By Way of Reminder #299
Tongues of the Wise

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."
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭27:24

Perhaps the most cringe-worthy words throughout the Bible are ones spoken in situations like these. Solomon records many similar instances of foolish talk in his writings, but it's in the New Testament that we find the cowardly words spoken by Pilate.

The crowd around him took it up a notch:

And all the people answered, "His blood be on us and on our children!"
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭27:25‬

This shouldn't sound foreign to us. We all do this whenever we sin, turning our hearts to follow other gods. It's as if we try to wash our hands of responsibility for our actions while asking for the consequences to fall on us alone. Utter foolishness.

Our only hope is the One we reject so readily, who is mighty to save:

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 4:6

I love this passage for many reasons, but two of them stick out:

First, it highlights both the power of the God who saves. Second, it shows us the need for His saving work in our lives. The reason darkness exists for light shine from is because we have polluted this world with our sin.

...the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.
Matthew 4:16b

God knew what He was doing when Jesus stood before Pilate and the crowds. They were asking for His full punishment to fall on them, earning them eternal judgment from the very God they sought to destroy.

But God did not leave His people to take the full weight of His holy justice upon themselves. He did not relent when we, like Pilate, seek to wash our hands clean of our sin.

There is great grace in His plan for us.

Do justly. Love kindness. Walk humbly. Stay tuned.