Pilate declares Jesus’ innocence
13-16 Then Pilate summoned the chief priests, the officials and the people and addressed them in these words. “You have brought this man to me as a mischief-maker among the people, and I want you to realise that, after examining him in your presence, I have found nothing criminal about him, in spite of all your accusations. And neither has Herod, for he has sent him back to us. Obviously, then, he has done nothing to deserve the death penalty. I propose, therefore, to teach him a sharp lesson and let him go.”
The Roman procurator, Pontius Pilate (1) was a minor aristocrat, and civil servant determined to avoid trouble over The Passover by placating the The Sanhedrin's "request" to rid them of Jesus of Nazareth, a very real threat to their influence over the people of Israel.
Like all empires Rome ruled through local kings, and princes. Provincial power structures enabled Rome's advisors (governors) to coerce, and reward local chieftains encouraging cooperation. Quid pro quo ensured that local leaders were granted favours by Roman administrators.
The world over political power has a well established tradition favouring the incumbent, over any thought that power corrupts. The First Jewish–Roman War (66–73 CE) would terminate this friendly cooperation.
The innocent person becomes a pawn in a power game with competing political agendas ignoring those who become nothing more than victims.
Our Father had the last word.
See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them. ~ Luke 24:39-43
(1) https://www.deseret.com/2018/5/3/20644446/the-pilate-stone-in-israel-s-caesarea-by-the-sea#a-stone-with-a-latin-dedicatory-inscription-of-pontius-pilate-was-part-of-an-exhibit-of-holy-land-artifacts-at-emory-universitys-michael-c-carlos-museum-in-atlanta-in-june-2007-ap-photo-john-bazemore
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