When Jesus was presented by Pontius Pilate after his horrific scourging at the hands of Roman soldiers a crown of thorns was forced into his head and a purple robe was placed on him. The crown and the color purple were both a mocking gesture to his perceived failure to gain an earthly kingship. In private conversation with Pilate Jesus revealed that indeed he was a king but his kingdom was not of this world. Then Pilate announced that he was bringing him out having found no guilt in him. He was fearful of Caiaphas, the high priest, the Pharisees, and the great crowd of Jews demanding Jesus execution. He did not want a rebellion. When he brought Jesus to them he said, “Behold the Man!” (See John 19:1-5) No doubt there was sarcasm in Pilate’s introduction since the Jews were a thorn to him in this difficult Roman outpost and now their “king” was being revealed in weakness and humiliation next to the power of Rome. Pilate’s world view was enamored with power/self-reliance, moral relativism, and a deep trust of the five senses. His brief times with Jesus revealed this. In response to Jesus words that he came to testify to the truth, Pilate said sarcastically, “Truth, What is truth?” Pilate in sweating over his predicament with Jesus, said, “Don’t you realize that I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” Jesus responded by recognizing his Father as the source of that power and the focus of his deep trust. “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.” Pilate was a product of a culture and a manhood path near to the fall of Rome (A.D. 70) that was not so different from America in 2010. Many scholars see our culture being swallowed by the lack of a strong (healthy) male identity and gender confusion. Where are the men?
For the disciple John who authored this gospel account giving us Pilate’s discussion with Jesus, I believe there was an underlying meaning for God’s people and especially men in Pilate’s introduction. When John wrote Pilate’s words, “Behold the Man!” he looked upon this moment in reflection after Jesus glorious resurrection. He saw this moment in the light of Jesus appearances to the 12, then to 500 others, his ascension into heaven, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. When Pilate uttered those words John now knew that the fullness of Jesus manhood was at hand, it had come in the culmination of a lifetime of dependence on the Father, his willingness to learn obedience through suffering, and a love perfected in betrayal even by those closest to him. When we look upon the scourged and beaten Jesus on the cross we behold the God Man in his glorious perfection, having run the race marked out for him without any shortcuts. He was made perfect through what he suffered. It wasn’t yet completed when Jesus rode into Jerusalem triumphantly on Palm Sunday when they shouted to a Messiah of their own creation, “Hosanna to the son of David!” There were many in the same crowd five days later calling for him to be crucified when any hopes for an earthly kingdom were now gone. It was the Jesus who Pilate introduced in mocking words, “Behold the Man!” It is the Man who uttered with his last breath, “It is finished.” He didn’t need man’s validation. He had his Father’s! John wrote after Jesus first appearance at the Passover in Jerusalem, “But Jesus on his part was not entrusting himself to them for he knew all men.” Jesus identity was rock solid through his oneness with his Father! As men we will either run after the love of the world and its validation or the love of the Father. I John2:15. We must choose.
