John 19:22
Caiaphas had always thought of Pilate as a weak leader, and recent events had only seemed to confirm that. The so-called "governor" had allowed himself to be intimidated, to be swayed by the jeers and demands of a mindless mob, and now a man was being put to death as a result. A real leader would have held firm and asserted his authority. Would have whipped the rabble-rousers back into line. Caiaphas had expected that he would have had to work harder to get Jesus crucified. Pilate had disappointed him.
But now, looking into those smoldering eyes, Caiaphas found himself backing down. Pilate turned and strode away, cloak swirling imperially behind him. Caiaphas bit his tongue and looked again at the inscription on the cross.
'King of the Jews'.
The words he had just heard echoed inside his head.
"What I have written, I have written."
Perhaps Pontius Pilate was a leader after all.