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of Jews?”(Mat27:11).The answer that Jesus gave “you say so”
means that Pilate very much knows that who Jesus is. Jesus is
the anointed king, the messiah. The attitude of Pilate at the trials
of Jesus has puzzled many that at these trials the gospels depict
Pilate as a weak character, subject to pressure from the Jews.
But the question that was asked by Pilate to Jesus challenges the
messianic task of Jesus.
The messianic task of Jesus has to be understood in the
socio-economic and political context of the Gospel of Mathew
because it was written for Jews. In the Mathean account of
birth narrative, wise men came to Jerusalem and asked “where
is the child who has been born king of Jews? For we observed
his star at its raising and have come to pay him homage as it
was prophesied earlier (Mat2:6). When King Herod and the
people of Jerusalem heard this, they were frightened. The title
which was given to the new born child became a threat. So the
Jewish leaders had accused Jesus for assuming this title from his
birth itself. It was more politically loaded title than religious,
and therefore even the Governor could not ignore; it made a
man a political leader of rebellion. It was on this charge Jesus
was eventually executed. In front of Pilate Jesus kept quiet
not answering anything about the title. According to Mathew,
Jesus’ silence would be theologically inappropriate for Jesus to
speak his own defense because the charge is a valid and more
important one because he has to go his death in accordance
with his father’s will, the messianic morality (Mat26:36-46).

Morality of Pontius Pilate
The morality of Pilate has its uniqueness to the fulfillment
of the messianic morality. This morality has its connection with
the crucifixion of criminals and releasing prisoners in each
Passover in the Jewish society. It was the right and power of
the military Governor to release an individual prisoner as a
conciliatory gesture. But when the question of releasing Jesus or
Barabbas emanated, Pilate failed to decide on his own, to release

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Lenten Meditations Re - Imaging People