Were you there? Pontius Pilate

"What is truth?" Pilate asked, John 19:38, NIV

How could a man stand face-to-face with the Son of God, declare him innocent, and still condemn him to death?

To understand and learn from Pilate’s actions, we must first recognise that his mindset was shaped by the world he lived in. Pilate seems to have idolised the Roman Empire and material facts. His questions to Jesus were political and based on objective reasoning because he believed everything could be explained through power and verifiable truths. He couldn’t accept that faith requires allowing room for mystery and the supernatural, so he dismissed Jesus as just another man.

Pilate’s status and authority also played a crucial role. As a Roman governor, he likely considered himself very powerful. When confronted with Jesus, he felt that power slipping away. Instead of challenging the demands of the crowd, Pilate chose to protect his position and bow to their pressure.

In the end, Pilate clung to his worldview and refused to embrace the Gospel.

Let’s pray
Lord, give me the courage to confront my reliance on worldly power and status. Help me choose faith over comfort, truth over fear, and follow the path you’ve set before me resisting pressure to go to the left or to the right. I fix my eyes on you. In Jesus' name, Amen.