"Behold Your King!"

Pilate spoke far more than he understood, and therefore we shall not confine ourselves to his meaning.

Everything concerning our Lord was more than ever full of meaning just then; the saying of Caiaphas, the fleeing of the disciples, the dividing of his garments, the soldier piercing his side, etc.

It was to the Jews that Jesus was brought forth, and by them he was rejected; yet was he distinctly declared to be their King.

The same is repeated at this day among those favored with special privileges; but whether they accept him or not, he is assuredly in some sense or other their King.

To the summons of the text the answer was mockery.

We would with deepest reverence draw near, and behold our King.

I. BEHOLD HIM PREPARING HIS THRONE.

1. He lays the foundation of it in his suffering nature.

2. He makes it a throne of grace by his atoning griefs.

3. He prepares access to it through his ability to have compassion on those who come to him, by partaking in all their sorrows.

4. He canopies and glorifies it by the shame to which he willingly and unreservedly yields himself.

   • Believe in the perpetuity of a throne thus founded.

II. BEHOLD HIM CLAIMING OUR HOMAGE.

He claims and wins our adoration—

1. By the right of supreme love.

2. By the right of complete purchase.

3. By the right of grateful consecration, which we heartily accord to him under a sense of loving gratitude.

   • Glory in rendering homage thus made due.

III. BEHOLD HIM SUBDUING HIS DOMINIONS.

1. Jews and Gentiles are won to obedience by beholding his sufferings for them.

2. This brings in his own elect everywhere.

3. This restores backsliders. They look to him whom they have wounded, and return to their allegiance.

4. This holds all his true servants captive: they glory in yielding their all to him who was thus put to shame for them.

5. This subdues all things unto him. By his cross and passion he reigns in Heaven, earth, and Hell.

   • Bow low before the scepter of his Cross.

IV. BEHOLD HIM SETTING FORTH THE PATTERN OF HIS KINGDOM.

He stands there the Prophet and the Type of his own dominion.

1. It is no earthly kingdom: the difference is palpable to all.

2. It is associated with shame and suffering, both on the part of the King and of his loyal subjects.

3. It is based on his love and self-sacrifice: this is his right of sovereignty, this his force of arms, this the source of his revenue.

4. It is made resplendent by his woes: these are the insignia and ornaments of his court; his glory even in Heaven.

   • Glory only in the cross.

V. BEHOLD HIM PROVING THE CERTAINTY OF HIS KINGDOM.

1. Is he King there in his shame? Then, assuredly, he is King now that he has risen from the dead, and gone into the glory.

2. Is he King amid shame and pain? Then he is able to help us if we are in like case.

3. Is he King while paying the price of our redemption? Then, certainly, he is King now that it is paid, and he has become the author of eternal salvation.

4. Is he King at Pilate’s bar? Then truly he will be so when Pilate stands at his bar to be judged.

   • Come hither, saints, and pay your accustomed worship!
   • Come hither, sinners, and adore for the first time!

Glimpses

It is far worse to despise a Savior in his robes than to crucify him in his rags. An affront is more criminal to a prince upon his throne than when he is disguised as a subject, and masked in the clothes of his servant. Christ is entered into glory after his sufferings; all who are his enemies must enter into misery after their prosperity: and whoever will not be ruled by his golden scepter shall be crushed by his rod.—Stephen Charnock.

Did Pilate hope to melt the Jewish heart to a sort of scornful pity? Did he think that they would turn away from so wretched an object, and be ashamed of having accused him of treason? Perhaps so. But he failed. The sorrows of Jesus do not of themselves overcome the hate of man; but this fact proves how desperately hardened his heart has become.

Given the Holy Spirit, there is nothing more likely to win men to Jesus than beholding him in his sorrows. Behold, O man, and see what your sin has done, what your Redeemer has borne, and what he claims of you! Behold him not as another’s, but as your! Behold him not only as your Friend, your Savior, but your King! Behold him, and at once fall at his feet, and own yourself his loving subject!—C. H. S.

“Behold your King.”—This is neither an impossible nor a delusive command. The eye that looks away up to Jesus will behold him now: and what shall we behold? The vision is all of beauty, and glory, and coronation now. The sorrow and the marred visage are past; and even when we behold him as the Lamb of God, it is the Lamb “in the midst of the throne” now.

O daughters of Zion, who gaze by faith upon Jesus our King, what do you see? Oh the music of the answers!—“We see Jesus crowned with glory and honor!” “Fairer than the children of men.” “Beautiful and glorious!” “How great is his beauty!” “His countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars,” and “as the sun shines in his strength!” “Yes, he is altogether lovely!”—Frances Ridley Havergal.