The Man

“Jesus then came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, ‘Behold, the Man!’”—John 19:5 NASB

Many consider Titian the greatest painter of the sixteenth century, perhaps of all time. Born in northeastern Italy, he gained fame after settling in Venice.

Many of his masterpieces focused on biblical themes. In 1543, Titian turned his attention to the moment when Pilate presented Jesus to a crowd that demanded His crucifixion. The painting is called Ecce Homo (Latin for Behold the Man).

Titian filled this painting with people, with a focus on the crowd. Some wave their arms. One man listens carefully. A child seems confused and seeks to understand what is taking place. Jesus and Pilate are seen in the upper left corner. Just below them, a Roman crouches near a boy who is screaming.

A bearded man looks at two men on horseback. One of the horsemen is Suleiman the Magnificent, the powerful Ottoman sultan who was threatening Europe with his radical Islamic vision. The other horseman is a Roman commander sympathetic to Christ.

A study of this painting reveals that Titian dealt with issues and people relevant to his time. But this painting urges us to think about our time and our lives.

What happens when we picture ourselves standing in the crowd before Pilate? We can imagine the political and social forces of our time and the clash of ideas and cultures.

Who is Jesus to you?

Reflection Question: Write about what Jesus means to you personally.