Pilate

Today's episode is the last of all the trials. It was conducted by the State and presided over by the Roman, Gentile governor of Judah and Jerusalem, a man named Pontius Pilate. And it's in THIS trial that Pilate issues his notorious mandate, translated into Latin by the famous words (v. 5), "Ecce Homo" – Gk: ἰδοὺ ὁ ἄνθρωπος and in English, "Behold, the Man."

John uses the nonspecific word for man – not a male but a human – mankind or humanity. Pilate parades Jesus in front of His accusers, the priests and Temple officials and Pilate says, "Behold, the Man…Humanity." And that's exactly what I'd like to DO today (this Palm Sunday) to look at man. We'd rather avoid it, I know.

"What IS man?" asks the Eighth Psalm (also 144.3, Heb 2.6, Job 7.17); what is our nature? What do we all have in common? How should we think of ourselves when everyone seems to be self-identifying by their peculiarities – sexuality, age, gender, political affiliation, race/ethnicity – all the ways we classify people – but what makes "US" us?

What defines humanity? What makes us (very important word) authentic people, true human beings?

I think there are three depictions of humanity here:

1. Evasive Man
2. Responsible Man
3. Authentic Man