March 29, 2023 – Lent Text: Matthew 27:15-26
Dear Friends in Christ,
Simon Peter was an eyewitness to all of Holy Week. In Acts chapter 3 he raised a lame man to a healed walker and leaper. When the Jews saw this, they surrounded him and John. Peter then said this, “The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go.” (Acts 3:13)
It wasn’t the main point of Peter’s sermon that day but it got their attention. You handed Jesus over to be crucified, “though he had decided to let him go.” Were you aware of that? Are you surprised that Peter would say something like that? Pilate had decided in his mind to release Jesus. But he didn’t do what he decided to do. Pilate will always be remembered as the man who sentenced the author of life to death.
What happened? What made Pilate change his mind? What can we learn so that we don’t go down the same path? Matthew is the only Gospel writer who mentions that before he handed Jesus over to be crucified, Pilate washed his . . .
“HANDS OF SELF-PRESERVATION”
It didn’t have to end this way. Pilate was given a long list of reasons to release Jesus. Pilate was amazed that when questioned, Jesus said nothing. When Jesus and Pilate were alone Jesus said this, “My kingdom is not of this world…you would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.” (John 18:36; 19:11). No one ever spoke to the Roman governor like that. Pilate was starting to realize this was no ordinary human being.
If that was unsettling imagine how he felt when his wife sent word, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream.” (v. 19).
Pilate was not naïve. He could see what the Jewish leaders were doing. He knew they were jealous of Jesus. Pilate was convinced that Jesus was no criminal. Pilate should have released Jesus and sent everyone home. But he didn’t. First, he passes the buck and sends Jesus to Herod and the Jewish court. Next option: a Passover custom, the releasing of a prisoner. Barabbas gets the pick. Surely, the leaders will want him condemned and not Jesus. The plan backfired. The chief priests and elders work the crowd and get Pilate to release Barabbas.
Pilate had to be stunned that his plan was not working. He then uttered these desperate words, “What shall I do with Jesus, who is called Christ?” (v. 22). The crowds answered, “Let him be crucified.” So Pilate tries reason, “Why, what evil has he done?” It was too late, they kept shouting, “Let him be crucified!” “Crucify! Crucify! Crucify!”
Pilate tried to keep the peace, but started a riot. He needed to do something. He sentenced the world’s only truly innocent man to death but maintained his own innocence by doing this, “He took water and washed his hands before the crowd saying, ‘I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” (v. 24)
Pilate couldn’t wash away history that night. Two thousand years later our creeds still confess that Jesus “suffered and was crucified under Pontius Pilate.” No amount of hand soap will ever make those guilty hands clean.
Pilate wasn’t a Christian; he was a pagan. He protected his power and authority. He was an unbeliever who acted like an unbeliever. Nothing surprising about that. What is more troubling is when people who know Jesus, who call themselves Christians, follows Pilate’s example.
In the safety of this sanctuary, surrounded by fellow saints, it is easy to sing God’s praises. Out there it is a different story. When I’m with co-workers or classmates, when I get together with a group of friends, not all of them are Christians. Some can be pretty outspoken. They know what I believe. They aren’t afraid to question what I believe. Maybe they even make fun of what I believe.
If we find ourselves in those situations, what do we do? Say something or clam up? The opportunity passes and we feel guilty because we did not speak for our Savior. We then start the excuse machine, “It wasn’t a good time…I didn’t want to get into an argument…I don’t want to lose my friends or my job.”
On the Last Day Pilate will have to answer for his actions. But remember this – he didn’t believe in Jesus. We claim to be his followers. We have no excuse for not defending Jesus. Jesus has us clenching when he says, “Whoever denies me before others, I will also deny before my Father who is in heaven.” (Mt. 10:33). Ouch!
Let’s refocus our praises toward Jesus tonight. He allowed his enemies to arrest him. Praise God! He allowed the soldiers to mistreat him. Praise God! He allowed a crooked court to convict him and a weak judge to wash his hands of him. Praise God! He allowed himself to be numbered among the transgressors to fulfill prophecy and to pay for the world’s sins. Praise God! Jesus allowed his own life to be taken from him so that we might live in his presence forever. Praise God!
Amen.