"BEHOLD THE MAN!"

What was it Pontius Pilate said of Jesus?... “I find in Him no fault at all”                       
So you will immediately release Him, right?                                                            
Umm...not so quick – they haven’t quite finished with Him just yet...                        
Let’s try to forget what the artists and Mel Gibson portray and read what John actually wrote: ‘oun lambano Pilatos – Iesous kai mastigoo’...  

‘then Pilate took Jesus and scourged [him]’



Healing hands

Yes, the barbarity of this man is unbelievable - watch what happens!... Jn 19:1-16

• The Roman governor is taking an innocent Man and is PERSONALLY FLOGGING HIM! (yes, other gospel writers agree)

• His soldiers now tie a crown of thorns on the head of the King of the Jews, then mock Him in a purple robe and punch Him

• Pilate now proudly shows off his bruised and bloody victim to the Jews:  “Behold the Man!”

• 3 times Pontius Pilate declares he finds: “No fault in Him”

• Next he drags this innocent Man - His back shredded from flogging - back into the Judgment Hall for another civil trial!...

• ...then out to the Judgment Seat for sentencing – all before 9 o’clock in the morning!

3 times Pilate identifies Jesus as the King of the Jews.                                                  
They realize the religious charge: “He made Himself the Son of God” was only making Pilate afraid, so switch to: “We have no king but Caesar”.                                                

3 times they beg: “Crucify Him!”  These ‘pious’ Jews at Passover would rather recognise a pagan emperor than God as their King.                                                               

Finally Jesus is released as a free Man?... oh no, He’s led outside the city walls as a criminal, wearing Rome’s curse of thorns, to be hung on a crucifix tree - a Jewish curse.

Okay Guv, now you can get back to your breakfast...enjoy!