NOTES for Joh 19:7-8
Who manipulates a person, and how? And what gives manipulators power over souls? Pontius Pilate, it would seem, is not one of those who can be pushed around at will: a high-ranking representative of what today would be called the "center," possessing in Palestine all the necessary authority and all the necessary power and resources, even for military intervention if needed, has no one to fear except Rome. In practice, however, everything turns out quite differently.
Pilate understands perfectly well that the Man whom the Temple leadership has brought to him for confirmation of a death sentence is guilty of nothing, at least He is not guilty under Roman law. Therefore He must be released. But to act this way means entering into conflict with the Temple. Pilate is an experienced politician. He understands perfectly well who stands behind the street crowd demanding the execution of a harmless Preacher. Of course, He calls Himself a King, but if his kingdom is only a "kingdom of truth," then for Rome He is certainly not dangerous. After all, what is truth? That is a philosophical question; it has no relation to real politics. But the Temple does have a relation to it, a very direct and immediate one. One has to stay on good terms with the Temple.
And a vague anxiety creeps into Pilate's heart: if this Man has become an enemy of the Temple and the Synagogue, will he, Pilate, become their enemy too if he supports Jesus? And then there are the unambiguous hints at a possible denunciation to Rome, which will unquestionably follow: the shouts from the crowd are not accidental, for behind them stand people for whom writing such a denunciation would be no trouble, and there, in the center, their letter would certainly receive attention...
And Pilate gives in. After all, he is a practical politician, a man of the system, and he has something to lose. He is afraid. And fear is a lockpick to the human heart. Love is a key, and fear is a lockpick. The key is in God's hand, but He does not enter the heart without asking. The enemy of God, with a lockpick, asks no permission. And he enters those hearts into which God is not allowed. He is not allowed in so that He will not interfere with "real politics." And then another enters the heart of such a "practical politician." The one who cares neither about politics nor about the politician. The one who needs only another's heart in order to settle in it himself.