The rejection and rebellion of the religious leadership is complete: “We have no king except Caesar.”
Pilate has a religious and superstitious reaction to Jesus being called the “Son of God.” He’s searching for any reason at all to let Jesus go. The Jewish leaders manipulate him to get what they want: “If you release this man, you are no friend of Caesar!” Pilate doesn’t want any negative reports of him to go higher up the food chain.
Sobering words: “the one who handed me over to you is guilty of greater sin.” Judas? Herod?
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