Motivation

Pilate ostensibly put Jesus to death
To prevent insurrection.
He needed to squelch any who were
Not a friend of Caesar.
“King of the Jews” seemed a good excuse.

But then there comes this damning
Statement, that he knew that the chief priests
Had delivered him for envy.
He understood the true motivation,
And fought it, impotently.

How did Mark comment so assuredly
On Pilate’s knowledge? Solely through
The Holy Spirit? Or was there a witness
That Pilate talked to, some journal uncovered?

Or was the motivation of the chief priests
So transparent to all that it would be
Impossible to miss?

Maybe a lesson comes, besides the obvious
Don’t envy:
Your motivation isn’t as secret as you think.