Ecce homo

Behold the man.

These words mean something.

These words from the long account of our Lord’s Passion in the Gospel of John that we hear today on Good Friday (Jn. 18:1-19:42) mean much more than “Hey, look at him.” The Gospel of John chooses and uses words very carefully.

Pilate does not say to look at “him” or “this male” or “Jesus” or “this Nazorean,” but look at this “human being” (“homo” in Latin, “anthropos” in Greek).

Also, he says it after our Lord has been brutally tortured, scourged, and ridiculed.

Ecce homo

In a very real sense, Pilate’s words signal a completion of the Incarnation.

Pope Saint Leo the Great put it this way:

"For 'the Word became flesh'
in order that from the Virgin's womb
He might take our suffering nature,
and in order that
what could not be inflicted on the Son of God
might be inflicted on the Son of Man.

"For although at His very birth
the signs of Godhead shone forth in Him,
and the whole course of His bodily growth

was full of wonders,
yet He had also truly assumed our weaknesses,
and without share in sin
had spared Himself no human frailty,
that He might impart

what was His

to us
and heal what was ours

in Himself.”

As today's second reading says,

For we have not a high priest
who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses,
but one who in every respect

has been tempted as we are,
yet without sin.
Let us then with confidence
draw near to the throne of grace,
that we may receive mercy
and find grace to help in time of need.
(Heb 4:15-16)

No matter how bad things may ever seem,
Christ is there.
No matter how great the pain,
Christ is there.
No matter how extreme or dire our circumstance,
Christ is there.

We can be faithful,
we can tough it out,
because Christ has been there
and is here
and will take his faithful ones where he is
forever.

Behold the man.

Behold one of us.

Behold our God and our Savior

Praised be Jesus Christ.

Laudetur Jesus Christus.