JANUARY 25, 2026 – BEHOLD YOUR KING

READ: Jn. 19:12–16: … But they cried out, “Away with Him” …

Pilate yields to the Jews. Although he declares Jesus innocent, he carries out the sentence of crucifixion. Pilate condemns the only perfectly innocent One to the most dreadful death on the cross.

What Pilate does violates every principle of justice, yet it can only happen because God wills it so. In Acts 4:27–28 the prayer says that Herod, Pilate, the Gentiles, and the people of Israel were gathered “to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done.”

Pilate orders Jesus to be brought outside and sits down on the judgment seat at Gabbatha. John notes the time: the preparation for the Sabbath during Passover—Friday, around the sixth hour (cf. Mk. 15:42). Pilate then calls to the Jews—not “Behold the Man,” but “Behold your King!” perhaps with the same scorn: this miserable One is your king.

But the Jews are enraged and cry even louder: away with Him, crucify Him. Pilate provokes them even more: Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests reply: we have no king but Caesar. This likely pressures Pilate: is he loyal to Caesar if he speaks of another king? Now Pilate finally yields and delivers Jesus to be crucified.

How deeply this must have affected Jesus: “Behold your King.” He came to earth with royal honor, already acknowledged at His birth by the wise men. He spoke the night before to Annas about His Kingdom, and even to Pilate.

But precisely as King, He is mocked, scorned, and condemned by His own people. Yet He remains active here as the victorious Messianic Priest-King, being crucified in order to save His own from eternal death and from the power of the great adversary (Col. 2:15).

Do you see how heavy this was for Jesus? 

Sing: Hymn 24:4,5 (1984) / 28:4,5 (2014)