John 19:1-5 (KJV):
“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 Pontius Pilate made this statement “Behold the man”, he was probably making the most significant statement of his life as he handed Jesus over to be crucified. Pilate’s statement was an echo of the statement of John the Baptist when he said of Jesus, John 1:29 - “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”
The book of Zechariah gives us another beautiful parallel in Zech 6:11-12 “Then take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest; And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord:”
The term “Branch” had been used both by Isaiah and Jeremiah of the coming Messiah. In Jeremiah 23:5 and 33:15 the prophet declares that the BRANCH would come from David’s lineage, be a righteous person, reign as king, exercise wisdom and will execute justice and righteousness.
Jesus the Son of God, Jesus the Lamb of God, Jesus the King born in a manger, Jesus the man that knew no sin, Jesus the lamb without blemish, Jesus the soon coming king, Jesus the anointed one and Jesus the messiah. This is the man that was handed over by Pontius Pilate to be crucified. He was the fulfilment of prophecy.
The lyrics to the song by Stuart Townend capture the love of a father who loves and cares for His creation, a love that wants everyone to live and not perish, a love that will not withhold, a love that turned His face away as His son was handed over to be crucified by wicked men in order to reconcile a fallen world to Himself.
How deep the Father’s love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He would give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One
Bring many sons to glory
Behold the Man upon a cross
My guilt upon His shoulders
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished
I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no powr’s, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom
Have a wonderful Easter filled with reflection and thanksgiving for what the Lord has done for you and I. More importantly, reach out with the same love to others this Easter, especially those that are current outside of the household of God. Have a JOYFULL Easter.
