March-April 2025 - Ecce Homo — Behold the Man!

In this issue’s cover art, Swiss-Italian painter Antonio Ciseri captures with near-photographic quality the scene from John 19:1-7 where Pilate presents Jesus to the angry crowd. To the left of the image, Jesus stands with his hands bound behind his back, eyes lowered, and head adorned with the crown of thorns. Pilate leans forward over a porch railing, left arm outstretched toward Jesus. It is easy to imagine his exasperated words to the crowd: “Behold the man!” (19:5, NRSVUE).

Unlike other artistic depictions of this event, Ciseri has placed the viewer behind the scene, watching Jesus and Pilate from within the building. The shouting crowd below is barely visible. This perspective presents us with an interesting dilemma — How do we engage with the story? Will we come to Pilate’s aid? assist the guards in ensuring Jesus cannot escape? stand in silent solidarity with Christ? shrink back into the palace away from the drama? Or will we join in the roar of “Crucify him!” coming from the crowd?

The events of Good Friday challenge us to acknowledge our own culpability in Christ’s death and in the injustices of our world. When have we turned aside when we should have spoken up? When have we shouted “Crucify!” when we should have offered mercy? How will we embody the gift of resurrection and live differently for the sake of Christ?

Cover image courtesy of Wikimedia. This image is in the public domain. No prints of this artwork are available from The Upper Room.