John 19:12
And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Cæsar’s friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Cæsar. And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Cæsar’s friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Cæsar.
After examining Jesus and finding no fault in Him, Pilate repeatedly tried to set Him free. The priests, elders and rulers cried out that to let Him go would make Pilate no friend but an enemy of Caesar, since anyone making himself a king sets himself against Caesar. The threat struck Pilate where he was already vulnerable under Rome, for he feared a complaint to Caesar and the loss of his position, authority, honor, and even life. Rather than risk his office, he yielded to the mob and handed over Jesus, whom he knew to be innocent, to be crucified, and no shifting of blame to His accusers cleared him of guilt for shedding innocent blood for selfish advantage. What he feared came upon him, for he later lost his office and honors and died in remorse and despair, warning that choosing worldly standing over conscience is compromise that sacrifices integrity and brings ruin.
Confrontation Before Pilate
From that point on Pilate sought, repeatedly and earnestly, to release Jesus after examining Him in the judgment hall. His resolve grew after Jesus told him that his authority came from above, and he continued to look for a way to set Him free. Jesus' calm and noble appearance had made a favorable impression on him and stirred his better nature, so that he determined to hear the charges before acting. He declared Jesus innocent and found no fault in Him, yet consented to His death though convinced He should not be condemned.
The Jews, the priests, elders and rulers cried out that if he let this man go he would not be Caesar's friend but Caesar's enemy. Their cry was that whosoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar, sets himself up against Caesar, and opposes Caesar. They presented release itself as disloyalty, casting the freeing of a man accused of claiming kingship as proof of disloyalty to Caesar.
The threat struck Pilate where he was vulnerable, for he was already under suspicion by Rome. He feared a report and complaint to Caesar from the priests and rulers, and he had reason to dread the hostility of his accusers. A complaint could threaten his position and authority and bring about his ruin, so he feared the loss of his position, authority, power, honor, and even life. Intimidated by that fear, he dared not risk what a charge of failing to oppose an alleged claimant to kingship would cost him.
The accusers pretended loyalty to Rome and zeal for Caesar's honor, using Caesar's authority to secure Jesus' destruction. In truth they bitterly opposed and hated Roman rule, even hating the foreign ruler to whom they professed loyalty. By that profession they placed themselves in a false position, and their guilt before God was increased.
Their charge was false and deceitful, for they invoked Roman law to force condemnation of One whom Pilate had pronounced innocent. They presented treason against Rome and setting Himself up against Caesar as the alleged crime worthy of death. Their later claim to have no king but Caesar made allegiance to Rome the stated reason they counted a claimant to the Jewish throne worthy of death, even if otherwise innocent. Pilate's inscription naming Jesus King of the Jews stated their own expressed charge and identified no other offense. Those executed for treason against Roman rule were taken down by Roman soldiers and buried in a burial place reserved for criminals who had received the death penalty.
The verse belongs to the movement of events leading from Pilate's judgment hall to the crucifixion. Into that crowd came the sight of Judas's corpse, which interrupted the mocking. That sight made some less mocking and stirred fear that retribution was already coming upon those guilty of Jesus' blood.
The same tactic of intimidating a Roman judge through professed concern for Caesar's honor was later used in the attempt to intimidate Festus.
Compromise and Its Warning
Rather than risk his office and honor, Pilate yielded to the mob and delivered Jesus, whom he knew to be innocent and had declared to be innocent, to be crucified in order to protect his worldly position. His attempt to place responsibility on the accusers did not clear him, for he was guilty of delivering an innocent man to die for selfish advantage and worldly honor, consenting to His death though convinced he should not condemn Him. His wavering, indecision, and failure to act firmly on his sense of right and convictions allowed the mob to overrule him.
What he feared came upon him: he later lost his office, honors, high office, and authority, and, overcome by remorse and wounded pride, took his own life. After hearing that Jesus had risen he became convinced he had shed the blood of the Son of God, peace left him, and despair marked the rest of his life. His choice warns that fear of worldly consequences leads a person to sacrifice principle and integrity, and that choosing worldly standing over conscience and duty is compromise with evil to avoid unpleasant consequences that brings sorrow, guilt, and ruin upon themselves.
Pilate allowed pride and love of popularity to close his heart against Jesus, the world's Redeemer. Charles V likewise rejected the light of truth because of worldly pride and policy. Satan led the people in demanding His death and the release of Barabbas, though Pilate found no fault in Christ. The fickleness of the crowd that had hailed Jesus as king and then hissed at Him and cried for His crucifixion was foreknown, for Jesus had prepared His faithful disciples for this turning so that the crowd's rejection would not take them by surprise or make them abandon their faith, having learned not to base faith on the world's changing approval.