Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe.  They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands. Pilate went out again and said to them, “See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him.” So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!”- John 19:1-5 ESV

Warrior;

“Behold the man!” This is HOLY WEEK, it is the ONE TIME in our PAGAN world where the WORLD collectively, has a chance to BEHOLD THE GOD\MAN. This week, at a minimum, we ought to obey Pilate!  Let us STOP and stare at the Man PILATE is pointing to. Consider that Pilate has no authority over us today. HE didn’t really have ultimate authority over Jesus either, even though the world told him he did. It is written; I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” (John 10:14-18) BEHOLD THE MAN! THE TIME IS NOW, to obey the words of Pilate this week and BEHOLD THE MAN- CHRIST JESUS.  Not necessarily because PILATE spoke them, but because John took these words and under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit placed them in His Gospel. So that we would not only hear Pilate’s words in their original context, but also look through these words to their meaning for all people at all times. Behold the Man!

Leader, Jesus was fully man and fully God!  He was not a CHIMERA, (mythology), a fire-breathing monster of ancient Lycia said to combine parts from multiple animals.  He IS NOT a hybrid, a mixture of part man, and part God- He is 100% fully man, and 100% fully God! Hear the Word of the Lord; And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, But (Jesus) emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, (John 1:14, 1 Timothy 2:5, Philippians 2:7, Colossians 2:9) BEHOLD the MAN! This was no ordinary Man, for He was the coming Seed, who was to redeem His people. This Man was THE Word of God, who in the beginning flung galaxies into space. This IS the incarnate Son of God, made flesh – indeed HE IS THE MAN! This IS the Man, HE IS the anointed One, the Christ, of whom Zachariah prophesied, saying: “this is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘BEHOLD THE MAN whose name is the Branch, and He will branch out from His place and build the temple of the LORD’”. Today, in between the PROMISE of GOD and the DELIVERANCE of the PROMISED DELIVERER- we WAIT and BEHOLD THE MAN!

Conduit, BEHOLD THE MAN, that the prophet Isaiah prophesied 700 years before Christ’s ministry, death, and resurrection. Hear the Word of the LORD, “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.” The Romans used the FLOGGING of criminals as an interrogation technique.  As they meted out the lashes, they wanted the criminal to confess to their crimes.  Once they confessed, they received their remaining lashes, but instead of the full force of the whip, the whip would be laid on them.  The Number 40 is considered the number of judgment- so in their compassion, they meaded out only 39- supposedly demonstrating mercy.  Jesus, in fulfillment of scripture never let out a word during his flogging.  Pilate who had seen and heard thousands of brave men cry out for mercy- Jesus never uttered a word and took all 39 lashes- that would have killed most!  Pilate was amazed, PILATE said, “BEHOLD THE MAN!”1700 years before the day of its FULFILLMENT, when Jacob was prophesying over his children, the 12 tribes of Israel, He made this prophesy about the TRIBE OF JUDAH: He ties his donkey to the vine, his colt to the choicest branch. He washes his garments in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes. (Genesis 49:11) 1700 years later only MATTHEW in his gospel mentions what Jesus told them, “Go into the village over there,” he said. “As soon as you enter it, you will see a donkey tied there, with its colt beside it. Untie them and bring them to me. 3If anyone asks what you are doing, just say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will immediately let you take them.” This took place to fulfill the prophecy that said, “Tell the people of Jerusalem, ‘Look, your King is coming to you. He is humble, riding on a donkey—riding on a donkey’s colt.’” BEHOLD THE MAN, Look and Live! Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness so that all could behold it and live, and now Jesus was lifted up on the cross – so that ALL could look and live. As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up – for all that look will live. Jesus’ cruel rejection by man, enabled humanity to make peace with God. Had JESUS NOT been rejected by humanity, man would have remained rejected by God. Today we wait for the FULFILLED PROMISE of JESUS, ““Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.” (John 14:1-4) Tomorrow HE WILL RISE- Today, look up and BEHOLD THE MAN JESUS, the author and perfector of our FAITH, our DAYSMAN, our REDEEMER- FULLY MAN and FULLY GOD!