So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, "Here is the man!" – John 19:5
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Pilate questioned Jesus personally and found him not guilty. Pilate wanted to release Jesus and even tried to do so but it did not work out in the best way possible. Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged thinking that at least by seeing that Jewish people will be happy and will allow Jesus to be released. The soldiers of Pilate mocked Jesus and made him wear a crown of thorns and a purple robe. As Pilate placed Jesus in front of Jews he said, "Here is the man". Pilate is emphasizing that Jesus is only an ordinary man and he is not a king.
Dear friends, when looking into this passage, we come across many times where Pilate tries to release Jesus because he was convinced that Jesus has done nothing wrong that deserves the death sentence. The Jewish leaders put such a pressure on Pilate that he had to please them and the emperor. Pilate took a decision in order to please them. He handed over Jesus to them to be crucified.
As we read in the book of prophet Isaiah 53:7-8 – "He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By a perversion of justice he was taken away." Exactly we see the fulfillment of this prophecy. In the death sentence of Jesus we see a clear perversion of justice. Amidst all this Jesus is peacefully co-operating with the will of his Father.
Bible reflection on John 19:1-16 by Fr. George Joseph SVD
(Listen to podcast here)
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