Pilate had too much power. Too much power can get you into trouble with God and Man.
America’s politicians are insulated by the Separation of Powers doctrine. Our system separates the executive from the judge and legislature. That way, those who make the rules do not also enforce the rules and judge the accused. The system prevents fraud of all sorts, but also protects those in power from the pressure to make bad decisions—such as sending history’s only truly Innocent Man to His death.
Following the arrest and sham trials of Jesus, Pilate questioned the accused. Then Pilate offered to release Jesus but the crowd screamed for Barabbas.
“When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd saying, … ‘If these are questions about words, names, and your own law, see to it yourselves. I don’t want to be a judge of such things.’ So he drove them from the judge’s bench.” Pilate commanded the guards to release Jesus, and everyone went home. Matthew 27:24; Acts 18:15-16.
Wait, what?
Sadly, this mixed-up quote is not how it happened. In Acts 15, Gallio, the proconsul of Achaia, told those who falsely accused Paul to get lost: “I don’t want to be a judge of such things.”
Pilate should have done the same years earlier and “drove them from the bench.” Of course, Pilate faced a mob larger, more vicious, and perhaps supernaturally evil, and he did not have the courage to dismiss their case. But a judge who was NOT also a governor WOULD have easily dismissed the trumped-up charges.
“With great power comes great responsibility.”–SPIDERMAN.
Pilate had too much power, thus history holds him responsible for the unjust death of Jesus Christ. No man should have unchecked power—not in government, business, or the church.
Does anyone you know have unchecked power?
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