WHAT I’M READING – PONTIUS PILATE by Paul L. Maier

I don’t think it’s a secret that I’m a Christian (and if it is, I’m doing something wrong someplace), so at an early age, I came to know that the name “Pontius Pilate” was mentioned in the same breath with the trail that Jesus of Nazareth endured.

Now Pilate is someone I’ve always had a sneaking admiration for.

What, some would say. Didn’t he crucify Jesus? Shouldn’t that make him hated above all men?

Well, reading the Bible, it becomes clear that he was maneuvered into a corner he couldn’t back out of. And that’s something Maier builds on. I’ve talked many times about doing your research, and here, he’s done an expert job. He cites not only the Bible but numerous historians of the time. He takes a hard look at the culture, Roman and Jewish laws, and political forces of the day. All of which painted Pilate into a corner where he had no choice but to give the crowd what they wanted.

Paul Maier has written a historical novel that is sweeping and impressive. What I really like is he cites his sources, and even tells you where he may have taken some liberties. Overall, it’s a story of people caught up events that changed the world, and he explores why they have made the choices they did.

Now, why do I have a little admiration for this guy, Pontius Pilate?

That’s easy, and it’s because Pontius Pilate asked one of the single, most important questions of all times. He asked Jesus, “What is truth?”

In a world where we’re expected to make up our minds regarding important issues based on thirty-second bites of information, or something posted on the Internet, I think it’s a question we need to be asking a lot more.