Pilate's Choice

 This Sunday's reading is from John 18:33-37 contains the following exchange between Jesus and Pilate,

 Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, ‘Are you the King of the Jews?’ Jesus answered, ‘Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?’ Pilate replied, ‘I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?’ Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.’ Pilate asked him, ‘So you are a king?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.’

 Pilate must have been irked by this type of answer. He was probably not used to such talk from a prisoner. At this point he asked the famous question (not included in today's reading), 

Verse 38: Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”

Pilate at this point had to decide guilt or innocence  (also not included in today's reading),

After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him.

 In the end, Pilate chose to let a mob decide Jesus' fate,

But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.

Pilate's choice to please the mob over his own verdict is a lesson we and our leaders should take to heart.