Jesus Rejects Escape Plans

Jesus Visits Pilate And Rejects His Plea To Escape
As Jesus and the eleven went out, a Roman guard approached and said, “All hail! Is one of you the man from Galilee?”
And Peter said, “We all are men from Galilee; whom do you seek?”
The guard replied, “I seek for Jesus, who is called the Christ.”
And Jesus answered, “Here am I.”
The guard spoke out and said, “I do not come in an official way; I bear to you a message from the governor. Jerusalem is all alive with vengeful Israelites who swear that they will take your life, and Pilate want to confer with you, and he would have you come to him now, without delay.”
And Jesus said to Peter and the rest, “Go to the valley, and by the Kidron wait for me, and I will go alone and see the governor.”

And Jesus went up with the guard, and when He reached the palace, Pilate met Him at the gate and said, “Young man, I have a word to say that may be well for you. I have observed your works and words three years and more. And I have often stood in your defence when your own countrymen would in vain have stoned you as a criminal. But now the priests, the Scribes and Pharisees have stirred the people to a stage of furious shamelessness and cruelty, and they intend to take your life. Because, they say, that you have sworn to tear their temple down; to change the laws that God gave through Holy Moses; to exile Pharisees and priests, and seat yourself upon a throne. And they claim that you are fully in alliance with Rome. The streets of all Jerusalem are filled this moment with a crowd of madmen all intent to shed your blood. There is no safety for you but in flight; wait not until the morning sun. You know the way to reach the border of this cursed land. I have a little band of guards, well horsed and armed, and they will take you out beyond the reach of harm. You must not tarry here, young man, you must arise and go.”

And Jesus said, “A noble prince has Caesar in his Pontius Pilate, and from the point of carnal man your words are seasoned with the wise man's salt; but from the point of Christ, your words are foolishness. The coward flees when danger comes; but He who comes to seek and save the lost must give His life in willing sacrifice for those He comes to seek and save. Before the Paschal Meal has been consumed, behold all this nation will be cursed by shedding blood of innocence; and even now the murderers are at the door.”
And Pilate said, “It shall not be; the sword of Rome will be unsheathed to save your life.”
And Jesus said, “No, Pilate, no; there are no armies large enough in all the world to save my life.”

And Jesus bade the governor farewell, and went His way; but Pilate sent a double guard with Him lest He should fall into the hands of those who were alert to take His life. But in a moment, Jesus disappeared; the guards saw Him no more; and in a little while He reached the brook of Kidron where the Apostles and Disciples were.