Pilate’s Change of Heart: Behold The Man

 

When Jesus was flogged with lead tipped whips (John 19:1) and crowned with a crown of thorns (John 19:2), Pontius Pilate said to the crowds, “Behold The Man!” (John 19:5). The statement actually was likely in Greek because that was the common tongue everyone spoke, which would read, “ἰδοὺ ὁἄνθρωπος", romanized: "idoù ho ánthropos or more commonly Ecco Homo.” When the Prefect said this it is difficult to ascertain if it was plea to people to remember Jesus’ humanity or a mocking gesture of politc. What is interesting is what happens next is the Jews say Jesus must die because, “The Jewish leaders replied, “By our law he ought to die because he called himself the Son of God (Greek: Υἱὸν Θεοῦ 

Son in Greek: Υἱὸν [Huion] A son, descendent. 

of God in Greek: 

Θεοῦ (Theou) which means A deity, especially the supreme Divinity),” (John 19:7) and it says Pilate became frightened when they said this, “When Pilate heard this, he was more frightened than ever.” (John 19:8) asking where Jesus comes from and tries desperately to free him, “Then Pilate tried to release him,” but the Jewish leaders threaten pilate, “If you release this man, you are no ‘friend of Caesar.’ Anyone who declares himself a king is a rebel against Caesar.” (John 19:12). It is intriguing Pilate’s reaction to Jesus being called the Son of God, he changes his posture from Roman stoic to terrified man, why? We do see at the cross a Centurion says, “truly this was the Son of God.” (Matthew 27:54). The Romans seemed to know this title was important, even the Babylonians knew and said, “He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God” (Daniel 3:25, Brenton Septuagint, KJV, NKJV). What is fascinating is that the apostle John says, “All who declare that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God,” (1 John 4:15) and “This is how we know if they have the Spirit of God: If a person claiming to be a prophet acknowledges that Jesus Christ came in a real human body (the flesh), that person has the Spirit of God,” (1 John 4:2) when Pilate actually affirms both Jesus’ humanity and deity, first by saying Behold the Man and then clearly becoming fearful once he hears Jesus is called Son of God. 

I have always wondered why in one gospel Pilate seems indifferent to Jesus and sends Him to Herod and here in Gospel of John he becomes obsessed with helping Jesus survive tell he can’t. The transition for Pilate is between Behold The Man and when the Jewish Leaders say He claims to be the Son of God. Pilate is unmoved when Jesus denies his kingdom is of the earth, he even seems ready to make Jesus a cautionary example of messiahs, perhaps hoping to dissuade others from trying to be king, but when the Jews say He claimed to be the Son of God Pilate changes from typical Roman bureaucrat to a frightened man trying to spare Jesus.  The title of king did nothing for Pilate, behold the man did nothing for the Jews, appealing to the fact Jesus is a man, but when Son of God is mentioned this entire affair changed for the Roman Prefect. He even washes his hands of Jesus’ blood to make it clear he is not killing The Son of God. 

I have always wondered why most movies make Pilate into unsympathetic ruler and even a tyrant, ignoring the Gospel of John. I finally understand its because that is how Pilate is till The Son of God name is dropped and then he becomes almost a guardian and protector trying to spare Jesus (John 19:12). At last I see that both pilates exist, the transition happens between Ecco Homo and Filius Dei: Behold The Man and Son of God. Amen.