Jesus

October 22

Luke 23:1-7, Matthew 27:24-26

Pilate must decide

The religious leaders took Jesus to Pilate, the Roman governor. They lied about Jesus and accused Him of misleading the people.

So Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the King of the Jews?”

“Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied.

Then Pilate spoke to the chief priests and to the crowd, saying, "I find no reason to condemn this man.” When Pilate found out that Jesus came from the region ruled by Herod, he sent Jesus to Herod (who happened to be in Jerusalem at that time). But Herod too could find no fault with Jesus and sent Him back to Pilate.

Again, Pilate could not find Jesus guilty of a single crime. So he took a bowl of water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. Then he had Jesus beaten and handed Him over to the people to be crucified.

Why did Pilate wash his hands?

By washing his hands in front of the crowd, Pilate was trying to prove that his hands were clean; that there was no ‘blood on his hands’ from sentencing an innocent person to death.

Yet, by not using his power and position to make a fair judgment, Pilate chose to side with the unjust. Although he knew that the religious leaders were jealous of Jesus, Pilate was too scared to take a stand against them. He even tried to pass the responsibility for the decision on to Herod, hoping that he would make a decision about Jesus.

Every person has to make the decision Pilate had to make: either to be for Jesus, or against Him. Jesus said, "He who is not with Me is against Me” (Matthew 12:30). Because Pilate was afraid to decide for Jesus, he went along with the crowd’s decision to be against Jesus. 

Verse for today

Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.” John 19:11a