Re:Verse passage – John 19:5-16 (day three)
“If you release this man, you are no friend of Caesar; everyone who makes himself out to be a king opposes Caesar.”
The Jewish leaders suddenly found their inner imperialist. Appealing to Pilate’s political insecurities was a shrewd move. This was going to happen; they’d had enough. They were not going to lose this game of brinksmanship. Somewhere along the way, where there had been any genuine engagement with Jesus, the shock troops of establishment power trampled it all underfoot. The powers that be determined Jesus now had to be destroyed to preserve the status quo. But they did not realize they presided over a crumbling regime. What they managed to save that day would all be razed to the ground within 40 years. The pursuit of political victory becomes all consuming, and sacrifice of the good becomes a justifiable price to pay.
