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Commentaries
English
John
  
4Pilate went out again, and said to them, "Behold, I am bringing him out to you, that you may know that I find no crime in him."5So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, "Here is the Man!"


Pilate looked up Jesus’ file and found he was innocent. For the third time he went out to the Jewish leaders and witnessed again, "I find no fault in him." Eventually, he tried to bring them together face to face, to uncover deceit and display the truth.
He brought out Jesus with all the signs of blows and tears on him and blood flowing profusely, and the crown of thorns on his brow. On his shoulders was the robe of purple, drenched with blood.
Can you conceive the picture of God’s Lamb bearing the world’s sin? His abasement was elevation, for his matchless love appears in his patience. He stood before those who represented East and West, mocking him, ill-treated and crowned with thorns. All the crowns of the world with their glittering gems are of no value compared with his thorny crown with the blood that atones for all sin.
Though Pilate was the roughest of men prior to this, he was moved by this picture. There was no trace of hatred on Jesus’ face, or a curse on his lips. He prayed silently to his Father, blessed his foes and bore the sins of those who reviled him. The governor uttered the striking words, "Behold, the Man!" He felt the majesty and dignity of this man. As if he meant to say of Christ, "This is the unique man who bears the image of God." His mercy radiated, even at the hour of mortal danger; his holiness shone out in weakness and his marred body. He was not suffering for his own misdeeds, but for my sin and yours, and the guilt of mankind.