Pilate, otherwise having a peaceful day, was
inadvertently sucked into Jewish religious matters. The Jews had a
serious problem with Jesus for which they wanted him executed. However,
the only authority that could legally execute a person was the Roman
government. Pilate tried to kick the ball back into the Jew’s court.
They refused because they wanted Jesus killed and they weren’t allowed.
Now Pilate cared nothing for Jesus’ life, it mattered not at all to
him, nor did Jewish religious disputes. When Jesus was forced back into his lap he tried to quickly get
him to admit he was “King of the Jews”. If he could do that, he could
render a quick death penalty judgement: for no one could be king but
Caesar. He could get no evidence against Jesus except the troublesome
fact that Jesus had said he was the “Son of God”. That wasn’t enough in
Roman eyes. He brought him out before the people in “kings clothing”
saying, “Behold your king” but the people said, “We have no king but
Caesar.” Now Pilate was stuck because, in his view, there was only one
king, and that was Caesar. The people knew he could not back away.
He
tried to release Jesus until the Jews said that Jesus made himself king
in the place of Caesar. That was enough to let Pilate off the hook and
get Jesus crucified for no one could be king but Caesar
The fact that an innocent man might die had no effect on Pilate’s
thinking. He wanted to avoid anything that would embroil hem in
consequences for months to come, and in Jerusalem religious matters
always have consequences. He wanted out of a Jewish religious
argument. He did not want to be exposed to a religious discrimination
suit by the Jews because of anything he did. After all, that was a
career stopper.
