Behold the Man!

John 19:1–7 KJV 1900

Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him. And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe, And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands. Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him. Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man! When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him. The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.

Introduction:

Intro: If you have ever read an introduction to a Greek play, you have seen the Latin phrase dramatis personae, which means “people of the drama.” Under it were listed the choruses, characters, or groups of characters. The dramatis personae in would make a Greek playwright pale with envy. (R. Kent Hughes, John: That You May Believe, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1999), 429.)

If you have ever read an introduction to a Greek play, you have seen the Latin phrase dramatis personae, which means “people of the drama.” Under it were listed the choruses, characters, or groups of characters. The dramatis personae in would make a Greek playwright pale with envy. (R. Kent Hughes, John: That You May Believe, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1999), 429.)

You have the religious leaders...

“And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified. When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.” (, KJV 1900)

You have Pontius Pilate...

Lastly, you have Jesus, our matchless Christ...

Main Thought: Let us behold Him afresh and anew, as we are moved to worship and adore Him, Christ my Saviour, and my Lord!

Sub-intro: Provide the context of how Jesus had come to this point in His ministry.

Body: Notice-

I. Behold, Jesus, the King of the Jews ()

A. The King Was Scourged ()

John 19:1 KJV 1900

Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him.

Mocked by the military. All of this followed the formal scourging, a beating with a leather whip with small pieces of rocks, glass, and metal to produce more suffering (). [; ] (H. L. Willmington, Willmington’s Bible Handbook (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1997), 621.)

“Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.” (, KJV 1900)

“And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band. And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head, And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!” (, KJV 1900)

“From him [John] we learn that Jesus was not scourged in order to be crucified but in order to escape crucifixion.” (Tom Constable, Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (Galaxie Software, 2003), .)

Illustration: Description of the Scourging

Stripped of clothes, the body was bent forward across a low pillar, the back stretched and exposed to the blows. To hold the body in position the victim’s hands must have been tied to rings in the floor or at the base of the pillar in front and the feet to rings behind... [exposing] the ribs where the whipends were to lacerate the flesh. The Romans did not use rods, as the Jews did, each rod making only one stripe, cutting only the back; they used short-handled whips, each provided with several leather lashes, ugly acorn-shaped pieces of lead or lumps of bone being fastened to the end of each short lash. The strokes were laid on with full force, and when the executioners tired, the officers shouted... demanding more force. The effect was horrible. The skin and the flesh of the back were gashed to the very bone, and where the armed ends of the lashes struck, deep, bloody holes were torn. (R. C. H. Lenski, The Interpretation of St. John’s Gospel (Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Publishing House, 1961), 1244–1245.)

“I may tell all my bones: They look and stare upon me.” (, KJV 1900)

“The plowers plowed upon my back: They made long their furrows.” (, KJV 1900)

“I gave my back to the smiters, And my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.” (, KJV 1900)

“But he was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: The chastisement of our peace was upon him; And with his stripes we are healed.” (, KJV 1900)

“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” (, KJV 1900)

Note - It was for OUR sins. Lest any consider his or her self to be without sin… consider the standard of law in light of God’s holiness. Sin must be paid for. The wages of sin is death. There was no other way, Jesus had to die. His blood had to be shed to pay for the sins of the world. Every time you sin, it hurts.

B. The King Was Scorned ()

The Roman soldiers mocked Christ with a crown of thorns and a purple robe, shouting in jest, “Hail, King of the Jews!” while they beat him (19:2–3).

John 19:2 KJV 1900

And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe,

“But I am a worm, and no man; A reproach of men, and despised of the people.” (, KJV 1900)

“He is despised and rejected of men; A man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: And we hid as it were our faces from him; He was despised, and we esteemed him not.” (, KJV 1900)

“And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!” (, KJV 1900)

The crown of thorns (v. ) was most likely made from the date palm (Hart 1952), the same plant that had supplied the fronds laid on Jesus’ path as he entered Jerusalem a short time before (). The spikes on this plant can reach twelve inches long and were notorious for inflicting pain (cf. Midrash Rabbah on ). Such long spikes would give the effect of a starburst around Jesus’ head, in imitation of the likeness of deified rulers on coins of the period and much earlier. (Rodney A. Whitacre, John, vol. 4, The IVP New Testament Commentary Series (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1999), 447.)

Sin had brought thorns and thistles into the world (), so it was only fitting that the Creator wear a crown of thorns as He bore the sins of the world on the cross. The very metal He had created and placed in the ground was used to make nails to pound through His hands and feet. (Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 379–380.)

C. The King Was Smitten ()

John 19:3 KJV 1900

And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands.

The Jews had mocked His claim to being a Prophet (), and now the Gentiles mocked His claim to being a King. The verb tenses in the Greek text in indicate that the soldiers repeatedly came to Him, mocked Him, and beat Him with their hands. The forces of hell were having a heyday in Pilate’s hall. (Wiersbe, 379.)

Application: How does this sound for how to treat a king? Yet many today wouldn’t hesitate to repeat it, and many metaphorically do every day. Do not mistake His meekness and submission as a token of weakness. He could have unleashed all the wrath of heaven to bear on this godless world, but He didn’t, He commended His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Have you understood how much He loves you? He laid down His life for you, that you you might live through Him.

II. Behold, Jesus, the Son of Man ()

A. Behold His Innocence ()

John 19:4 KJV 1900

Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him.

In absolute moral failure, Pilate allowed the travesty of the ages to proceed. He once again noted (for the third time), “I find no fault in him.” In effect, he said, ‘As far as I am concerned, he is innocent, but if you want to crucify Him, go ahead.’ ... Though he had the power of Rome at his disposal, he was willing to sacrifice Jesus to further his own political career. (David Sorenson, Understanding the Bible, Understanding the Bible, An Independent Baptist Commentary (Northstar Ministry, 2007), 502.)

1. Judas Declared Jesus' Innocence:

“Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.” (, KJV 1900)

2. Pilate's own wife:

“When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.” (, KJV 1900)

3. Herod:

“No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him.” (, KJV 1900)

4. The Thief on the Cross:

“And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.” (, KJV 1900)

5. The Centurion at the Cross:

“Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.” (, KJV 1900)

6. The Crowds at the Cross:

“Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.” (, KJV 1900)

“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (, KJV 1900)

“For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;” (, KJV 1900)

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:” (, KJV 1900)

“Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:” (, KJV 1900)

“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:” (, KJV 1900)

“And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.” (, KJV 1900)

Note - It was necessary that He be fully man, for man must pay the price for sin. Yet, as a man, He was unique, unlike any man ever born of woman, as He was conceived of the Holy Ghost, through the virgin, and never knew sin, but became sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. Are you “IN Christ?” Have you trusted in His power to save you?

B. Behold His Humanity ()

John 19:5 KJV 1900

Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!

...There are a number of signs as to how He took on Himself all our infirmities, our sins, our punishment. He was scourged. Must not the sinner be punished and whipped for his sins? He was crowned with thorns. And we remember that God cursed the ground for man's sake and it brings forth thorns and briars. Oh, the dear Lord Jesus must have on Him the curse on all mankind. He is to be nailed to a tree, for the law said, "Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree" ().

On the cross He will cry out, "I thirst" We remember the dissatisfaction and the thirst that sin brings into a world, with no answer for man's need, no peace for man's trouble, no comfort for man's wicked heart. As Jesus said to the woman at the well in Sychar, "Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again." Yes, and so it is with all the waters of this world and all the natural comforts and satisfactions. "Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness," says . Oh, men make "cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water" (). This world has "clouds and wind without rain" (). So Jesus, on the cross, will thirst. (John R. Rice, The Son of God, A Verse-by-Verse Commentary on the GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JOHN, n.d., 360–361.)

Dr. Ironside says: "One would have thought the sight of that patient, suffering One standing there with the thorny crown pressed on His brow and the purple robe on Him and with a reed in His hand and blood pouring down His face would have been enough to soften the hardest heart and break down the strongest opposition. But there is that in the heart of the natural man which leads him to hate that which is holy, to hate perfect righteousness." (Rice, 364.)

Note - lest anyone should think Jesus anything less or anything more than a man, Pilate’s own legal pronouncement: “Behold the man!” Yet this “Man” was the anointed one of God, the son of David of old, the lion of the tribe of Judah, and the seed of Abraham through whom all the families of the earth would be blessed, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Enoch, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of Man, the seed of the woman, whose bruised heel would crush the serpents head! His birthright has a track record of salvation! And today, this salvation has visited your house, if thou wilt only believe!

III. Behold, Jesus, the Son of God ()

A. Rejected by the Priests ()

John 19:6 KJV 1900

When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him.

Pilate’s bid to release Jesus is once again soundly rejected (v. ). The heart of the opposition to Jesus comes from the chief priests and their officials, and John singles these folk out as the ones crying, Crucify! Crucify! They want Jesus not merely dead, but crucified. The reason, most likely, is that this form of death was associated with the curse in the law against “anyone who is hung on a tree” () (Whitacre, 448.)

“Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified. When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.” (, KJV 1900)

Note - Jesus came to destroy false religions, self righteousness, and hypocrisy, and make a way back to a right relationship with God through obedience and faith in the Word of God! Little did they know, that in divine irony, by being hanged on a tree, Jesus would actually fulfill Scripture by being made a curse for us. His substitutionary death on the cross.

B. Refused by Pilate ()

Pilate gives Him over to the will of the people.

Note - Jesus was rejected by the religious world leaders of His day, and He was rejected by the governmental authorities of His time. Just as He came, and there was “no room in the inn” for Him, so in the sunset of His short ministry among mankind, there was no room in religion, and no room in politics for Jesus. How today do we need Jesus in our churches! How today do we need Jesus in our townhalls, city councils, state houses, and halls of government, but just as in Rome, there seems to be little room for Jesus where we need Him most!

C. Rejected by the People ()

John 19:7 KJV 1900

The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.

“And he that blasphemeth the name of the Lord, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the Lord, shall be put to death.” (, KJV 1900)

“But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.” (, KJV 1900)

Note - the grounds which they claimed to put Him to death for, were not given a full investigation. He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, to him it is folly. In their haste to hold on to their crumbling empires of power and affluence, they murdered and innocent soul and accrued the blood of prophet-killers on their hands. The whole world stands guilty before God, Jews and Gentiles alike, both Jerusalem and Rome, together against God. And yet, it was my sin that nailed Him to the tree!

Isaiah 53 KJV 1900

Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, And as a root out of a dry ground: He hath no form nor comeliness; And when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; A man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: And we hid as it were our faces from him; He was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, And carried our sorrows: Yet we did esteem him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: The chastisement of our peace was upon him; And with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned every one to his own way; And the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, Yet he opened not his mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, So he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: And who shall declare his generation? For he was cut off out of the land of the living: For the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, And with the rich in his death; Because he had done no violence, Neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, He shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; For he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, And he shall divide the spoil with the strong; Because he hath poured out his soul unto death: And he was numbered with the transgressors; And he bare the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.

Conclusion:

Today is the day of God’s grace. And the wisdom of the just in this day consists, as Paul expressed it, in knowing nothing among men save “Christ and him crucified” (). Now we see him offered to us for salvation. His death is our life. But the day is coming when this period of grace will end, and the One who was judged by the tribunals of this world will be Judge.

One author writes, “How long may it be before we hear the sound of another ‘Behold the Man!’? But if we then lift up our eyes, a different form will present itself to our view than that which we saw on Gabbatha. The King of Glory will then have exchanged the robe of mockery for the starry mantle of divine Majesty, the wreath of thorns for a crown of glory, and the reed for the scepter of universal dominion.”4 What will it be in that day? Will it be judgment? Or will the rod be extended as a symbol of his gracious favor as he declares,

“Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:” (, KJV 1900)

The answer depends on how you behold him now and whether you will surrender to him as your Lord. (James Montgomery Boice, The Gospel of John: An Expositional Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2005), 1470.)

John 20:25–29 KJV 1900

The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

Let us behold Him afresh and anew, as we are moved to worship and adore Him, can you call Him, “Christ my Saviour,” “My Lord and my God!”

Let us behold Him afresh and anew, as we are moved to worship and adore Him, can you call Him, “Christ my Saviour,” “My Lord and my God!”