"BEHOLD THE MAN!"
John 19:1-16 (KJV)
"1 Then Pilate therefore took JESUS, and scourged HIM.
2 And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on HIS head, and they put on HIM a purple robe,
3 And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote HIM with their hands.
4 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.
5 Then came JESUS forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, "Behold the MAN!"
6 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.
7 The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law HE ought to die, because HE made HIMSELF the SON of GOD.
8 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid;
9 And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto JESUS, Whence art thou? But JESUS gave him no answer.
10 Then saith Pilate unto HIM, Speakest THOU not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify THEE, and have power to release THEE?
11 JESUS answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against ME, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered ME unto thee hath the greater sin.
12 And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release HIM: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this MAN go, thou art not Caesar’s friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.
13 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought JESUS forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.
14 And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!
15 But they cried out, Away with HIM, away with HIM, crucify HIM. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.
16 Then delivered he (Pilate) HIM (JESUS) therefore unto them (Jewish leaders) to be crucified. And they took JESUS, and led HIM away."
As we remember the day when GOD"s redemptive plan became reality, I thought it only fitting to look at the trial, acquittal, yet condemnation of JESUS, my KING!
To begin with, JESUS CHRIST was never found guilty, by anyone in authority, for any crime. In just the passage above Pilate is recorded numerous times saying that he found NO FAULT in JESUS. Pilate even desired to release JESUS, but the hierarchy of the church almost demanded that JESUS be put to death! I formerly had anger and malice toward Pilate, but Pilate was just as pawn in GOD's Redemptive Plan! He, along with The Jews, we're just unknowingly enabling JESUS to redeem my soul from eternal torment!
The Jewish Leadership was only doing what "they thought" was best for the Jewish nation. Had there "eyes been opened" and they had been able to see GOD in the flesh, they would have certainly fought for the release of JESUS. Of course, they were looking for GOD's Judgement of the world, and not GOD's Redemptive Plan.
Even the most zealous and committed followers of JESUS turned their backs on HIM! Twelve disciples and hundreds of followers who only the week before had celebrated HIS entrance into Jerusalem were now nowhere to be found! The entire world, save HIS mother and a handful of family friends, we're so caught up in the rhetoric and confusion that rejection was the only thing expressed for the SON OF GOD!
I have always thought, had I been there, I would have stood with HIM, even if it cost me my life! Peter even told JESUS earlier that he would gladly give his life in defense of HIM. Pilate couldn't save HIM, the Jewish Leadership couldn't save HIM, HIS Apostles couldn't save HIM, no one could save HIM! GOD's Redemptive plan will only be perfected when we "BEHOLD THE MAN"!!!
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