Pilate: seeking truth but unwilling to pay the price
Dillon McCurdy · March 2, 2026 · 3 min read
Becoming Barabbas — Part 1 of 5 · John 18:28–40
It was early morning when they brought Jesus to the hall of judgment. The religious leaders who dragged Him there would not step inside the Roman governor’s quarters — lest they defile themselves before the Passover. And so Pontius Pilate, the Roman prefect, came outside to them. He had no idea that this moment would define him for all of eternity.
Of all the people in John 18:28–40, Pilate stands the furthest from Jesus. He is not a Jew. He has no knowledge of the Scriptures, no history with the synagogue, no expectation of the Messiah. He is a political man in a political role, and his chief concern is keeping the peace and maintaining favor with Caesar. Yet even from that great distance, something about Jesus arrests his attention.
A Question Worth Asking
“Art thou the King of the Jews?”— John 18:33
Pilate asks the question, but he asks it from a place of curiosity, not conviction. He has heard the accusation from the Jewish leaders, and now he wants to understand what kind of man stands before him. When Jesus responds by asking whether Pilate speaks for himself or merely repeats what others have said, Pilate deflects.
“Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?”— John 18:35
Pilate distances himself. He is not one of them. He has no personal stake in this. He is simply trying to manage a situation. And yet, in the presence of Jesus, he cannot help but ask the deeper questions.
The Truth Was Standing Right in Front of Him
Jesus tells Pilate plainly that His kingdom is not of this world. He tells him that He came into the world to bear witness unto the truth, and that everyone who is of the truth hears His voice. And Pilate responds with what may be the saddest question in all of Scripture:
“What is truth?”— John 18:38
He asks the question — and then walks away before hearing the answer. The Truth was standing right in front of him, and Pilate turned his back. He even acknowledged that Jesus was innocent: “I find in him no fault at all.” And still, he would not commit.
The Cost of the Truth
Pilate represents a kind of person many of us know — perhaps a kind of person we have been. He is successful. He is respected. He holds a position of power and influence. He is even intellectually curious about spiritual things. But when the truth demands something of him, he hesitates.
“Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.”— Matthew 19:23–24
This is not because wealth is inherently evil. It is because wealth, power, and status create a comfort that makes the cost of discipleship feel unbearable. Salvation is free — but following Jesus may cost you something. It may cost you your reputation, your standing, your comfort. And Pilate was not willing to pay that price.
A Searching Question for Us
How many of us have stood right where Pilate stood? We've heard the truth. We've been moved by it. We've asked good questions and gotten clear answers. And then we walked away, because taking the truth seriously would mean changing something. Right?
Pilate could not afford to release Jesus — not because of the law, but because of the crowd, the politics, and his own career. He traded the Truth for his temporary peace.
Don’t be a Pilate. Don’t ask “What is truth?” and then walk away before the answer reaches your heart. The truth that’s in Christ Jesus may cost you something in this life. But what it gives you is worth infinitely more than what it takes.
Before you close this
If you’ve never trusted Jesus — you may be exactly where Pilate was. Not hostile. Not convinced. Just aware that it would cost you something, so you keep the question open and never answer it. You can answer it today. He died for your sin, He rose, and He saves everybody who calls on Him. Salvation is free. Following Him will cost you. Both are true, and only one of them is a reason to wait, and it isn’t a good one.
And if you already follow Him: where are you doing what Pilate did? Where do you know the right thing and keep finding a reason it isn’t the week to do it? Name it. Do it anyway. That’s most of what obedience is.
Becoming Barabbas is a five-part study in John 18:28–40. Part 2 →