Communion With the Christ:: Behold the Man

Pilate brings forth Jesus to the mob that has assembled in there o n the floor of judgment called “Gabbatha”. Jesus has been scourged and abused, mistreated in many ways and Jesus is now presented before the mob that assembled there – and to all humanity. Jhn: 19:1-9

“Behold the Man”, Ecce Homo, only St. John records these words. Beholding of Jesus is not Just for that mob there two thousand years ago, but it is for all humanity, in each and every age.

These words "Behold the man" are an invitation for all humanity throughout the ages to look upon Jesus.

There before the assemble mob, and we all, we see Jesus’ wearing the crown of thorns, beaten, bloodied and broken, standing starkly before them and we all.

"Pilate then took Jesus and scourged Him. And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and put a purple robe on Him; and they began to come up to Him and say, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and to give Him slaps in the face Pilate came out again and said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you so that you may know that I find no guilt in Him.” Jesus then came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold, the Man!" Jhn: 19:1-5

What we see is Jesus , who in the Apocalyptic Book of Revelation is called the Lamb who was "slain from the foundation of the world"– the Holy Spirit drew on this graphic image of the humanity of Jesus standing before the World beaten and bloodied to convey to us all that in the incarnation God has made away to deal with the sin of humanity and bring us into union with himself. Pilate did not even perceive the import of his own words.

The Lamb

God is pointing the humanity of Jesus out as the One who unites us with himself. Even now, in the Eternal State of the very heights of Heaven we can still see Jesus; we can behold the man Jesus there amidst the throne of God.

"Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders" Rev:5:6a-b

We see Jesus, who stands eternally as the object of the heavenly worship, even now, the Lamb who eternally is bearing the wounds the marks of slaughter. This is the same the same Jesus who was brought out before the enraged mob on the pavement of judgement, this angry mob, which represented all humanities’ reaction to the Holiness of great God.

These wounds upon the Holy person of our Lord Jesus are the only man-made things in Heaven. Inflected upon Jesus to demonstrate God's Love and desires for us all.

Jesus is the Lamb who was slaughtered on our behalf. St. John tells us that God has eternally made provisions for our forgiveness all to have his unconditional love and grace flow like a river to wash our sins forever away.

"the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world" Rev: 13:8b

This is telling us using a cultural axiom, that God has, even in Eternity past, forgiveness just waiting for Jesus to come into the world and through his life, death and resurrection show us what has and is eternally true, all so we can, when we come to accept Jesus, experience this forgiveness and grace which God has for us.

Hostility Toward God

Jesus was handed over by the "Religion Leaders”. They perceived Jesus as a threat to their position and power, not to truth or holiness. Religiosity always sees grace as a threat and attempts to dismiss or to destroy it.

"Now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. On the way, he took the Twelve aside and said to them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!” Matt:20:17-19

When the mob incited by the "Religious Leaders”, assembled before Pilate that day and looked upon Jesus they saw one who was a perceived threat to them and to their “Religious Establishment”.

The mob expressed what the Apostle St. Paul cited in his Epistle to the Christians in the Asia Minor city of Colossae, that it is humanity which is hostility toward God, not God towards humanity.

"And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds,"Col:1:21a

There , at Gabbatha this hostility found with the minds of humanity has full expression in the mob, that is shouting for the blood of Jesus, the very man we are told by Pilate to "behold".

Religiosity and the baser impulses of humanity are being given their fullest evilest expression in that moment on the pavement all directed toward Jesus who is the perfect embodiment of the love and grace of God.

This rejection and humanities hostility, and it’s cure was prophesied in the words of Isaiah the Prophet who wrote of the saving work of Jesus causing some Biblical Scholars to call Isaiah’s writings, the fifth Gospel. Isa: 53:1-9

"See, my servant will act wisely ;he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted. Just as there were many who were appalled at him —his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness" Isa: 52:13-14a-b

These words tell that even as humanity is hostile, God’s love for humanity is there to bring us back into union with himself all through Jesus. "Behold the Man".

Behold the Man

Pilate's statement points us all to the incarnation. Those who beheld Jesus on that day, and many throughout the ages, really do not understand what they were to "behold" in the person of Jesus Christ.

It is when we "behold the man”, that when we look upon the person of Jesus Christ, we see that in Jesus God has joined himself with us, so that in Jesus God has, and is revealing himself to us so that we might come to believe and be holy. “Behold the Man."

In and through Jesus all of God, the Holy Trinity, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is brought into view. That when we come to Jesus, we come to All of God, in his Holy Person.

"For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness"Col:2:9-10

"The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross."Col:1:15-20

Pilate said more than he knew that day when he presented Jesus before the mob and told the to "behold the man". Ecce Homo.

At Gabbatha Pilate was in his ignorance preaching the very Gospel telling the mob, and all of us, to "behold" Jesus, that is our message and the message of the Church throughout the ages, “Behold the man”. Looking to Jesus and in him we see the perfect answer and revelation of who God is and his holy divine love for us.

Benediction: May we each and all ever tell others around us to "behold the Man" today, tomorrow and forevermore. Amen!