Behold the Man (John 19:5)

Behold the man, the desperate judge pleads, and my eyes widen as I reread the story.  Divinity humbled, drastically.  Pain heaped on embarrassment heaped on chosen meekness.  I am torn between skimming quickly to get this misery over with and carefully cupping my hands to catch the love pouring out alongside the blood and water.  Behold this God-man.  Behold Him then, behold Him now.  Slow down and look, take Him in.  Behold.