Thoughts on the Gospel of John (189) - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2025

Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, behold the Man! Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, crucify Him, crucify Him! Pilate said to them, you take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him. The Jews answered him, we have a law, and according to our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God.
John 19:5–7

Thoughts on the Gospel of John (189)
The Son of God, who possessed an indescribable glory with the Father in heaven before He came to earth, is now presented to the rulers of the Jews as an object of ridicule. How impressive that He should endure such ill-treatment in silence! Just think of the physical pain from the scourging! Add to this the biting mockery that deeply wounds His holy soul.

Then Pilate points to Jesus, “Behold the Man!” What does he mean by this? That He is nothing like a king? That such a battered figure is no threat to Rome?

The chief priests and their servants are not impressed by this. On the contrary, driven by blind rage they cry out, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!”

What does the ‘sight’ of this abused and mocked Christ do to us? Are we inwardly moved by it? Do we admire Him for the love that caused Him to take all this upon Himself?

Pilate does not want to impose a death sentence, but to return the case to the Jews as a religious question. The Jews, however, invoke their religious privileges which they enjoy under Roman rule. It was clear for them that Jesus was a blasphemer. Therefore, the governor had to carry out the death sentence provided for in their law, because Jesus had “made Himself the Son of God.”

(to be continued next Sunday)

Today’s reading: Genesis 27:30-46 · Psalms 13:1-6