Pontius Pilate asked the Jews if they wanted him to crucify their king.
"We have no king but Caesar," the chief priests answered (John 19:15b).
According to 1 Samuel 8:7 and 10:19, only God was to be Israel's King. Of all the people who would know this, who more so than the chief priests? Yet they were so bent on getting rid of Jesus—the one who stole the attention away from them, the one who berated them in front of the people, the one of whom they were insanely jealous—that they would declare allegiance to an ungodly, foreign king rather than let Jesus live.
What, pray tell, would drive religious people to commit such an atrocity? It's simple, really: sin. You know, things like jealousy, envy and pride. The same things that cause you and me to turn our backs on God. Like when we're envious of our friend's new whatchamacallit. Or when our pride stands in the way of allowing the spotlight to shine on someone else. Truth be told, pledging allegiance to an ungodly, foreign king is sometimes easier than admitting our own sinfulness.
Lord, forgive my sinfulness. Forgive the times I, like those chief priests of old, have chosen to be jealous or envious or prideful instead of choosing You. Cleanse me, Lord, and cause Your grace and mercy to cover my sin and draw my heart to You once again.