Today's readings are Proverbs 24.1-22 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Prov.+24.1-22 ) and John 19.1-22 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=John+19.1-22 ).
Look at Pilate for a moment. See how John portrays him as attempting to release Jesus and to hold the Jews accountable for Jesus' death. Though history portrays Pilate as a governor of only moderate competency - that's how a Roman governor ends up assigned to the Middle East - with a speckled record of keeping the peace wherever he went, we get the idea from John's portrayal of his efforts that he is at least making an attempt to do the right thing. He is unsure whether Jesus should in fact be put to death. He is unsure whether Jesus is guilty of any crime against the Roman government. He is unsure whether Jesus has been rightly characterized to him. When he hears Jesus is making a claim at deity, he realizes that it is possible, just possible, that there is something to the accusations, but that it is something he does not want to deal with. Let the religious fanatics be put to death by the other religious fanatics.
All the while we realize Jesus has a greater and deeper purpose. He is intending to come and die to redeem a people to himself. He is intending to fulfill prophecy as he dies, the lamb of God slain for the sins of the world. Jesus does what he does to accomplish his purpose, a purpose which thwarts both the plans of Pilate and, ultimately, the plans of the Jewish leaders.
May the death of Christ thwart our plans, plans bent toward sin. May our Lord and Savior draw us close in his arms, showing us that the pain he suffered was for us.
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