I would add that if he was on trial for his life, I hope that's what he'd say. Only a moron would say "Yes, I'm here to mount a revolution and overthrow your rule. Is there a problem?"
It was what Jesus said next to Pilate that really gave him a start....”Heaven allowed me to fall into your hands there fore those who delivered me into your hands have the greater sin!
It was only then that Pilate began to suspect that he was dealing with no ordinary “moron trying to save his own skin”, but in fact with someone quite beyond Pilate’s limited scope and power. The crowd was baying to have Christ killed and Pilate, known in history for his ruthlessness had a dilemma to solve. Christ had come to be our blood offering or he had to be set free. Setting him free might set the whole city on fire...or worse if Christ really was something out the ordinary the whole world and the powers of Rome would be shaken to its core if he were freed. (This sinful world and sinless God in Flesh were incompatible with each other...and one would destroy the other or vice versa.
( To heck with it, Pilate might have thought....I’ll wash my hands of this business give him over to be crucified and punt it back to this “heaven” authority this “yeshua person” talks about...heh I’ll annoy some Jews and Have inscribed on his cross...King of the Jews...I’ll do it in several languages and really blow their minds...threaten me with Caesar? Seriously? Shall I kill your king? ....On the other hand...he’d probably be a pretty good king...maybe even better than TIB....Oh I’d better not phrase the thought...that incestuous bastard even reads minds they say... better the Caesar I can see but block from my soul than a Caesar that causes such a yearning in me to worship and beg for his love that I dare not look at him in his face anymore! ...”AWAY with him!...Servant! bring me a basin, water and towel!
“I would add that if he was on trial for his life...”
This is where you lack discernment when it comes to biblical/spiritual matters. He was on trial for YOUR life (and mine...and the life of the whole world).
John 10:17-18
For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."
28 Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium, and it was early morning. But they themselves did not go into the Praetorium, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover. 29 Pilate then went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this Man?”
30 They answered and said to him, “If He were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him up to you.”
31 Then Pilate said to them, “You take Him and judge Him according to your law.”
Therefore the Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,” 32 that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which He spoke, signifying by what death He would die.
33 Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”
34 Jesus answered him, “Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?”
35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?”
36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”
37 Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?”
Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”
38 Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no fault in Him at all.