'Behold the Man!'
Jesus' life and death demonstrate His sinless character, kingly bearing, and redemptive love.
J.R. Miller reflects on Pilate's poignant presentation of Jesus, urging the crowd to 'Behold the man!' as He stands adorned with a crown of thorns and a purple robe. Despite the cruelty inflicted upon Him, Jesus remains sinless and embodies the essence of love and mercy, having no faults to be found by His accusers. His kingly demeanor is evident in His silence amidst insults and His unwavering love, even in suffering. Miller emphasizes that Jesus' suffering was not in vain; it was a redemptive act that transformed the world's cruelty into kindness and bitterness into sweetness. Ultimately, Jesus' kingship shines through His sacrifice, offering believers a crown of life in exchange for His crown of thorns.
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It was Pilate's last appeal. He hoped that the spectacle of Jesus wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe would so move the people to pity, that they would cry out for His release. But the appeal was in vain.
While the Holy Sufferer stands before us, we may think of Him as He appeared that moment. "Behold the man!" Recall His life. It had been beautiful in its sinlessness and in its revealings of God. In His trial, His enemies had sought to find some flaw in Him--but they could find nothing. Pilate said, "I bring Him forth to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him." Witnesses could have been gathered from all over the land to testify to His kindness, His thoughtfulness, His mercy, His love--but not one could they find anywhere to testify to any wrong He had ever done, any injustice, any injury. He had been the Friend of the poor, the Comforter of sorrow, the Helper of the weak.
As He stands before us now, He appears as the man of sorrows. His back has been torn by the cruel scourge. A crown of thorns is around His brow, as if He were a king. And truly He was a king, and He never was more kingly than in that hour.
He was kingly in His bearing. He made no plea in His own defense. He was silent to all insults, and when He spoke, it was with serene composure. Never was man more kingly.
He was kingly, too, in His love. There had not been a shade of bitterness in His heart, under all the cruelties and sufferings He had endured. He had come to show this world the love of God, and His gentleness had not once failed in all those terrible hours. He set in motion in this world's life tides of love which have been flowing over all lands, slowly changing cruelty into kindness, bitterness into sweetness, and making all things new.
He was kingly also in His suffering. His was a crown of sorrow, for He was the Redeemer of sinners. Thorns were the fruit of sin, and He took our curse upon Him--that we might receive a crown of life. He was subjected to shame in the eyes of the world--that we might be welcomed to glory. Never was He more kingly, than He was on that dreadful, yet glorious day.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Sinless Life of Jesus
- A. Beautiful in its sinlessness
- B. Revealing God's character
- C. No flaws found in Him
- II. The Man of Sorrows
- A. Torn by the scourge
- B. Crown of thorns, yet a king
- III. Kingly in His Bearing
- A. Silent to insults
- B. Composed and serene
- IV. Kingly in His Love
- A. No bitterness in His heart
- B. Showing the love of God
- V. Kingly in His Suffering
- A. Taking our curse upon Himself
- B. Redeeming sinners
Key Quotes
“Recall His life. It had been beautiful in its sinlessness and in its revealings of God.” — J.R. Miller
“Never was man more kingly.” — J.R. Miller
“He set in motion in this world's life tides of love which have been flowing over all lands, slowly changing cruelty into kindness, bitterness into sweetness, and making all things new.” — J.R. Miller
Application Points
- We can learn from Jesus' example of sinless living and kingly bearing in the face of adversity.
- Jesus' love and redemption are available to us, and we can experience the transformation of our lives through Him.
- We should strive to show the love of God to others, just as Jesus did, and to make a positive impact on the world around us.