, The case for Christ, Lee Stroble writes about his quest as an atheist to discredit the Bible and the Life of Christ. As he examined the evidence he was convinced that what he believed and was taught was lacking in substance. The more he read the Bible and studied history he came to believe that Jesus was more than just a myth or a popular figure in history. He search the evidence and he found the truth that Jesus was the Son of God. Today we will look at the evidence and then we will ask ourselves what we believe. Are we open to the truth or is our minds already made up? We need to be honest as we Behold the Man named Jesus. I believe as we look at the evidence we are called to make a decision. Is our theology of Jesus true or it it only a myth?

Behold the man that rode into Jerusalem (NIV)

Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King

21:1–9pp—; 21:4–9pp—

21 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”

4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:

5 “Say to Daughter Zion,

‘See, your king comes to you,

gentle and riding on a donkey,

and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ”

6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,

“Hosanna to the Son of David!”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”

11 The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

A. The perception of the crowd

1. A king is coming (They knew he was Jesus the miracle worker)

2. He will deliver us from Rome and oppression

3. We will be free from all need and want

a. miracles are available

b. Deliverance has come (prophecy is fulfilled)

B. The truth

1. He came as a king, but with a different kingdom

2. The vision or perception was on the natural

3. They missed the real meaning of a king coming

a. It was eternal

a. It was eternal (they misinterpreted the scriptures)

4. This may be how you view Jesus. You see him as a way to bail you out of a mess. This is shaky because he might not deliver you as you thought. Though grace is shown to the wicked they do not learn righteousness. Even in a land of uprightness they go on sinning. God’s goal is not to deliver us from pain. He wants to give us a new life in him. If you pray that God would deliver you from a mess and he doesn’t answer that request than you will perceive God as an uncaring, hateful deity that doesn’t care about humanity. That is why many people see suffering as unjust and hate the God of the universe. Let’s look at the second scene.

Behold the Man on Trial (NIV)

Jesus Before Pilate

27:11–26pp—; ,,;

20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.

“You have said so,” Jesus replied.

12 When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” 14 But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.

15 Now it was the governor’s custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. 16 At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus Barabbas. 17 So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” 18 For he knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him.

19 While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have a

20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.

21 “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor.

“Barabbas,” they answered.

22 “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked.

They all answered, “Crucify him!”

23 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.

But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”

24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”

25 All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!”

26 Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

A. The same man that rode into Jerusalem is now on trial

B. The same crowd that praised him is now at the trial

C. The same crowd that praised him is now condemning him

D. They wanted blood

E. When he didn’t fill their selfish need they turned on him

F. They condemned him to the most horrible death

This was the same crowd that was praising Jesus when he rode into jerusalem as a king less than a week earlier. When he didn’t meet their demands as a king they turned on him and condemned him to crucifixion, the most horrible of deaths. If we see Jesus as our “fix it man”, or the God who let us down, then we will most likely reject him as a king. If they couldn’t have freedom than they wanted blood. Jesus is on trial almost daily in our lives. What sentence are you giving him? I made a mess of my marriage, but you didn’t change my spouse… crucify. My child was sick and died and you didn’t heal… crucify. I lost a loved one ....crucify. I went bankrupt and you didn’t supply the money ....crucify. I don’t need a God that allows cancer, death, suffering, racism, bullying… crucify. The innocent Son of God stands on trial for our sins. What is his sentence? If Jesus isn’t who I have created him to be then he needs to die. I will run my own life, I don’t need him.

Behold the man that has scares

Behold the man that has scares

Behold his hands and his Feet (NIV)

Jesus Appears to Thomas

24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

A. The man they saw die and was buried is missing

B. The tomb is empty

C. There were reports that is had risen

E. He appeared to 10 of the disciples

F. He came where they were

Behind locked doors in their fear and doubt (he showed up)

G. He spoke peace to them (peace in a disturbing situation)

H. He showed them the evidence that he was indeed Jesus (he removed the idea that perhaps they had seen a ghost or it may have been a figment of their imagination)

I. He showed them his hands and his side

J. He met Thomas where he was

he reassured them with peace

He asked Thomas to touch hi

He invited Thomas to touch him

Behold the Man, Jesus

A. What is the conclusion to the evidence?

B. Have we determined who Jesus is with all the evidence or just what we want to believe? John wrote his gospel with the miracles and the teachings to show who Jesus was and that we might believe in him.

C. Why do you believe what you do about Jesus? Is the same Jesus that you were exposed to the one in the Bible? Have you had a personal encounter with Jesus and come to the conclusion that Thomas did when he declared, MY Lord and MY God! I have seen the evidence and I take ownership of him. He is MY Lord He is My God. Not only did Thomas take ownership, but he change his view of Jesus. He is my LORD he is my GOD. Everything that I have seen convinces me that he is the God of the universe. He has created everything and everything is in his power. There is no other name or other religion or man made God that is even close to who he is. He is God and there is no other.

He is also Lord. That means I willingly yield myself to him. Everything that I have or do is his. He is my Lord and I am his servant. He is my Father and I am his child. He died my death and gave me his life, and that is the life I now live. I am crucified with Christ never the less I live, and the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. I can only believe through an active faith that because he died and rose again, the life he gave me produces actions that are holy to the Lord. I cannot work to attain holiness. Holiness is an act of grace, but the fruit of that grace is a life motivated by love which results in right living.

What you saw in your parents

What you experienced in your life especially about injustice and suffering.

Is your findings fair and complete?

Have you only heard or read about him

Have you encountered him? Have you allowed him to enter the locked doors of your heart? (felt and touched him)

Are you at peace

30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.