Pilate was governor for a little over ten years over the Jewish People, he is described by 1st Century Historians, Josephus and Philo as a cruel and obstinate governor. Pilate had 6 Jewish up risings during his ten years as Governor. He placed a picture of the Roman Ceaser on the Temple door, the Jews revolted and when he brought in Roman troops to put it down, the Jews laid in the street and told him kill them if he was going to not obey God’s commanndments, Pilate was so impressed he took the picture down from the Temple. He then used the Temple Funds to make a new water way on the Temple Mount. Because of these revolts, Pilate was not on good grounds with Ceaser I believe Augustus at that time. When the High Preist ( who was appointed High Preist by the Romans) sent Jesus back to Pilate and insisted he be crucified, Pilate did all he could to avoid issuing that decree, in cluding send him out to be whipped (39 stripes he endured) to try him and maybe turn him loose, he the offered a murderer in his place and the Jewish crowd whipped up by the High Preist began shouting crucify him, give us Barabas, turn the murderer lose and crucify Jesus. The only authority that could issue a crucifxtion order was the ruler of that area. Pilate then began washing his hands as he was declaring Jesus innocent, a lamb without blemish as a sacrifice for our sins. In Jewish Culture, when some one dies, say in a field, the Jewish leaders of the townjn closest to the man found, would kill a heifer and publically wash their hands over the animal and declare, we don’t know what happened to this man and we had nothing to do with his death. Now back to Pilate and washing his hands and declaring the blood of this man is not on my hands, Pilate was Governor and he knew the custom as all the Jews in attendance knew what he was doing. They then cried out to let his blood be on us and our Children, what a terrible curse, they brought on their following generations. They then cried out that any one that helps Jesus is not a friend of Ceasers, going back to the uprisings Pilate had during his rule, he decreed to crucify Jesus to prevent another uprising and losing his position and possibly his life-
The Roman act of Crucifixtion was not only designed to take the life but it was also to totally humiliate the person, it was designed for the slowest most pianful way to die. It was a public spectable where the person was stripped naked and then 4 and a half long nails were driven throught the wrists, right above the hands and a nail was driven through the feet, several of these nails have been found still attached to the feet and wrists. If you can think of a more painful way to die, I really don’t want to know of it, Jesus knew what he was going to have to endure because he was told this on the Mount of Transfiguration by Moses and Elijah, he knew this and he still did it out of obedience to the Father and out of love for you and me. He also knew that he could call on legions of Angels to stop it at any time he chose, how can any one not accept forgiveness offered, willingly fby Jesus for their sins, since he paid this price, come to him, this kind of love is beyond our understanding it is Agape, love from Jesus and Father God, come to him, knock on the door, he will greet you and embrace you with eternal forgiveness.