Ironically, Pilate was probably blind to Christ's mission and identity for the same reason that many of the Jews at the time didn't accept Him. They probably all figured there was no way the Son of God would come to earth through humble beginnings and wouldn't have any interest in assuming temporal powers.
AC: “...many of the Jews at the time didn’t accept Him.”
Which was also prophesied. The stone the builders rejected...
https://thinkhebrew.wordpress.com/2009/08/27/the-stone-the-builders-rejected/
BTW, this is an excellent discussion. I wish we had more like it on Free Republic.