The Crossing of the Rubicon

There's some plausible deniability there. The trial of Jesus didn't happen in front of anybody. They could maybe even make nice with Jesus if he'd given the right answer. Now we're getting tiptoes right up to the edge of the water. This is the point at which the toothpaste isn't going back on the tube. We're spiraling into Lord of the flies territory and the restraint that they had been showing out of fear of the people suddenly doesn't feel like it can be used anymore.