Behold the Man!

Pilate went out again and said to them, “See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him.” So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!” When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him.” The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God.” (Jn 19:3-7)
“Behold the man!” Pilate it seems was hoping that when they saw Jesus beaten and smitten they would have sympathy and allow him to let Jesus go. He brought Jesus out to the people and said “Behold the Man!” It was meant a bit tongue in cheek. Why would you want to fight someone so broken? Let him go.
But he was the man! He was the only man to finally follow God’s law, the only man to be righteous. He is the man. And as the man, he will be the sacrifice from which all men will receive their righteousness, and through whom those who believe will be restored to true man hood. He is the man.
The crowds do not react the way Pilate hopes. Instead with a taste of blood thy cry for more. They want him crucified. Pilate tells them to crucify him, but they do not have the authority to do so. They could attempt, but others could take him down. They could stone him, but even then this would cause problems. The Jews will not let the Romans wiggle out of doing their dirty work for him.