Have you taken time and opportunity, (which you have to create because of the crushing pressure of society, directly or indirectly, to mold you into its likeness); to study the last three days of Christ, leading to His crucifixion? To do so you will find yourself wondering how people can be so inflexible.
As He presented truths leading to these events, a major portion of the people listened closely, while the Scribes, Pharisees and Herodians, along with others, were violent in their attacks to discredit, Jesus.
Israel was under Roman rule, and so it was in kind that they take Jesus to Annas first after they had arrested and bound Him. Annas was father-in-law to Caiaphas, and he also was the one who promoted the idea that “it was expedient for one man to die on behalf of the people”.
When before Annas, Christ was asked about His teaching, to which He answered: “I have spoken openly to the world; I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together; and I spoke nothing in secret. “Why do you question Me? Question those who have heard what I spoke to them; they know what I said.” To which one struck Jesus and said: “Is that the way you answer the high priest?” To which Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify of the wrong; but if rightly, why do you strike me?”
Obviously frustrated, Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.
From Caiaphas, Jesus was led to the Praetorium. Inasmuch as this would present a problem for these sanctimonious individuals in celebrating the Passover, they did not enter the Praetorium.
Again we see the determined attitude as Pilate even came out to accommodate them. He tells them: “Take Him yourselves, and judge Him according to your law.” To justify their action in bringing Him to Pilate! “We are not permitted to put anyone to death” is another maneuver. So Pilate summons Jesus into the Praetorium and asks Him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”
Jesus answered, “Are you saying this on your own initiative or did others tell you about Me?” Pilate is quick to answer: “I am not a Jew, am I?”
Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is My kingdom is not of this realm.”
Again Pilate speaks: “So You are a king?” Jesus answered “You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”
It is at this point that Pilate says, “What is truth?” At this he went out again to the Jews and said to them, “I find no guilt in Him.” A few minutes later he repeated that statement and then said: “Behold the Man!”
Without going into the further on goings and the crucifixion itself, I return to that which I used for a title: Inflexible People! No one would yield to the truth! Even in the midst of all the facts, and Pilate having asked: “What is truth?” Troubled hearts with a mindset against the Savior sometimes remain inflexible.
Those who accept correction and recognize Christ for who He is will find that bending to the truth made for a wonderful life and a Blessed Hope!
ETCetera 