Matthew 27:24-26 (emphasis on 24) (ESV) – 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 mans 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.” [V24. Pilate’s best efforts at effecting Jesus’ release didn’t work. He’d pleaded with the crowds; he’d proclaimed Jesus’ innocence multiple times. Nothing lessened their desire to see Jesus die. In fact, the crowd only grew louder and more passionate to see the Lord die. Pilate rightly reasoned that a riot might soon break out unless he acted forcefully and decisively. And so he spoke to the crowd, giving in, and at the same time symbolically laid the blame for the coming death of this righteous One on them. ‘washed his hands’—this appears to be both a pagan and Jewish symbolic practice. A biblical basis for it can be found in Deuteronomy 21:6-9. This gesture along with Pilate’s words showed the near-rioting mobs that they’d won; they riot was quelled. What a rush of adrenaline and victory had to course through the crowd. Here was the governor basically giving in to their demands; here was the governor giving an innocent man the death penalty knowing full-well it wasn’t deserved. How sweet was their victory as they watched Pilate wash his hands of the whole matter. ‘I am innocent of this man’s blood.’—Pilate could say that all he wanted to assuage his conscience, but that didn’t make it true. He knew he was sentencing an innocent man to die, and he did it anyway. While technically he was only fulfilling the wish of the angry mob, he was the governor; He did have the power to halt that whole sordid proceeding and set Jesus free. He was the law. ‘It is your responsibility.’—Words may sound good, but these weren’t true. Pilate bore much blame as well. Pilate had run out of good options. Jerusalem was teeming with worshippers gathered for the weeklong Passover celebration. Pilate had soldiers at his disposal, but 600+ soldiers versus the maybe three million Jews in and around Jerusalem at that time wasn’t good odds. But also shaping Pilate’s thinking had to be the threat some of the chief priests and elders had made to accuse him before Caesar (John 19:12). An accusation like that could certainly result in Pilate being removed from office. And with all that in mind, Pilate knew above all what the crowd wanted: Jesus dead. His decision ultimately was based on saving his own skin and making the crowd happy (Mark 15:15). He decided one man’s innocence shouldn’t be the reason for a huge messy incident. Thus, he decided that putting Jesus to death was the best way out.]
Posted on: Sat, 15 Mar 2014 16:27:02 +0000