We Want Jesus Dead, but Pilate Decided to Release Him

The denial of the Jewish people was so strong, they didn't just sit around and pontificate about it. Pilate decided that Jesus was innocent, had decided to release him. The blood lust of these people pushed back on Pilate. A man who could have just ordered their execution and said, no, we want this man dead. They went so far as to cry out for his blood, let his blood be on our heads and on the heads of our children.