Why did the Jewish leader fear Jesus?

Pontius Pilate was a ruthless man and had the backing of the most formidable army the world had known. He had no possible reason to be afraid of the Jews. It has been pointed out that had he allowed himself to be bullied into condemning Jesus, as described in The Bible, he would have been relieved of his command in disgrace. The gospel account may have wished to portray Pilate as innocent of the death of Jesus, so as to avoid antagonising the Romans.