If I were to give a title to this picture, it would be from John 19:5: “...Behold the man”. Although this is a thought provoking picture, still, it is not as accurate as it could be. Remember, Jesus was flogged. He would be bloodied and scarred and awful to look at. In John 19, the people chose crucifixion for Jesus. What a fate; slow death, being publicly displayed in a pitiful state, suffering unbelievable pain, nude, helpless and enduring the scorn of passersby. Awful, simply awful!
That was then and although is truly is horrible to think about, it happened. However, Jesus was raised from death and ascended to heaven and will come again. Believe this, for it is true.
Along with John 19, there is another passage to consider, and that comes from Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians, chapter 1. The Bible says...
John 19 ( World English Bible )
1 So Pilate then took Jesus, and flogged him.
2 The soldiers twisted thorns into a crown, and put it on his head, and dressed him in a purple garment.
3 They kept saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and they kept slapping him.
4 Then Pilate went out again, and said to them, “Behold, I bring him out to you, that you may know that I find no basis for a charge against him.”
5 Jesus therefore came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple garment. Pilate said to them, “Behold, the man!”
6 When therefore the chief priests and the officers saw him, they shouted, saying, “Crucify! Crucify!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves, and crucify him, for I find no basis for a charge against him.”
7 The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.”
8 When therefore Pilate heard this saying, he was more afraid.
9 He entered into the Praetorium again, and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer.
10 Pilate therefore said to him, “Aren’t you speaking to me? Don’t you know that I have power to release you, and have power to crucify you?”
11 Jesus answered, “You would have no power at all against me, unless it were given to you from above. Therefore he who delivered me to you has greater sin.”
12 At this, Pilate was seeking to release him, but the Jews cried out, saying, “If you release this man, you aren’t Caesar’s friend! Everyone who makes himself a king speaks against Caesar!”
13 When Pilate therefore heard these words, he brought Jesus out, and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called “The Pavement,” but in Hebrew, “Gabbatha.”
14 Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, at about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold, your King!”
15 They cried out, “Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!”
16 So then he delivered him to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus and led him away.
2 Thessalonians 1 ( WEB )
1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the assembly of the Thessalonians in God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ:
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 We are bound to always give thanks to God for you, brothers, even as it is appropriate, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of each and every one of you towards one another abounds;
4 so that we ourselves boast about you in the assemblies of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions which you endure.
5 This is an obvious sign of the righteous judgment of God, to the end that you may be counted worthy of the Kingdom of God, for which you also suffer.
6 Since it is a righteous thing with God to repay affliction to those who afflict you,
7 and to give relief to you who are afflicted with us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire,
8 giving vengeance to those who don’t know God, and to those who don’t obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus,
9 who will pay the penalty: eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and from the glory of his might,
10 when he comes to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired among all those who have believed (because our testimony to you was believed) in that day.
I read today in the news that Christians in Canada are now being arrested. They are suffering because of their faith. Like the Thessalonians, this is an indication of God’s judgment for God will repay their persecutions with Judgment.
Jesus will come again, in power to judge those who have rejected him. When this comes ( and someday, it WILL COME ) it will be awful for those who have disbelieved and refuse to obey God and his Gospel. Their fate- eternal destruction.
Flee for refuge to Jesus, while there is yet time; he will save you from the penalty of your sins. Obey God and live, for the next time anyone sees Jesus there will be no more hope for sinners.