Behold the Man

Diogenes was a cynical philosopher who lived in Athens and Corinth. He was a contemporary of Plato and Alexander.

He lived in a barrel; scorned earthly possessions and civil customs. He famously threw away a wooden cup, his only possession, after seeing a child drinking water with his hand. “Why have I carried this burden for so long.” He carried a lantern in the day (think of Nietchze’s Mad Man) looking for a true man.

He was visited by Alexander the Great in Corinth, who found him looking over a pile of bones. “What are you doing?” Alexander asked. Diogenes replied, “I am searching for the bones of your father but cannot distinguish them from those of a slave.”

Anyhow, Diogenes has our attention today because once, listening to Plato lecture, he heard the philosopher define man as “a featherless biped.” Diogenes grabbed a chicken, plucked out all its feathers, and came back into the Academy, held up the naked poultry, and with philosophical cynicism proclaimed: Ecce Homo! Behold the man!

Three centuries later Jesus is brought to Pilate. He is mocked, beaten, dressed in purple robes, crowned with thorns, and then brought before the crowd.

Pilate presents Him in mockery and shame, with political cynicism: Ecce Homo! Behold the Man!

Jesus has all the glory of a plucked chicken. Everything majestic is a mockery. His humility is on display, here and even more as He is led to the cross. “Behold the man.”

Pilate, it seems, was trying to find some sympathy from the crowds. Jesus was obviously not a threat; He is a dangerous as a little chicken, He could be beaten and let go.

But the crowds cry out for His destruction, threaten Pilate with Ceasar’s wrath, and the terrible events of the Passion proceed.

Behold the man.

Diogenes was mocking Plato, but he, also, never found what he was looking for: a true man.

Pilate was mocking Jesus and taunting the crowds. He could not see what stood in front of him.

Jesus, in His humility and weakness and shame is true man, true humanity, mankind perfected.

We might have expected something more. The true man must be strong and glorious and victorious, right?

Behold the man.

Blessed Good Friday.
Pastor Wolfmueller

Here are two more things for your Good Friday reflections:

Audio: What-Not Podcast: S3E16 Good Friday reflections…

Video: