| Vol. 1, No. 7 | Page 9 | July 1999 |
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 “Behold, The Man!”By Curtis A. CatesWhen our Lord was tried before Pilate, he confessed his deity (1 Timothy 6:13), as did Timothy (6:12) and as must we (Romans 10:9-10; Acts 8:37). Pilate said to the Jews, “I find no crime in him” (John 18:38). When the Jews demanded that Christ be crucified, Pilate had him scourged, mocked and smitten with the hand (19:1-3). He then said, “Behold, I bring him out to you, that ye may know that I find no crime in him” (19:4). His original purpose was to scourge the Son of God and then release him (Luke 23:16). It seems he was trying by these events to rouse pity in the hearts of the Jews toward Jesus rather than for him to be crucified. To get their attention, Pilate said, “Behold, the man!” the innocent one. They but cried the more loudly, “Crucify him, crucify him!” (19:5). Pilate then said, “Take him yourselves and crucify him: for I find no crime in him” (19:6). “. . . he delivered him unto them to be crucified” (19:6). After he had finished his work on the cross for man’s redemption, “he bowed his head, and gave up his spirit” (19:30). Not many, not even Pilate, were fully aware of the characteristics and identity of the one he delivered up to the Jews for crucifixion. “Behold, The Man!”Though Jesus was a man, he was not a mere, ordinary man. The centurion would later acknowledge the man standing before them with the crown of thorns and the purpose robe thus: “Truly this was the Son of God” (Matthew 27:54).The Lord had taken on flesh and blood in order to die for the sins of the world (Hebrews 2:8-17). Some 4,000 years earlier, his incarnation was prophesied in Genesis 3:15. Isaiah predicted his virgin birth in Isaiah 7:14, as did Jeremiah (Jeremiah 31:22). It was fulfilled as prophesied (Matthew 1:16-25; Luke 1:35; John 3:16, et al.). He laid aside the glory he had with God to die on the cross for mankind (John 1:1-3, 14; Philippians 2:5-8; Romans 8:3; John 17:5). Behold, More Than A Man!To stop with Christ’s humanity would be to yield to and agree with his enemies—both then and now. “Thou art my beloved Son: in thee I am well pleased” (Luke 3:22); “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him” (Matthew 17:5). The apostles had revealed by God [not by flesh and blood], “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16-17). Those who acknowledge not the Son of God shall perish (Matthew 10:32-33; 1 John 2:23; 4:15).Behold, The Savior of the WorldOnly Christ has eternal life (John 6:66-68). He “came to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). Only he is “the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).Is he the “author and finisher” of your faith (Hebrews
12:1-2)? He wants you to repent (Luke 13:3, 5), to confess his exalted
name (Philippians 2:9-11), to be baptized into him for the remission of
sins (1 Corinthians 12:13; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Acts 4:12). Have
you been baptized into his church? He has but one (Ephesians 5:23;
4:4-5; Acts 2:47). What think you of the God-man?
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