John: The King (Part 1)

In our text today a dominant theme of Jesus’s trial before Pilate is the kingship of Jesus. Four times Pilate publicly refers to Jesus as the “King of the Jews”. When Pilate gives into the people’s wishes and orders Jesus’s execution, he had a sign made that calls Jesus the King of the Jews. Not only does Pilate call Jesus the King, but the soldiers also dress him up and present him as a king in mockery. Why does Pilate continue to use the title “King of the Jews” to describe Jesus? Does Pilate believe Jesus is the prophesied King?