I gained permission from Governor Pilate to sit up front for the sentencing.  He was even gracious enough to give me a place to stay for the night.  It didn't matter much, though, because I couldn't sleep.  The nice-looking man in that courtroom was going to be dead by the end of the next day, I knew it.  And somehow, I could just tell that something wasn't right with the whole situation.  Though my story wouldn't make publication without an execution, I secretly hoped Pilate would find some loophole to let the guy go. 

I managed a couple hours of slumber, but I still woke up a little before dawn.  I walked around, talking to anyone who would talk.  I found out from a couple people that the friend who had given Jesus to the guards turned up dead that morning.  Apparently, he had thrown his bribe in the temple and hanged himself.  The story kept getting stranger and stranger. 

They brought the prisoner outside of the hall of judgment, where I had already claimed a seat among the man's accusers.  He still had the same peaceful, yet frustrated look that I had seen at the trial. 

Pilate stared at the Nazarene for a minute.  He turned toward the crowd and said, "What charge have you brought against this man?" 

Someone near my spot stood up.  "If he weren't a criminal, he wouldn't be here." 

This brought approving gestures from the crowd.  Others began to add their pieces.  "We found this guy perverting the nation, evading taxes, calling himself Christ the King."

The governor turned to Jesus.  He asked, "Are you the king of the Jews?" 

The prisoner, calm as always, replied, "Is that what you think, or is it what others have told you?" 

Pilate responded quickly, "Am I a Jew?  Your own priests and people have brought you to me.  What have you done?" 

"My kingdom is not of this world," Jesus said.  "It it were of this world, my servants would fight so I wouldn't be delivered to the Jews." 

Pilate persisted.  "So are you a king?" 

"You are correct that I am a king.  I was born into this world to bear witness to the truth.  Everyone that listens to truth hears my voice." 

I laughed at Jesus' clever responses.  Admittedly, a part of me thought the man was crazy, though, claiming to be a king.  Still, something about his demeanor made me wonder if he weren't royalty. 

Pilate asked, "What is truth?"  Then he turned to the crowd.  "I can find no fault in this man at all."

Apparently, this wasn't enough for the priests and elders, though.  They became angry and began drilling the prisoner with accusations, but he stood silent and listened.  "He's been stirring up the people, teaching all over our land." 

We then learned that Jesus belonged under Herod's jurisdiction.  Since Herod was in Jerusalem, Jesus was taken to see him.  Herod was pretty happy to meet the prisoner, and hoped that he would get to see one of Jesus' supposed miracles in action.  Instead, the prisoner was silent as more accusations fell upon his tired shoulders.  Herod's men began mocking the prisoner.  They put a king's robe on him and sent him back to Pilate.  I followed along, trying to get closer to the prisoner.  I felt drawn to him, and I wanted to talk to him - for my story of course. 

I enjoyed a wonderful passover feast with the people back at the judgment hall.  Pilate again stood before us.  "You have a custom to release one prisoner at this feast.  I can find no fault in this man called Jesus.  I suggest to you that he has done nothing to deserve death.  So who shall we release, this seemingly innocent man or this convicted murderer, Barabbas?" 

I smiled when the governor said that.  I put my notes down, thinking my story had just been finished for me.  Surely, the murderer will receive his punishment, and the Nazarene will be freed.  To my horror, though, the shouts of the people were persistent.  "Release Barabbas, we want Jesus to be crucified!"

Pilate sighed in defeat.  I sat stunned as I slowly picked up my notes and began writing again.  "Ok," the governor said, "but you all just know that I am not responsible for the blood of this injustice."