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Page 2
"What am I to do," thought Pilate. "The council is demanding an execution. If I don't crucify this man, they will stir up the crowd, perhaps create a riot; I will not have that. And still, I do not want his blood on my hands."
"Joseph, my old friend. What brings you to the palace?" Pilate queries. "Pontius, we have known each other for some time now. Let me speak bluntly. I know that Caiaphas and the council have demanded that you crucify the man Yeshua, whom many call the Messiah." "Oh, yes," groans Pilate. "They seem to have me over a barrel. I don't know what to do." "I believe I have the solution," says Joseph. "I and my fellow council member Nicodemis are both secret admirers of Yeshua. He teaches love, not hatred; spirit of the law, not the letter. He is not out to lead a rebellion against Rome. He has said himself that we should render unto Caesar that which is his due. The council has lied to you. They do not speak for the people. They want him dead for their own selfish political purposes. But they cannot condemn him to death by our law. That's why they have sought to make it a Roman problem. But, Pontius, he must live!" "What part do you want me to play in this," Pilate asks, hesitantly. "Whatever it is, it must be very quiet and low key." "It will be," Joseph reassures the Roman governor. "All you have to do is let me have Yeshua's body after the crucifixion. I will take care of the rest." "You may have it," declares Pilate. "But I thought you wanted him to remain alive." "He will," Joseph states emphatically. "You can believe that. First, I will convince the council to have you crucify Yeshua on Friday. That way, his body will have to be removed from the cross before sundown, since that is the beginning of the Sabbath and also the Festival of Passover. According to our law, no dead body may remain outside of the grave after sundown Friday." Pilate remarks, puzzled, "I still don't understand how you intend to keep Yeshua alive. Even a short period on the cross can be fatal." "It won't be easy and timing is everything, but there is a way," says Joseph. "You do what you must, Joseph. As for me, I will play my part as a dutiful Roman and then I wash my hands of the entire matter." Pilate is doubtful. "Let your Jewish God be in charge from this point onward."
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