by Dr. Anthony Peiris

I, sincerely thank Mr. Senanayake for initiating a rare chance for me, to inform the enthusiastic Christian readers, pertaining to the letter of Pontius Pilate, addressed to Emperor Tiberius Caesar. Mr. Senanayake, I certainly note your genuine advice for my future reference.

To inform you frankly Mr. Senanayake, in my previous article regarding the above subject, I have neither reproached nor used harsh words at Mr. D. Amarasiri Weeraratne. But I had politely requested him to convey some relevant facts of Jesus’ miracles that had been really witnessed by His apostles and a large number of devotees, to Mr. Gandy and Dr. Freke, the authors of the book "Jesus Mysteries." Sincerely to inform you, I have the greatest regard and respect for Mr. Weeraratne because he has truly helped me, to rekindle the hearts of some Catholic readers who had lukewarm faith in Our Lord Jesus Christ, to generate firm faith in Him. I presume as a Catholic, even you are well aware that Jesus is the visible sign of the invisible God.

The scribes and pharisees of Jerusalem and Judea were said to have sent a petition to Emperor Caesar through King Herod, accusing Jesus of Nazareth in an irritable manner. Obviously they had done this because of enmity, through fear of losing their source of income and cheap popularity. Impartial Emperor Tiberious Caesar wrote to Pontius Pilate, Governor of Judea, instructing Pilate to send a full report to him, pertaining to the "New Law" and other related matters taught by Jesus of Nazareth. Let me state the contents of the letter written by Pontius Pilate, to Emperor Caesar for the Perusal of the enthusiastic readers.

"Tiberius Caesar,

A young man appeared in Galilee, preaching with humble unction, "A New Law" in the name of God who had sent Him. At first I was apprehensive, that His design was to stir up the people against the Romans, but my fears were soon dispelled. Jesus! of Nazareth spoke rather as a friend of the Romans than of the Jews.

One day, I observed in the midst of a group of people, a young man who was leaning against a tree, calmly addressing the multitude. I was told, it was Jesus: This I could easily have suspected, so great was the difference between Him and those who were listening to Him. His golden coloured hair and beard, gave to His appearance a Celestial aspect. He appeared to be about 30 years of age.

Never have I seen a sweeter or serene countenance. What a contrast between Him and His hearers, with their black beard and tawny complexions. Unwilling to interrupt Him by my presence, I continued my walk but signified my secretary to join the group and listen. Later my secretary reported, that never had he read, in the works of all the philosophers anything that compared to the teaching of Jesus! He told me that Jesus was neither seditious nor rebellious, so we extended to Him our protection.

He was at liberty act, to speak, to assemble and to address His devotees. This unlimited freedom provoked the Jews, not the poor but the rich and powerful.

Later I wrote to Jesus requesting an interview with Him at the praetorium. He came. When the Nazarene made His appearance, I was having my morning walk and as I faced Him, my feet seemed fastened with an iron band to the marble pavement and I trembled in every limb, as a guilty culprit, though He was calm.

For sometime, I took admiring this extra-ordinary man. There was nothing in Him that was repelling nor in His character, yet I felt awed in His presence. I told Him that there was a magnetic simplicity about Him and His personality, that elevated Him far above the philosophers and teachers of His day. All in all, He made a deep impression upon me and everyone because of His kindness, simplicity, humility and love.

Now Noble Sovereign: These are the facts concerning Jesus of Nazareth, and I have taken the time to write to you in detail regarding these matters. I say that such a man who could convert water into wine, change death into life, disease into health, calm the stormy seas, is not guilty of any criminal offence and as others have said we must agree: truly this is the son of God.

Your most obedient servant,

Pontius Pilate"

Hence it is obvious that Pontius Pilate and his predecessor Publius Lentilus as Governors of Judea, had really witnessed when Jesus thought His "New Law" to His followers. No sensible impartial scribe will dispute over this. But partial scribes with imaginary ideas and malicious concepts, who go all out to instil annoying notions into the minds of innocent readers, are capable of denying the historical Messiah Jesus.

Assuredly these educated scribes like Mr. Peter Gandy (M.A.) Dr. Timothy Freke (Ph.D.) and Professor G. A. Wills (Ph.D.) before reading for their Master of Art and Doctor of Philosophy would have certainly gone through the "Abbreviations" section of the dictionary, umpteen number of times, when they were in the lower forms and surely their teachers would have taught them, the abbreviations to express, Automobile Association as A. A. After Christ as A.C. British Broadcasting Corporation as B.B.C., Before Christ as B.C. etc. After knowing these true facts it was very wrong for them to have denied the Historical Messiah Jesus. I wonder whether the magnetic force of the unwarranted money that would have been promised by some unscrupulous elements had made them to deny the "Historical Messiah Jesus."

These self-centered scribes with fabricating and malicious notions are really unaware of the punishments to be faced by them when they commit sin against the Holy Spirit, ie blindness: dumbness, deafness, madness and incontinence (loss of control of the anal and urethral sphyncters, the worst of the five) Hence, it is advisable for a scribe not to write anything discrediting a religious leader.