Here is the anxious voice of a man on the horns of a dilemma.  Pilate knew that the religious leaders wanted Jesus to die, but Pilate's custom of releasing one prisoner at this annual festival of Passover was one of his very few options to get out of this mess with some dignity. This Roman governor was expected to uphold the high principles of Roman justice, but had heard no compelling evidence of treason, or any other crime.  He could see clearly through their contradictory arguments to a fleet of angry and embittered hearts firing broadsides at Jesus.  But they did not have the authority to order execution.  That decision was for Pilate alone (John 19:10-11).

Pilate knew that self-interest - the pride of religious authority (Matthew 6:5), their assumed right to interpret the Scriptures and to control the people (Luke 11:52) – had motivated the chief priests to kill the Author of Life (John 10:10).  They were committing the ultimate blasphemy by saying that Jesus was not God in a human body (John 10:33; John 19:7)).  So, Pilate took the decision to the people who had previously supported Jesus, proclaiming Him King as he rode into Jerusalem only five days earlier (John 12:13).  Perhaps Pilate thought that the crowd would support him, honour their King and reject the domineering demands of the religious establishment.  But the chief priests were one step ahead and had already motivated a compliant mob to bay for Jesus' blood and release the terrorist, Barabbas (his name means 'Son of the Father').

Devious people are rarely honest about their duplicity: they hide behind others, and best of all - behind a crowd.  When the crowd made their united demands, the chief priests merely looked sanctimonious and claimed that it was really the people who had made this decision - they were simply there to represent the people!  The dreadful thing was that Pilate was not taken in at all - he could see right through the plot ... but he had no moral courage to make the right decision. Some may call that weakness, but really it was a bigger problem: Pilate wanted desperately to hold onto his own power more than be true to the truth (John 18:38), and failed to act truly to the evidence about Jesus (Luke 23:4).

Real honesty is a rare commodity, anywhere.  It is seen best where there is true love.  But in this court the only love on display was that of Jesus - for His captors and His judge.  He was following the way of the old prophets, who suffered for saying the truth (Hebrews 11:35-38).  He had already given His blessing on those disciples who would do the same (Matthew 5:11-12).  So, when injustice comes to you, remember that Jesus fully understands, and has pronounced blessing over you too.  It does not stop evil being evil, but it certainly encourages us to make very different choices to that of Pilate.  But we will only be able to make the right choice if we love ‘the Truth’ more than we love ourselves.