Station 5: Ecce Homo

Music: He was despised (Handel Messiah)

The reading is from the Gospel of John.

John 19:4-6



4 Pilate went out again and said to them, "Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no case against him." 5 So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, "Here is the man!" 6 When the chief priests and the police saw him, they shouted, "Crucify him! Crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves and crucify him; I find no case against him."


Ecce Homo ‘Here is the man’. Now Jesus has reached the stage of anonymity. He has no name – ‘the man’. It is easier to act appallingly towards someone if he is already depersonalized. Pilate’s desire for agreement is going to force him into a corner. He tries to avoid responsibility by transferring the responsibility to others. ‘It’s nothing to do with me’ says Pilate.

But as I contemplate this scene, it has everything to do with me. Here is my hero, struggling on my behalf; a model of humanity who is being dehumanized; an embodiment of God’s love who is being smothered by hatred.

Dearest Jesus. . .