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John

John 
Day 
Day 300

John 19:1-16 (Matthew 27:22-25) "ONE MORE JIBE AT THE JEWS"

Day 300 – John 19

ONE MORE JIBE AT THE JEWS

Pilate must have smirked at the Jews when they cried out the name of Caesar! The Roman governor had managed to force those words out of the mouth of the Jews who had always resented the presence of the Romans in Judea. The Jews never liked the idea of having a fortress built right next to their Temple grounds. The fortress Antonia was deeply resented because it was a daily reminder of the fact that the Romans were the masters of the land! Whatever respect was due to the Romans, the Jews gave most reluctantly. To acknowledge Caesar as their preferred king was something that Pilate knew was difficult for the Jews to declare. But he made them do it, or he might just release Jesus!

There was another thing that he wanted from the Jews! He had heard Jesus speak about sin. Whatever that word meant to Pilate previously we might not be certain. However, what was clear now was that his “conscience” troubled him. He found himself somehow personally involved in the case he was adjudicating. This was not usual. He found Himself wanting to set Jesus free for some reason. But try as he might, he could not move the accusers from their position. Every effort made to release Jesus led to the crowds shouting the slogan, “Crucify Him”.

Pilate knew that if the case was not handled correctly, he might well have a riot on his hands. He was not personally afraid of a Jewish riot. He had enough men to quell a riot. He had many seasoned soldiers who had battled more difficult opponents. However, he realized that another riot would not be good for his record as the military governor of the land.

There was just one more thing that he wanted to do. Matthew recorded this event for us.

“While he was seating on the Judgment Seat …

Pilate said to them, ‘What then shall I do with
Jesus who is called Christ?’ They all said to
him, ‘Let Him be crucified!’ Then the governor
said, ‘Why, what evil has He done?’ But they
cried out all the more, saying, ‘Let Him be crucified!’
When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all,
but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water
and washed his hands before the multitude,
saying, ‘I am innocent of the blood of this Just
Person. You see to it.’ And all the people answered
and said, ‘His blood be on us and on our children.'”
Matthew 27:19, 22-25

Pilate had done it. He had succeeded in humiliating the Jews even further! If there were sin on his part, then the Jews would have committed an even greater sin!

THE WASHING OF THE HANDS

The way in which the Jews observed their rituals was well known, if not well respected! Their ritual of washing was perhaps one of the most obvious. It was now Pilate’s turn to do some ritualistic hand washing.

Whether Pilate really believed that his hand-washing would absolve him from his sin in the condemnation of Jesus may never be known. However, the intended meaning is easier to comprehend.

1. Washing his hands of the case

Pilate was saying that he was washing his hands off the case of Jesus. But could he really do that, as the Roman governor? If he could do that, how would Rome’s rule be respected?

2. Washing his sins away?

Pilate equated the washing of his hands as being almost synonymous of being absolved of his sin in sentencing Jesus to death. There may have been a symbolic washing of the hands, and it may salve the conscience a little, but did this little act of washing the hands really absolve Pilate? The Roman governor did say,

“I am innocent of the blood of this Just Person.”
Matthew 27:24

But did the mere declaration of “innocence” mean that he was truly not guilty of sentencing Jesus to His death?

A TERRIBLE OATH

What were the Jews thinking when they said these terrible words?

“His blood be on us and on our children.”
Matthew 27:25

Presumably, the Jews knew what they were saying!

1. They were accepting the responsibility of the death of Jesus.

They agreed that Pilate would be absolved from blame – at least on this side of heaven. Should anyone charge Pilate with miscarriage of justice, the Jews would take all the responsibility!

2. They were prepared to take whatever divine judgment might be.

The Jews were prepared to risk everything – even the lives of their children! The Jews were so arrogantly sure of themselves that they took very lightly the possibility of being judged by God!

Pilate, now satisfied, released Jesus to his soldiers. They were to prepare Jesus to be executed – by crucifixion. So much for Roman justice!