Joh 18:28 - 29 "Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor's headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor's headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover. So Pilate went outside to them and said, "What accusation do you bring against this man?"

The religiously self righteous don't want to get their hands dirty. The religious leaders take Jesus to the state governmental authorities to do their dirty work. They use the state for their purposes but reject the legitimacy of their authority in the process.

They had no specific charges-only excuses and lies. Pilate as ruler and judge wanted no part of it, yet in order to keep their hands clean they needed someone to do their dirty work. They couldn't murder Jesus in front of the people for He was to popular and they didn't have the power.

All this was set up by the sovereign direction of God in order for the what was Jesus foretold would be fulfilled.

Joh 12:32, 33  "And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself."  He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die."

Joh 18:30 -32 "They answered him, "If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you. Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law." The Jews said to him, "It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death." This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die."

Jesus was King of all, Master of everything, Creating and sustaining all things. Yet His Kingdom is not of this world, this cosmology. If it were Jesus would be taking over, and ruling. This world is given over to sin, rebellion and Satan. This world is passing away and will fade in the fire of God's judgement.

Don't cling to this world!

Joh 18:33 - 36 "So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, "Are you the King of the Jews? Jesus answered, "Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?  Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done? Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world."

Pilate got the message unmistakably he knew what Jesus was claiming. He was Yahweh, the God of all creation. Jesus had come to bear witness to the truth of God, His character and purpose. Everyone who is of the truth listen, hear and believe- putting their trust and faith in Him alone.

Those who shut their eyes and tune out reality can't believe the truth. To them there is no truth, no absolute.

God is Absolute Love. You can find no guilt or displeasure in Him. He is complete in being absolutely just and absolute love. Fully justified in all He does.

Joh 18:37, 38  "Then Pilate said to him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world--to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.  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."

Pilate couldn't find Jesus guilty of any crime, but he also to appease Jesus' accusers offered them another chance at forgiveness.

They only wanted Jesus dead and gone- they would sooner have the release of a known thief than see Jesus released.

A mockery of themselves in mocking Jesus. What a clear picture of the folly of those who reject the Love of God!

Joh 18:39 -19:6 "But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews? They cried out again, "Not this man, but Barabbas!" Now Barabbas was a robber.  Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. They came up to him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" and struck him with their hands. Pilate went out again and said to them, "See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him. So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, "Behold the man! When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, "Crucify him, crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him."

The self righteous stand upon the Law of God but they do not understand God's Law or it's purposes. They do not have spiritual sight and therefore no insight into following God or recognizing Jesus as their Messiah. 

Jesus only answered when others claimed authority, there is no authority outside of that allowed by God. Even evil men when granted authority only hold it according to the will of God and for His purposes.

Joh 19:7 - 11 "The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God. When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid. He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, "Where are you from?" But Jesus gave him no answer.  So Pilate said to him, "You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you? Jesus answered him, "You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin."

Pilate recognized Jesus authority and he sought to avoid being responsible for Jesus' condemnation, but his fear of man ironically  outweighed his fear of God. This is the essence of sin displacing God with something that you grant more authority to over your life and decisions. This is Idolatry. 

Pilate took the seat of judgement and condemned himself. 

Joh 19:12, 13  "From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, "If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar. So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha."

It was the night of the afternoon before the celebration of the Passover. Bitterness would be served up for the sins of the world and for the nation of Israel. 

The leaders declared; "We have no King but Ceasar!" 

Joh 19:14, 15  "Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, "Behold your King!  They cried out, "Away with him, away with him, crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar."