Jesus, I have often called you my Lord and King, yet, my actions do not speak so. My actions insult you and do not give glory to you. Lord, have mercy. I should know better. Yet, I don't. Help me. Save me!
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After the beating, Pilate brought Jesus out in full regalia: with a crown of thorns and a purple garment. Pilate wanted to show the crowd he had punished Jesus to appease them so he could release him. When Pilate said, “Behold, the man!” he was showing the crowd the punishment done to Jesus.
The Effects of Sin
Here, we see how one looks when one lives in sin. St. Paul said “For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
What happened to Jesus physically is what happens spiritually to those who sin. One is beaten and insulted. The dignity is lost. God created man to be ruler of creation. But due to sin, man is beaten, bruised and near death. This is the sinful man.
When confronted by sin, the people rejected it. They did not want to see their sin. They did not want to see how disfigured they were from the image of God. They did not want to see how much they had lost. Because of this, they wanted to kill that Truth.
The people wanted to believe there was nothing wrong with them. Nobody wanted to see themselves disfigured. Jesus stood before them. He was showing them the horrible truth of what sin does to people.
They asked to crucify Jesus. They wanted to get rid of the image of sin. They wanted to retain their illusion of perfection.
How true this is of our lives. We sin and yet would not want to face sin. We see the consequence, yet would rather deny the truth than face it.
This is how I look when I live in sin. This is what sin does to me. It robs me of my dignity. It beats me to near death. It insults me. Yet, I would not want to accept this. I would prefer not to confront this and stay in my illusion of my righteousness. I am perfect by my own standard. Lord God, save me from myself. |
The Son of God
Pilate wanted to release Jesus, but the crowd kept insisting on death. The leaders said Jesus called himself the Son of God. Again, the right words, but they would not believe.
Here is another case of one believing in Jesus as God. Pilate believed Jesus was the Son of God. The gospel said “When therefore Pilate heard this saying, he was more afraid.” He believed but this was not the believing Jesus was talking about.
Pilate's belief was intellectual. It was not based on a loving relationship with Jesus. It was a relationship of fear and arrogance. He felt he was above Jesus, but the truth is Jesus was way beyond Pilate.
Part of believing in Jesus is not only in knowing he is the Son of God. It is in knowing where one stands before him.
| Jesus, let me know where I stand before you. You are God, I am your creature. Always remind me of this. |
Pilate asked Jesus who he was, but as Jesus remained silent, he got frustrated and told him he had the power to release him or crucify him. Jesus said the power Pilate had was given by God.
Pilate boasted of what he had - power over life and death. He never realized the person who had the real power over life and death was before him! The trial was reversed. Now, Jesus was standing as the judge. Pilate was on trial. Jesus knew where he came from and Pilate did not. Pilate was torn between Jesus and the people. Jesus knew what he wanted to do - the Father's will. In all these, Jesus did not plead for his life. He left his life in the hands of the people, knowing this was the Father's will.
With regards to those who handed him over, he left it to the Father.
| Lord, how often, I judge your works. I criticize you and even get frustrated when things do not go my way. I stand in judgment over you, not knowing you are the Eternal Judge. Let me desire to only do the Father's will. Jesus, teach me to forgive those who had done me wrong. Let the Father's justice deal with them. |
Behold, Your King
Pilate wanted to free Jesus but the chief priests said anyone who wanted to be king spoke against Caesar. Pilate then took the judgment seat. He said to the people, “Behold, your King.” John mentions it was the sixth hour, 12 noon. At the brightest time of day, Pilate made a revelation. But the people rejected Jesus. They wanted to crucify him. Pilate asked, “Shall I crucify your King?” They replied they had no king but Caesar.
Pilate called Jesus as the King of the Jews. Yet, he did so in an insulting manner. The soldiers also called him that to mock him. Pilate showed them a king who was beaten and near death, clothed with a purple garment and crowned with thorns. Pilate, even if he did not know it, was saying the right thing.
The chief priests and leaders, because of their hard hearts did not want Jesus as king. They rejected God as their king. Instead, they chose Caesar, a worldly king whom their enemies worshiped as a god.
In a reversal of roles, the pagans who did not know God professed Jesus as the King of the Jews. The Jewish leaders who knew God rejected him. They could not see him. They preferred a human king rather than their One True King.
This is the ultimate idolatry. God was before them, yet they choose an idol. When we are confronted with Jesus, who do we choose - God, or things of this world?
| Lord, when confronted with a choice, between a beaten God or a powerful king, let me choose you. A beaten God is more powerful than the greatest king in this world. |
Jesus is Lifted Up
Pilate then had Jesus crucified. Jesus took his cross and climbed the “Place of a Skull”. They crucified him with two others, one on each side. Pilate had a sign put on the cross “JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS” in languages people in that land could understand. The leaders wanted that changed, but Pilate would not change it.
This proclamation was meant as a warning to those who wanted to incite rebellion. It was also meant to insult the Jews, to show the world how the Romans had again triumphed over their enemies.
Unknown to all of them, it also proclaimed the truth to the world - Jesus was (and still is) indeed, the King of the Jews. He was not a king of this world. He did not come to establish a kingdom on earth by political might. He came to establish a kingdom of heaven AND earth - by the power of God.
The soldiers divided his garment into four parts, but his coat, they cast lots for it. This was to fulfill scripture.
| By your being lifted up Lord, you were proclaimed to the world as you really are, the true Savior! Come Lord, rule over my life. |
The Mother of Jesus
Jesus saw his mother and other women. He also saw his beloved disciple with them. Jesus gave the disciple first to his Mother, then he gave his Mother to the disciple. The disciple of Jesus was entrusted to the care of his Mother.
Mary is the Spouse of the Holy Spirit. Now that Jesus was dying, he will send the Holy Spirit. Mary will be the guide to her Son.
The disciple of Jesus obeys Jesus' Mother, trusts her and takes her home.
| Mary, stay with me in my moments of despair. Mary, Mother of God, pray for me, a sinner. May I accept you as my Mother and take you to live with me. |
Catholics believe Mary remained a virgin throughout her life. This meant Jesus did not have any brothers born of Mary. This episode proves this. If Mary had children, those children would be responsible for taking care of their mother. However, Jesus gave Mary to the disciple to ensure she was cared for. John said, “From that hour, the disciple took her to his own home.” This meant the disciple took care of Mary from that time.
The Source of Living Water Thirsts
At the cross, Jesus said “I thirst.” There was a vessel full of vinegar. They soaked a sponge and gave it to him. They gave him vinegar rather than water. The source of Living Water had emptied himself because he had poured himself out for the world. He gave up his spirit. Even here, Jesus was in control. He determined when he would die.
When Jesus died, the Law was powerless. The leaders did not want to break the Sabbath Law, so they asked the Romans to hasten the death of those crucified, by breaking their legs. When they came to Jesus, they saw he was dead so they did not break his bones. Instead, one of the soldiers made sure he was dead and pierced his side. Blood and water flowed out of this side. This proved Jesus was a human being, that he really died as a man.
| Lord, by piercing your side, the soldier drained every last drop of blood from your body. You poured out your life for me. Thank you Jesus. I want to live for you Lord. I want to live in you. I want to live the life your Father has planned for me. Take me Jesus, make me yours for the glory of the Father. |
The Burial of Jesus
Joseph of Arimathaea came to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. He was a secret follower for fear of the Jewish leaders. Pilate allowed him to take it. Nicodemus also came and brought expensive spices to anoint the body of Jesus. They bound the body. In the place where he was crucified was a garden with a tomb where no one had ever laid. They laid him there.
After the death at the skull, the body was laid in a garden. The seed was buried in a garden. The violence of death changed to the serenity of a garden. Adam lost his place in a garden and died. Jesus died to recover the garden. The seed must die and be buried so it may bear fruit. Jesus died and was buried so the Tree of Life may grow again.
| Lord, restore to me the joy of your salvation. By your cross and resurrection, you have set me free, you are my Savior! |
