No Guilt

Then the whole body of them got up and brought Him before Pilate. And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is Christ, a King.” So Pilate asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And He answered him and said, “It is as you say.” Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.” But they kept on insisting, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching all over Judea, starting from Galilee even as far as this place.” Luke 23:1-5

"Whole Body:" Sanhedrin + mob? Took Him to Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea. These Jews had a dilemma. They hated Jesus because they considered Him a blasphemer against God and a threat to their religious rulership. The Roman government wouldn't care about those things, however, so there was a need to present Him as a political insurrectionist; a threat to the Roman government. They needed to attribute to Jesus the things they, themselves were guilty of. Politics makes strange bedfellows. Pilate was under obligation, as their governor, to hear their accusations and make a ruling, even if it was of no interest to him.

Their accusations:

1. Misleading our nation. About what? The grace of God? God's faithfulness to His people? His authority to teach? His power to heal? His coming kingdom? His righteousness? His Justice? His love? Jesus never said anything to them about resisting Rome, which is what they would rather have heard from Him, and wanted Pilate to believe.

2. Forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar! This was an outright lie. Luke 20:25 And He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” As much as they had tried to get Him to recommend evading taxes, He did exactly the opposite. Now we know these men were not just doofuses who didn't quite understand, they were evil conspirators and liars, bent on destroying Jesus, whatever it would take. They were capable of using whoever and whatever means would accomplish their goal.

3. He said He was Christ, the King. Oh, yes, He did do that. Why would He deny it? He came as a human into our dimension to introduce Himself as The Christ, sent to save His people from their sins. They hated Him for this, but Rome had no problem with a religious issue among the Jews.

Pilate asked the obvious question: "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus' answer: "you said it." Fair question. Truthful affirmation. This is not a crime against Rome. Pilate found no fault. At least he was fair, and probably knew the Jews were trying to use him to do their dirty work.

They were frantic for a condemnation. "He stirs up the people!" Indeed He did. The people adored Him, and wanted Him to declare Himself their political champion. That was not His mission.

His mission was being accomplished by their evil tactics. God's purpose would be realized, whether they were willing servants or not.