Pilate (i)

The beaten, bruised, bedraggled Lamb of God
Before the palace of the governor
Of Judea, Pontius Pilate, now stood.
The chief priests, fearing contamination
At entering the house of gentile blood
Requested audience outside. For them
Ceremonial uncleanness did they
Fear for the sake of sacred Passover
Wanting to partake of that solemn feast
Which for them and the Hebrew nation was
And still is to this day the testament
Of their deliverance from gentile bonds
Of constant slavery and oppression.
Yahweh, through His servant Moses, had led
Them from the house of bondage to the land
As promised by Yahweh, a land that flowed
With milk and honey, oh that they could see
In Jesus, Lamb of God, deliverance
From bondage to decay, the wages of
Sin and its consequences, bound were they
Unto the Law most literal as set
In their minds thus ignoring to their cost
The spirit of that same law which for all
Time and eternity would liberate
Their souls and lead them out of darkness to
The light and freedom of the children of
Yahweh, abiding in the heavenly realms.
In recognition and observance of
Hebrew custom, if only for their sake
Stood Pilate before them, who then did ask:
“What charges do you bring to me about
This man who stands before me, how severe
Are they that you should bother me at this
Hour of the morning, why disturb me thus?”
And with one voice, to Pilate they did say:
“If he were not a criminal, then we
Would not have handed him over to you.
This man we found subverting our nation,
Twisting the meaning of our sacred Law
To suit his own ends, polluting the minds
Of our people and those who follow him
Bringing new doctrine contrary to laws
As handed down through Moses, who did lead
Our people from Egyptian tyranny
To freedom to the Promised Land given
At the hand of the Blessed One, now he
Who stands before you refuses to pay
Unto your Emperor all taxes due
And furthermore now claims to be a king,
An act of treason unto Herod and
Your Emperor Tiberius. We ask
That he be judged for these crimes treasonous
And sentence pass, that we may live in peace.”
Pilate then questioned Jesus with these words:
“Are you, as has been said, king of the Jews?”
Jesus replied: “Yes, it is as you say.”
Pilate addressed the multitude and said:
“I find no evidence for a basis
For a charge to be brought against this man.
Take him and judge for yourselves if there is
A basis for a charge, by your own law.
He has spoken directly, and has not
Been secretive in answer to the charge
Which you have brought against him, neither has
He made denial of his kingly claims.
Those who harbour thoughts of treason would keep
Their own counsel, until the time when they
Their acts to their advantage would perform.
The honesty that I see in this man
Belies all thought of treason, take him hence
And judge him according to your own law.”
Taken aback the chief priests in protest
At Pilate’s declaration then did say:
“We have no right to execute judgement
For we are subject to the laws that are
By Emperor Tiberius decreed.
If we were a self-governing nation
Then punishment as laid down by the Law
Of Moses would be carried out against
Those who blaspheme against the Blessed One.
This man, over all Judea, has stirred
By his teaching the people, duping them
By doctrine foreign to Mosaic Law.
Starting in Galilee, he made his way
Throughout the district, spreading his teachings
Until he arrived in Jerusalem
Still leading us astray despite the acts
Portrayed as miracles to strengthen claims
Of kingship over us, this treason must
Once and for all be driven from our land.”