Mark Tabata’s Weekday Devotionals:
Wednesday February 4 2026
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1 Timothy 6:12-13-Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate,
Of all the leaders that this world has known, Pontius Pilate certainly ranks among the most famous. (Perhaps “infamous” would be a more suitable description). We are given some fascinating insights into him by considering the Gospels.
For example:
Matthew 27:24-When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.“
Mark 15:15-So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be crucified.
Luke 23:4-12-So Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no fault in this Man.” 5 But they were the more fierce, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee to this place.” 6 When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked if the Man were a Galilean. 7 And as soon as he knew that He belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time. 8 Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad; for he had desired for a long time to see Him, because he had heard many things about Him, and he hoped to see some miracle done by Him. 9 Then he questioned Him with many words, but He answered him nothing. 10 And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused Him. 11 Then Herod, with his men of war, treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him back to Pilate. 12 That very day Pilate and Herod became friends with each other, for previously they had been at enmity with each other.
John 18:38-Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no fault in Him at all.
Kennedy gives us some relevant archaeological background on this man as well:
“Pontius Pilatus (Pilate) was appointed fifth prefect of Judaea Province in AD 26 while Tiberius was emperor. Pilate had an irregularly long term as prefect, governing for over ten years and having his tenure exceeded only by one other prefect, procurator, or legate of Judea (his predecessor, Valerius Gratus, ruled for a few months longer). During this time, Sejanus, commander of the Praetorian Guard, had accumulated so much power and influence that he effectively ruled the Empire. Because Sejanus rose to power just before Pilate was sent to Judaea, Pilate may have been appointed by Sejanus rather than Tiberius, and this had political ramifications for Pilate relating to the trial of Jesus. During his time as prefect, Pilate experienced at least six significant conflicts with the local population, with the last resulting in recall from the province in AD 36. One of these conflicts was the trial of Jesus.” (Titus Kennedy, Unearthing the Bible: 101 Archaeological Discoveries That Bring the Bible to Life, 190 (Kindle Edition): Harvest House Publishers)
Let’s add these things together.
We could say that Pilate was a notoriously violent man, consumed by dark passions, devoted to devilish gods, and who greatly desired to appease the crowds. He was largely unconcerned with the truth of God, was willing to pardon a terrorist for political reasons, and who then joined forces with other wicked human leaders when it suited his own ambitions. He condemned the Son of God Himself (knowing the whole time that Jesus was innocent), while trying to portray the image of guiltlessness himself.
Now, what can we learn from this?
First, the Bible teaching that Satan is the god of this world is hereby again powerfully reaffirmed.
Luke 4:5-7-Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. 7 Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.”
2 Corinthians 4:4-whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
1 John 5:19-We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.
Second, despite his protestations of innocence, Pilate was guilty. Every step of the way, he was shown that Jesus was not guilty of the malicious crimes that were leveled against Him. Indeed, Pilate’s words and actions show us clearly that he knew that Jesus was innocent!
He had no excuse!
So will it be for each of us when we each stand before God. We will not answer for how Pilate treated Jesus: we will answer for how we have treated Him.
Mark 8:38-For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”
Finally, there is in the midst of all this despair a glimmer of hope. There was a second century Christian named Tertullian, who made this remark:
“All these things Pilate did to Christ. And now in fact a Christian in his own convictions, Pilate sent word of Him to the reigning Caesar, who was at the time Tiberius. Tertullian (c. 195, W), 3.35.” (Bercot, David W., editor, Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs: A Referende Guide To More Than 700 Topics Discussed By The Church Fathers , 19557 (Kindle Edition): Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers Marketing, LLC)
Tertullian was drawing on some historical information that Pilate himself had become a disciple of Jesus Christ. Cooper goes into more detail:
“The chances of a local rumour doing the rounds in Jerusalem reaching the emperor’s ears back in Rome are extremely slight. To reach the emperor at all, the rumour would have to hitch a ride to Rome on the back of an official communication, and there is good evidence indeed that just such a communication was sent from Pontius Pilate to the Emperor Tiberius about the Crucifixion and the Resurrection of our Lord. While that is not something that the critics would like to hear, it is important enough for us to consider just what this evidence is. We need firstly to bear in mind the fact that such a communication – an update on events in the province of Judaea – would be nothing extraordinary. Such communications were an expected and everyday occurrence, and woe betide the governor who neglected to send them. At the least, dereliction, treasonous thoughts or sabotage would be suspected. Nevertheless, this report must have been something special, because it seems to have had a profound effect on Tiberius himself who received it, Tiberius putting a motion to the Senate to have this Jesus added to the gods of Rome.…Eusebius, expanding on the subject, tells us: “Tiberius, therefore, under whom the name of Christ was spread throughout the world, when this doctrine was announced to him from Palestine where it first began, communicated with the senate, being obviously pleased with the doctrine; but the senate, as they had not proposed the measure, rejected it. But he continued in his opinion, threatening death to the accusers of the Christians; a divine providence infusing this into his mind, that the gospel, having freer scope in its commencement, might spread everywhere over the world.”23 And it did spread everywhere too under Tiberius, as we know from the evidence concerning the Lady Pomponia and the arrival of the Gospel in Britain whilst Tiberius still reigned.” (Bill Cooper, The Authenticity Of The New Testament: Volume One-The Gospels 1277-1312 (Kindle Edition): Creation Science Movement)
When we put the pieces together, we learn that Pilate sent reports about Jesus to Tiberius (his superior-see Luke 3:1). The reports included evidences (from His miracles and resurrection) that Jesus was Divine. Tiberius was so amazed by the evidence that Pilate presented that he wanted Jesus added to the official list of Roman gods! His request was denied by the Senate, but still….there we have it.
As such, there was an ancient tradition that Pilate himself eventually became a Christian.
And here we have a very important lesson for each of us: no matter how far into sin a person (or leader) may be, we do not stop praying for them and trying to reach them with the Good News of Jesus.
1 Timothy 2:1-6-Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,
Like Jesus, we do not muzzle the Word of God, and we do not cease praying for and trying to reach even the most wicked.
If God can save sinners like us, then He can save anyone.
Help us to learn from Pilate, Lord. We praise You. Amen.