John 19:7-11 :
The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.”
When therefore Pilate heard this saying, he was more afraid. He entered into the Praetorium again, and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. Pilate therefore said to him, “Aren’t you speaking to me? Don’t you know that I have power to release you, and have power to crucify you?”
Jesus answered, “You would have no power at all against me, unless it were given to you from above. Therefore he who delivered me to you has greater sin.”
The crime that the Jewish leaders accused Jesus of was His claim to be the Son of God. This is yet another reason why it is unreasonable to suggest the Jesus didn’t claim to be God. The Jews knew what it meant and that it would be blaspheme for a mere man to say. It is inappropriate for anyone today to claim that Jesus was a mere man like some “educated” men claim. People who believe this choose to believe what they think over what the Bible says. They deserve to be questioned because they are really making up a bible of their own.
Since Jesus did claim to be the Son of God, we have the same choice that the people did then. We can either try to put Jesus down as if it isn’t true, or we can believe and do what He says.
Pilate was rightfully afraid at this point. I honestly believe that he was realizing that this was not an ordinary man. Jesus refused to answer in a way that might get Him set free. It appears that Pilate would have been willing to let Jesus go with a little coaxing, but Pilate was still sinning by not holding on to the truth. He was also very prideful as Jesus exposed. Jesus refused to think based on outward appearance. Anyone looking at the picture might think that Jesus had no power, but Jesus claimed that the power to go against Him was all from God.
He didn’t say that Pilate was without sin, but it appears that He held Judas and Jewish leaders primarily responsible for what was happening.
I think it is important to realize that no one was without sin. It was just a matter of whose was greater and that is an issue for God to judge. We also know that all sin is forgiven by believing in Jesus death and resurrection.