Pilate was impressed with Jesus. He saw immediately that Jesus was unlike previous defendants. Jesus had a quiet composure about him that showed he was different. Pilate knew that this trial was a political ploy and not a real criminal case.
Something amazing happened. Pilate received influence from his own pagan system. His wife had a dream. Dreams meant something. It was an omen. She sent a message to the judge's seat: "Don't have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him."
Everything pointed to innocence. Everything pointed to politics. Everything pointed to letting Jesus go free. Maybe Pilate should even consider the claims of Jesus of Nazareth.
But, Pilate went against the evidence, his instincts and his wife's counsel. He ordered the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. All because of political pressure. He could have believed. He should have believed. He didn't believe.
Foolishly, Pilate tried to wash away his own guilt with a washbasin of water and a public disclaimer of responsibility. As if guilt could be erased by denial.
There have been others like Pilate in the years since Jesus was crucified. To this day there are those who think they should believe, maybe even know they should believe-but they are unwilling to go against the politics of the office, the school, the family or the neighborhood. They know better but still choose against Jesus. They may even blame others and imagine that denial somehow counts toward salvation.
