p. 1 | Behold the Man! by Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 9, 1900

Behold the Man!

By Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle.

He sat upon the judgment seat, Proud Pilate, at whose royal feet The howling, scowling rabble surged, And their unjust petition urged. They rent the heavens with their cry: “Away with Jesus! Crucify!”

Before him stands, with humble mien, A Man—the lowly Nazarene. A crown of thorns is on his brow, A purple robe he weareth now; His look is godlike, while around His sacred hands a cord is bound.

But pray, what evil hath he done? Day after day, from sun to sun, They say these hands have blest mankind; Have healed the sick, the lame, the blind; Have fed the hungering multitude, And satisfied the poor with food.

Behold the Man! What hath he done? The harmless, sinless, spotless One! No man can lift his hand, I ween, Against the mighty Nazarene,— Mighty, for ah, the shades of death Are driven backward by his breath.

Behold the Man! behold him die! High stretched between the earth and sky. The very sun grows black with dread, As the meek Sufferer bows his head; The veil within the temple grand Is rent as by a bloodless hand.

Behold the Man! death can not hold With cruel grasp and fingers cold The mighty Prince of David, him Before whom angels bow the knee; Two seraphs cleave the shining skies, And bid the mighty One arise.

And he will come once more,—the same Who once in love and pity came. O glorious hope! he'll come again! Take heart, ye weary sons of men; His blessed, longed-for advent nears,— Then joy and everlasting years.