Behold the Inner Man

Neville's Inner Vision

As I view this scene, I see it as a state of consciousness, not a ledger of events. Pilate's outside verdict—that he finds no fault—speaks to a truth I hold: I am not defined by outward judgments. The figure who steps forth, crowned with thorns and robed in purple, is the image I clothe myself with when I mistake appearances for who I am. The crown is the pain I carry; the robe is the opinion of others. Yet the inner I AM remains faultless, untouched by the chorus of accusation. When Pilate says, 'Behold the man,' he points to the self I must acknowledge—an innocent, unmoved observer who witnesses trials but does not suffer them as reality. The outer scene is merely a reflection of my inner state. My practice is to assume the truth of the inner man now, feel it as real, and let that conviction reform my world.