24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”
Just because we “wash our hands” of something does not absolve us of our guilt. The truth is that Pilate was just as guilty after this symbolic gesture as he was afterwards. It was only Jesus death that could remove anyone’s guilt. If Pilate had spared Jesus, none of us would be free from guilt. None of us could be in relationship with God. It was the very death that Pilate did not want on his record that makes it possible for our records to be cleansed. Pilate kept pushing for justice, but he was impotent. He had the power to make justice happen, but he did not want the political fallout of justice. He feared for his job. If he was not able to keep his portion of the Roman Empire quiet, his replacement would be sent. So, political expediency took over. Peace and quiet was more important than justice. His job was more important than Jesus’ life. So Pilate tries to put the burden on the crowd in hopes that they would relent and not endanger his political life. But crowds rarely make good decisions. This is especially true when they have been riled into a frenzied mood. No amount of rational discussion would have changed their minds. Their emotions overpowered their minds. We must be cautious when our emotions are excited that we don’t make decisions that we will regret.
The Arnold Journey 