Matthew 27: 20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas. 22 Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. 23 And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified. 24 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.
When Pilate woke that morning he never thought he’d be put on the spot as he was. People were there for the Passover and thought it would be much the same as other years. On this day people were cornered to make a decision that would change the course of history. Pilate’s wife sent urgent word for him to have nothing to do with Jesus calling him ‘this just man.’ She was telling Pilate not to get involved.
The blessings of our days, months and years are owed to God. We’ll all die. There is no guarantee of tomorrow. What we do with Jesus counts. Before the foundation of the world, the plan was made for Adam’s race to be included in the kingdom of God. That plan was made before Adam and Eve were. God—the Father, Son and Holy Spirit—knew man would sin and need someone to save them. Jesus made himself part of the human race. We now have something to do with Jesus because he had everything to do with us. Because of the love or our Creator, he was willing to give his son for us. We were born with parents, but we were also born with a Savior. If a person dies lost, it will not be the fault of God. There has been a Savior available to each of us every day of our lives.
I ran into a man in the elevator the other day. I asked him if he was a Christian and he told me he wasn’t ready to get saved. I told him the Lord was ready to save him. He said not today. I reminded him that the Bible says ‘now is the accepted time; behold today is the day of salvation.’ There is a limited time: today. We don’t have the promise of tomorrow. Pilate had to make a decision that day. He asked the crowd but he had the power and authority to decide first. If you’ve kept saying no or if you’ve stopped going to church, reading your Bible, praying, and dodging fellowship with believers, it’s a sign you’re far from the Savior.
God is with us every day and what we do with him is important. He can’t do for us if we keep drifting away. You need to do something with Jesus today. Pilate asked Jesus if he realized that he had power over him to do what he wanted. Jesus told him he had no power except what had been given him by God. Every day there is a Barabbas on one side and Jesus on the other. The crowd may have yelled Barabbas but that didn’t mean Pilate had to listen. He could override the crowd and let Jesus go free. We try to pass the buck. Remember you are responsible for your own actions and decisions as to what you do with Jesus.
Every home has a basin. It’s the first place we go to in the mornings when we get out of bed. Pilate had one behind him that day. Our priority each day is to tell that Barabbas of a devil that we choose Jesus. Pilate was intent in pawning off his decision. You can blame others but the type of relationship you have with Jesus is on you and no one or nothing else. There’s a little bit of hypocrite in all of us. That’s one reason we need Jesus every day. Pilate didn’t have the bravery to do what he should have done. From hell today he still asks himself why he thought that washing his hands would take away his responsibility. The devil has a lot of people deceived. The volume of the wicked is on high to down Christianity, the Bible, and the church. Don’t try to outshout them. Don’t let them determine what you do with Jesus. Just turn to Jesus. You’re responsible for your actions, not the crowd.
Pilate cannot blame God. He turned down his opportunity. The devil can’t get between you and Jesus. In order to wash his hands Pilate would have bypassed Jesus. He proclaimed his innocence of the blood of Jesus. None of us is innocent. Pilate wasn’t. The Bible says ‘for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.’ The entire world is guilty. The only one who is innocent is the One who stood by Pilate. He’s now standing by you. Washing his hands didn’t take Pilate’s guilt. He can’t get the stains off his hands. We can have the stains removed. The blackest of hearts can be washed in the blood of Jesus and made white as snow.
Pilate made a choice for eternity. Verse 26 says then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. What about it? Will you use more excuses or bow down to the Savior? When Jesus does the washing, you’re saved and the guilt is gone. There is no more condemnation. Would you be washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 