Washed Hands – Matthew 27:11-26

In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the wife of Macbeth is struggling with the murders they have committed to secure the throne of Scotland for themselves. She descends into madness, constantly trying to wash her hands of the blood she still sees on them. “Out, damn’d spot!” she is overheard to say. It would not come out.

Pilate has been brought the case of Jesus and would be rid of it, knowing it is unjust. He too tries to wash his hands of guilt when he orders Jesus’ death.

Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You have said so.” But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?” But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.

Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up. Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream.” Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” Pilate said to them, “Then 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. (Matthew 27:11-26 ESV)

Jesus has been in the hands of the priests and elders of Israel, now he is in the hands of the Roman governor, Pilate.  He gives tacit approval to Pilates’ question about him being King of the Jews, but when the priests, who are present with Pilate, seek to raise the other charges against him of sedition against Rome and violation of Jewish law, he says nothing.  Pilate cannot understand why he won’t defend himself.  He recognizes that the Jewish leaders are jealous of Jesus and that he has not really done anything wrong according to Roman law.  Plus, his wife has had a nightmare about Jesus and begs her husband to have nothing to do with this kangaroo court.

What changes his mind, however, is the threat of a riot, something the Emperor would greatly frown on.  When he tries to get the crowd to ask for the release of Jesus over Barabbas, the priests and elders are somehow able to persuade the crowd to ask for the release of Barabbas and the crucifixion of Jesus.  The crowds whom the religious leaders feared would revolt at Jesus’ arrest now side with their leaders in desiring his crucifixion and even ask for Jesus’ blood to be on their heads, as it is indeed.  Jesus is now put in the hands of the Roman soldiers charged with crucifying him.

One of our church creeds says we believe that Jesus “was crucified under Pontius Pilate.”  Christianity is based in historical events that matter to the truthfulness of our faith.  This really happened and that is important to our salvation because Jesus’ death is literally the atonement for our sins.  If it didn’t happen, we aren’t saved. But it did. Pilate washed his hands of Jesus and bears his guilt. But we like Barabbas have been released because Jesus took our place.