Behold the Man

John 19  •  4 min. read  •  grade level: 6
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John 19
After Jesus was scourged, they placed a crown of thorns on His head in mockery, and clothed Him with a purple robe. Pilate said again, "I find no fault in Him." Bringing Jesus before the crowd in the crown of thorns and purple robe, Pilate said, "Behold the man!" The Jews cried, "Crucify Him, crucify Him."
They said that Jesus ought to die because He said that He was the Son of God. Being alarmed by this statement, Pilate again entered the judgment hall and asked Jesus, "Whence art Thou?" But Jesus gave him no answer.
The Jews reminded Pilate that anyone who would make himself a king spoke against Cæsar. It was the preparation time for the passover, about the sixth hour. Pilate said unto the Jews, "Behold your King," but they cried out, "Away with Him."
We Have No King but Cæsar
Pilate asked, "Shall I crucify your King?" They answered, "We have no king but Cæsar." That fatal saying, "We have no king but Cæsar," rings in the ears of the Jew today. It called down the judgment of God. Then Pilate delivered up Jesus to them, and He was led away to Golgotha, bearing His cross.
Crucifixion
In this gospel we do not read of anyone's helping Jesus bear the cross. He was crucified between two thieves. The title which Pilate put over the cross, was Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews. This title, written in Hebrew, Greek and Latin, was read by many.
Pilate, being questioned why he wrote, "King of the Jews," rather than, "He said, I am King of the Jews," answered, "What I have written I have written."
Except for the coat, the four soldiers divided his garments among themselves. For the coat, they cast lots. It, being without seam, was woven from the top throughout.
John and the Mother of Jesus
John, the writer of this gospel, stood by the cross. Nearby stood the mother of Jesus, and her sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. Jesus said to His mother, "Woman, behold thy son!" Here Jesus spoke as human, not as divine.
At the marriage in Cana of Galilee when Jesus was about to begin His ministry, He took the place of a Nazarite who did not know father or mother. At that time, He said to His mother, "Woman, what have I to do with thee? Mine hour is not yet come." Now His hour had come, and, while still alive on the cross, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold thy son!" Then to John, whom He loved, He said, "Behold thy mother!" John took her to his own home. Jesus' love here for John was human love.
Jesus, now knowing that all had been accomplished, said, "I thirst." Having received the vinegar that the soldiers put to His mouth, He said, "It is finished: and He bowed His head, and gave up the ghost."
Jesus gave His life for us, and put sin away forever for those who believe. He died for the glory of God, so that God could pour out His love, which had been hindered by our sin.
It would soon be the sabbath day. The soldiers, so that the victims would not be on the cross on that day, broke the legs of the thieves, but not of Jesus, who was already dead. As a divine Person He laid down His life; they did not take it from Him.
While hanging on the cross, the victim must raise his body with his feet and legs each time he breathes. If his legs were broken, he would suffocate, because with broken legs he could not breathe. So the Scripture was fulfilled, that a bone of Jesus should not be broken.
The Burial of Jesus
Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus came forward to publicly own Jesus in His death. Nicodemus had had three-and-a-half years of deep soul-searching, since he came to Jesus by night. Now, the Spirit of God having wrought in his soul, he came out a true believer.
We have been told very little about Joseph of Arimathea, except that he was a counselor, a good and just man, who waited for the kingdom of God. Although a counselor, he had not consented to the counsel and deeds of the Jews. Like Nicodemus, he was a wealthy man. Having been a disciple secretly, at this moment he boldly came forward, asking for the body of Jesus.
Having bought fine linen, he and Nicodemus wrapped the body of Jesus in it, along with the spices, a hundred-pound mixture of myrrh and aloes, that Nicodemus bought. So another prophesy was fulfilled (Ex. 30:31-38).
After man, in his hatred of Jesus, had slain Him and could do no more, God saw to it that Jesus was buried like a king of Israel with all of the honor that the custom of Israel called for. The two men were ready, prepared by the Holy Spirit, to fulfill the Scripture, He was "with the rich in His death." Isa. 53:9. Jesus was laid in Joseph's own sepulcher within a garden. The day of preparation was near.