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So Pilate, the governor, went out to them and asked, “What is your charge against this man?”
“We wouldn’t have handed him over to you if he weren’t a criminal!” they retorted.
“Then take him away and judge him by your own laws,” Pilate told them.
“Only the Romans are permitted to execute someone,” the Jewish leaders replied. This fulfilled Jesus’ prediction about the way he would die.
Then Pilate went back inside and called for Jesus to be brought to him. “Are you the King of the Jews?” he asked him.
Jesus replied, “Is this your own question, or did others tell you about me?”

John 18:29-34John 18:29-34
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
29 Pilate came out and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?” ³⁰ They answered, “He is a criminal! That's why we brought him to you.” ³¹ Pilate told them, “Take him and judge him by your own laws.” The crowd replied, “We are not allowed to put anyone to death.” ³² . And so what Jesus said about his death f about his death: Jesus had said that he would die by being “lifted up,” which meant that he would die on a cross. The Romans killed criminals by nailing them on a cross, but they did not let the Jews kill anyone in this way. would soon come true. ³³ Pilate then went back inside. He called Jesus over and asked, “Are you the king of the Jews?” ³⁴ Jesus answered, “Are you asking this on your own or did someone tell you about me?”

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“What is truth?” Pilate asked. Then he went out again to the people and told them, “He is not guilty of any crime.”

John 18:38John 18:38
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
38 Pilate asked Jesus, “What is truth?” Jesus Is Sentenced to Death Pilate went back out and said, “I don't find this man guilty of anything!

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Then Pilate tried to release him, but the Jewish leaders told him, “If you release this man, you are not a friend of Caesar. Anyone who declares himself a king is a rebel against Caesar.”
When they said this, Pilate brought Jesus out to them again. Then Pilate sat down on the judgment seat on the platform that is called the Stone Pavement (in Hebrew Gabbatha). It was now about noon of the day of preparation for the Passover. And Pilate said to the people, “Here is your king!”
“Away with him,” they yelled. “Away with him – crucify him!”
“What? Crucify your king?” Pilate asked.
“We have no king but Caesar,” the leading priests shouted back.
Then Pilate gave Jesus to them to be crucified.

John 19:12-16John 19:12-16
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
12 Then Pilate wanted to set Jesus free. But the crowd again yelled, “If you set this man free, you are no friend of the Emperor! Anyone who claims to be a king is an enemy of the Emperor.” ¹³ When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out. Then he sat down on the judge's bench at the place known as “The Stone Pavement.” In Aramaic this pavement is called “Gabbatha.” ¹⁴ It was about noon on the day before Passover, and Pilate said to the crowd, “Look at your king!” ¹⁵ “Kill him! Kill him!” they yelled. “Nail him to a cross!” “So you want me to nail your king to a cross?” Pilate asked. The chief priests replied, “The Emperor is our king!” ¹⁶ Then Pilate handed Jesus over to be nailed to a cross. Jesus Is Nailed to a Cross Jesus was taken away,

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Pilate had a unique ability to rebuff the murderous claims of the religious leaders. But the snapshot of his life revealed in the gospels is indicative of expediency. Pilate chose the path of least resistance.

Pilate had every opportunity to choose another path. His wife received a dream and urged her husband to release Jesus. Pilate himself found no proof of any rebellion, and indeed considered Jesus more of a philosophical enigma than a threat to the Roman state. If not for the machinations of the Sadducees, the political-religious leaders in Israel, there may never have been a crucifixion. But the Sadducees manipulate Pilate in the one way they knew he could be. They questioned his loyalty to Rome. And immediately, Pilate gave in to their requests. What good would it do to be right, but not in favor…or worse, in disfavor of Caesar?

Rather than seeking and holding to truth, Pilate shows himself an accomplice in the death of Jesus. No amount of hand-washing could free him of the guilt. He chose a path that seemed to secure his own future, even if at the expense of a righteous man.

Have you ever been in Pilate’s shoes? Two paths open up. One seems easy; it seems to offer exactly what you desire with limited complication. Another path is nearby, but is clearly a difficult road. It could mean loss of status, approval, a job, a friendship. How can the right path cost so much? Surely God wouldn’t require so much of a servant? Or have you faced a moral dilemma, knowing that one path is wrong, another right? Yet circumstances required the reprehensible decision? What was the eventual outcome?

We have been looking at forgiveness this week. The injustice Jesus faced from Pilate was no mistake. God knew and understood the part it would play. Pilate sought to wash away his guilt by rejecting involvement. He tried to convince himself that if he “washed his hands” of the matter, he would not bear the responsibility for his actions. No need for forgiveness when you are not to blame!

Clearly, God sees it differently. We cannot wash our hands of what goes on around us. When we make a conscious decision to avoid justice, or to put our responsibility on others, we pervert who God has created us to be.

Who has been caught in the wake of your “path of least resistance”? How have you failed your friends and family, your fellow-servants in Christ, by rejecting your responsibility? Or by making an unwise decision that could not be changed once it was made? How have you failed God by taking the easy road, rather than serving him wherever he asks you to go?

Jesus’ death on the cross offers forgiveness for every sin! For every injustice. For every failing. We must acknowledge that we are the ones at fault, that we have acted unjustly. That we have put ourselves in this position of needing forgiveness. This is something Pilate failed to do. He wanted to claim he wasn’t really accountable.

God wants to offer us mercy; to give us new life, new purpose. Even if the consequences of our actions won’t go away, and seem to be a perpetual sting, God offers hope of new potential. Of forgiveness.