Pilate was afraid his career would be ruined if he didn’t please the people. First he tried to shift the responsibility to King Herod who was in the city at that time. But Herod refused to judge the case. Next he tried compromise - he had Jesus scourged until his back was cut into shreds and then proposed to let him go. But the mob still demanded his death.
Finally, Pilate consented. “Take him and crucify him,” he said. Then he washed his hands and said, “I am innocent of the blood of this just man.”
But Pilate was not innocent. He committed the greatest injustice in history - he condemned to death the only sinless person who had ever lived. And a few years later he suffered the very fate he feared - Caesar ousted him and exiled him to Gaul (France) where he committed suicide. He violated his conscience to save his position, but he lost it anyway.
- When justice rules a nation, everyone is glad; when injustice rules, everyone groans. Solomon (Proverbs 29:2)
- Justice exalts a nation, but injustice brings disgrace. (Proverbs 14:34)
- If a leader is fair to the poor, his position will be secure. (Proverbs 29:34)
- A ruler who oppresses the poor is like a storm that destroys the crops. (Proverbs 28:3)
- An honest ruler makes the nation strong; a ruler who takes bribes will bring it to ruin. (Proverbs 29:4)
- A ruler who listens to lies will have corrupt officials. (Proverbs 29:12)
- Crime increases when crooks are in power, but law-abiding citizens will see them fall. (Proverbs 29:16)
