Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the Man. John 19:5
In a Catholic church in the village of Borja, in northeastern Spain, there is a fresco painting called Ecce Homo (Latin for Behold the Man). The fresco is more than 100 years old, and shows Jesus, bound, wearing a crown of thorns and a purple robe. Time and conditions had caused the fresco to become badly deteriorated, with much of it peeled away. A woman in her 80s, named Cecilia Gimenez, took it upon herself to touch up the fresco in hopes of restoring it to its original condition. Unfortunately, her good intentions were not matched by good art skills. The result was a figure that looked more like a monkey than a man, and bore almost no resemblance to the original. Crowds gathered to see the altered fresco and to laugh at its ridiculous appearance. Those crowds are like those to whom Pilate presented Jesus, failing to see Who stood before them
As Christians, we hear the announcement Ecce Homo, and are captivated by the amazing sight of the Son of God, submitting to the shameful treatment of His own creatures, wearing a robe of mockery, a crown of cruelty, and the stripes of Roman punishment for crimes not committed by Himself. To us, this sight is most precious, although it grieves us to acknowledge how much He had to suffer on our account. He stood before the Jewish mob that day that Scripture might be fulfilled which says He was despised and rejected of men (Isaiah 53:3). Pilate’s declaration brings before us the scene leading up to the departure for Skull Hill for the crucifixion. And we find it hard to understand the mocking crowd that cried for Barabas instead of Him.
Like the disfigured fresco in Borja, the world has a distorted and false picture of Jesus Christ. To many, He was only a teacher and the founder of a new religion. To others, he was a challenge to their way of life and beliefs. Still others found Him an interesting person who has no relevance to themselves. Most of the world has a false impression when called to heed Pilate’s declaration. They fail to see the One Who loved us and gave Himself for us.
Behold the Man, Pilate said. May our beholding of Him today be according to His word, and in appreciation of His purpose. -Jim MacIntosh