Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.
—John 19:16
Pontius Pilate was impaled on the horns of a dilemma, torn between integrity and political heat.
On the one hand, he knew Jesus was innocent and should be released. On the other hand, he was a puppet of political power.
The gospels describe him as “wanting to release Jesus” (Lk 23:20) and “wanting to satisfy the crowd” (Mk 15:15). He couldn’t do both.
Pilate was a powerful politician and a moral coward. It finally came down to just one thing—the Jewish leaders laid it on the line: “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar” (Jn 19:12). That did it! Protect your position. He feared the king more than he respected the King.
When facing a tough decision, always ask,
“What is the right thing to do?”