“BEHOLD THE MAN!”

JOHN 19:5–7

The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God”

(John 19:7).

In a mocking gesture, Pilate presents the now bloodied and beaten Jesus to the crowd. The governor is poking fun at the chief priests and their accusations. “This Man a king? Look at Him. Can He really be a threat to anyone?” This was the substance of Pilate’s declaration: “Behold the Man!”

At this point the Jewish leaders begin to shriek, “Crucify Him, Crucify Him!” They saw their plans beginning to slip through their fingers. They understood Pilate’s intention. The governor didn’t see any threat from Jesus, and he was going to release Him. Something had to be done, so the Sanhedrin stepped forward and as the crowd chanted for Jesus’ death behind him, it revealed the real reason why it had brought Jesus to Pilate. Jesus wasn’t a political revolutionary. No, He had claimed to be God Himself, and according to Jewish law, this required death.

Whether the Jewish leaders realized the effect this confession would have on Pilate is not certain. Obviously, they hadn’t thought it would be effective to sway him initially so they relied on purely secular charges. But now, they bring the religious charges to his attention. Pilate, of course, is concerned by this new revelation. This Man standing before him claimed to be God. What, then, should be done with Him?

The Jews had their answer. They appealed to their own law. According to Leviticus 24:16, a blasphemer had to be killed. It is ironic that when the Jews first brought Jesus to Pilate, they made no mention of their law. But, now it comes to light. Pilate had found no fault in Jesus according to his own secular laws, and he could not be convinced otherwise. So the Jews appealed with a standard in which Pilate had no knowledge. Could he deny that Jesus had violated Jewish law? He had no understanding of this law, so he was now more inclined to bow to the whims of the Jews.

Notice the manipulations of the chief priests. Evil men will use any lactic necessary to bring about their wicked purposes. We should not be surprised when religious men use the Scriptures as a means to advance ungodly schemes. Such is the depravity and evil intent of man.

CORAM DEO

Jeremiah 11–13

1 Timothy 4

WEEKEND

Jeremiah 14–19

1 Timothy 5–6

It is very easy to manipulate circumstance to get our way. We can even use passages from the Bible, out of context, to manipulate certain situations. Examine your own life today for any tendency to manipulate. Ask God to give you discernment to know when you are distorting the Word of God.

For further study: Matt. 27:11–14 • Mark 15:6–15 • Luke 23:13–17

WEEKEND