Pilate, when not getting his way with Jesus, seeks to force things by emphasising his authority (v10). This is ridiculous; he is trying to intimidate the Son of God. Those who belong to Jesus can with the Saviour face intimidation with a chuckle in our hearts as we know where true authority and power lies (v11).

In this verse 11 we see two important things at work. There are the actions of the religious leaders who handed Jesus over and who would be held to account for this, but there is also the Sovereign hand of God above, who was working at His perfect plan and purposes even in the midst of evil.

Pilate continues to seek to release Jesus (v12) but the Jews use every card they can to get their way. Pilate preferred protecting his political position rather than doing the right thing. For him the cost of doing what is right by Jesus was too high a price to pay.

We might be quick to condemn Pilate but do we do what is right by Christ day by day? Do you bravely take a stand for Jesus?

For the Jews, Caesar as King was an anathema (v15), but they preferred to cry that out rather than embrace Jesus, such was their hatred of the perfect Son of God. Jesus is now condemned to die (v16).