Truth

 Pilate said to him, "What is truth?" After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, "I find no guilt in him.
John 18:38 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/jhn.18.38.ESV

Jesus told Pilate that all who are on the side of truth listen to Him. This verse reveals Pilate's scornful answer. He didn't even stop for a response to his question, betraying the fact he wasn't on the side of truth.

For Pilate, if he had thought about it, the truth was what was selfishly expedient. So although he found no guilt in Christ, he condemned Him to death anyway to avoid a riot breaking out against him. He was clearly more interested in his own position than in doing the right thing.

Pilate famously washed his hands of Jesus, and handed Him over to be crucified. Hand washing isn't going to cut it before God's throne however. There is no indication that Pilate repented of the ultimate sin of deicide.

The religious leaders knew how to push Pilate's buttons. If he were to set Jesus free, they claimed, he would be no friend of Caesar, who appointed him as Palestinian governor in the first place. Ultimately that mattered more to him than being on the right side of history.

'Heavenly Father, may we learn from Pilate what he never did, that we should listen to Your Son, or face Your wrath. Thank You that He died for us, in His name, amen'

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