Why did Jesus think this was the path to victory?

The Jewish leaders think they have manipulated Pilate and the crowds to remove a rival - and maybe a false teacher/Messiah (15.1-5, 11)

Pilate believes he has deftly wielded Roman power to keep the peace between Jewish factions (15.6-10)

Those in the crowd before Pilate believed that they had imposed their will on Rome (15.12-15) 

But in truth - Jesus was fulfilling the promise of God through the prophet Isaiah (Is. 53)

2 Lessons: 

1. Jesus is the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world
2. God is sovereign even in the midst of bleak circumstances