Myth of authority and Pitifully guilty———————–
Tolerance has come to mean ‘don’t try to persuade anyone that his/her belief/practice may be wrong’ (both inside and outside church).
This is because people have lost the idea that human mind can know truth from outside. So nothing should be criticized. Political correctness.
if you read v.11 Pilate seems arrogant but he ‘learns’ from v12
that all authority is a given not possessed. I believe Pilate as a King knows in his heart of hearts that v12 is true ( because Ceaser is still the more powerful) . so he changes in v13.( From then on..)
In fact we should take some Pity in Pilate. Reminds me of one of those British/Indian schoolMaster handling a boy in a school assembly in front of a watching crowd and his teachers. He beats the boy in private but take time to listen the boy in private and is paralyzed between a not-a-big deal issue and public display of authority.
Of course, at the end of the day both Pilate and the schoolmaster end up using the authority (this why absolute authority is a myth) in a wrong way. Yes, charged guilty – no amount of washing hands remove this stain – but with a pity.

We have no power unless it is given to us by our Father in Heaven.

6 Therefore , when the chief priests and officers saw Him , they cried out , saying , “Crucify Him , crucify Him!”…- not people from other religions but Leaders of the Church, Bishops, Pastors …were in front to help to get Jesus Christ crucified.
– in old testament days, we find the history repeat. We find people go away from God again and again.
– I believe, same thing happen in our days as well. It is sad that our today’s leaders are not better than those leaders. Now, Holy Spirit is with us. Today’s world believes in மாயை than the real one. Leaders try to suppress the real Spirit by encouraging the false one. People are put in a confused status. Let us be sincere, careful, watch our steps and pray that we find the right path.

The chief priests’ and Pharisees’ minds were so set against the truth that in spite of Pilate repeating so many times about not finding basis to crucify Jesus they didn’t see the truth.It is scary to see God’s hand picked nation can be so blind to the truth. Like David I pray ” … See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the Way…”

Pilate found no basis for a charge against Jesus (vv 4, 6), he was afraid (v 8), he thought he had the power (v 10) and he tried (v 12). All the circumstances can be right and we can still miss it.

John 19:1-16 1. Persecution
-Pilate took Jesus and had Him flogged. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and went up to Him again and again and slapped Him in the face (v1-3). Why does Jesus have to go through this suffering for us? He loves us that much? How are we going to repay?
2. Power
-Pilate said to Jesus “Don’t you realize I have the power either to free you or to crucify you?”, Jesus replied “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from the Father” (v10-11). The so-called “power” that we have is actually “nothing” in front of God.
3. Pressure
-Pilate was not able to find a fault at Jesus, he tried to set Jesus free. But, the Jewish leaders putting pressure on Pilate, “if you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar, anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar (v12), we have no king but Caesar (v15)”. Finally Pilate handed Him over to them to be crucified (v16).