What does John 19:5 mean?

Jewish leaders didn't follow Jesus into Pilate's home over concerns about religious purity (John 18:28). When Jesus was first taken in, He'd been punched and slapped, but not severely beaten (Matthew 26:67–68; John 18:22–23). The next time He's seen by the crowd, it's a horrific image. Jesus has been scourged (John 19:1): flogged with a vicious whip braided with weights that left deep gashes. He's been taunted and bullied by the soldiers, dressed in mocking versions of a crown and robe.

Pilate's words here are something like the English phrase, "look at this!" The punishment is already severe. Jesus has been savagely beaten—some victims of scourging did not survive—and openly degraded by the Romans. Pilate is not assigning any guilt to Jesus. He's hoping the crowd will be satisfied with what's happened so far.

Much to Pilate's surprise, the crowd is not merely hostile, they are hateful. They will demand Jesus face not just whipping, not just death, but the vilest punishment delivered by Rome: crucifixion (John 19:6). Pilate will be taken aback at this level of spite and continue to look for ways to avoid giving in to the mob's demands (John 19:6, 12). Eventually, however, he will give in and have an innocent, abused man condemned to a gory death.