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Pilate'sJudgment
God's Word
Matthew 27:22-26“Pilate said to them, ‘What shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ? They all said, ‘Let him be crucified!’ And he said, ‘Why, what evil has he done?’ But they shouted all the more, ‘Let him be crucified!’ So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, ‘I am innocent of this Man’s blood; see to it yourselves.’ And all the people answered, ‘His blood be on us and on our children!’ Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified.”
Reflection
Pilate was certainly not innocent of Jesus’ blood. He knew Jesus had done no wrong. He knew “handing Jesus over” was consenting to His death. Claiming to be innocent by washing his hands did nothing to cleanse his soul.
Pilate’s attitude is all too common—many people today have a cavalier attitude about the cross, thinking, “We didn’t put the crown of thorns on Jesus’ head; we didn’t drive the nails into His hands and feet. We didn’t stand beneath the cross and jeer, so how could we bear any responsibility for the events of Good Friday?”
But it was our sins—yours and mine—that put Him there, which made it necessary for Jesus to live this moment: “He was delivered over because of our transgressions.” Romans 4:25
This time of repentance, renewal, and reflection calls each one of us to accept our part in Christ’s crucifixion by admitting that it was our sins that made it necessary for these events to take place. You may not have thought about how your sin led Jesus to be killed, but it did. You may not have intended that “going your own way” would require Jesus to endure such a brutal death, but it did. We made it necessary.
Prayer
Lord, I have been living a lie, but now I want to live by the truth. I want to accept my role in causing Your death so that I can assume the glory of being made alive through Your resurrection. I did this to You. Water can’t cleanse my soul; only Your blood can take away my sin. Lord Jesus, I admit I am not innocent of Your blood and I accept that my sins made it necessary for You to walk this road. In Jesus’ name, Amen.