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~ Matthew 28:19-20

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Unwashed Hands—The Trial of Pontius Pilate

By Larry Rouse

We all understand the concept of a trial. There is a prosecutor, a defendant, a judge and often times there are witnesses. All have at times understood the need to be heard by a fair judge about a grievance with another. While true justice is a precious commodity in the eyes of the victim, it is not uncommon to see powerful men use their strength to cast away justice in order to please themselves or other selfish and self-serving men.   

“You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice. (Exodus 23:2 NKJV)

“You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show partiality, nor take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous. (Deuteronomy 16:19 NKJV)

One of the great truths about our God is that He will always be a righteous judge. No man will ever be ashamed because they have trusted in such a God. On the other hand there will be no acquittal for the man who lies to himself and refuses to turn from wickedness.

For the LORD loves justice, And does not forsake His saints; They are preserved forever, But the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off. (Psalms 37:28 NKJV) 

One day in history an amazing thing occurred. The God who made the entire universe stood in the courtroom of a man to be tried before a blood thirsty mob who hurled numerous false accusations. That judge was a man called Pontius Pilate. Most people have described this as a trial of Jesus Christ and in a sense that is true. But in a greater way it was the judge himself who was on trial before God to see if he had the character to stand for what is right. Did he receive the verdict in the courtroom of God as a righteous judge?

God abundantly supplied evidence to Pilate to let him properly reason and see the truth.  

1. Pilate saw the hypocrisy of the Jewish leaders. (Mk 14:61-63)

2. Pilate saw Jesus under severe pressure. (1 Pt 2:20-23)

3. Pilate was warned by his wife. (Mt 27:19)

4. Pilate heard a remarkable confession. (1 Tim 6:13)

5. Jesus confronted Pilate with his own hope of rescue—the truth!
   (Jn 18:36-38)

Pilate responded to these things according to the character he had built within himself. Just like the society of both our day and his, he rejected any absolute moral standard. The Roman society that lived without any rules had rejected any such thing as “truth.” (Rom 1:28-31) Hear the pathetic, sad answer of Pilate to Jesus: “What is truth?” (Jn 18:38)

Just like the lying Jewish leaders that brought Jesus to this trail, Pilate lacked the moral courage to stand but instead relied on “passing the buck” to others. Consider the ways he sought to flee from “truth.”

1. Pilate sent Jesus to Herod. (Lk 23:6-7, 11)

2. Pilate gave the people an offer to choose. (Jn 18:38-40)

3. Pilate tried to arouse sympathy in the people. (Jn 19:1-5)

When Pilate discovered he could not give his responsibility to others he did a remarkable thing. He proclaimed Jesus innocent and then delivered Him over to the mob to be put to death. (Mt 27:24-26) How could that possibly be allowed to happen?

Pilate proclaimed himself a righteous judge by verbally stating what is true and then turned to an outward ceremonial washing of hands to demonstrate that righteousness. The people agreed with him and everyone went their way, Pilate to his home and the mob in haste to murder Jesus with the assistance of Pilate’s soldiers. Everyone except Jesus forgot one thing. This took place in a greater courtroom, the courtroom of heaven.

What did God think of the verbal proclamation of both the innocence of Jesus as well as Pilate’s own estimate of his washed hands? Hear the verdict: Guilty!

“For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together.” (Acts 4:27 NKJV)

In the end God made no distinction between the lying, murderous Jewish leaders and Pilate himself. Both used outward ceremony as a salve to their conscience and as a cover to their wicked deeds (Jn 18:28). A “worship experience” or a verbal proclamation is no substitute for acknowledging and standing for the truth.

We have many Pilates today in the churches of God.

1. There are men who will sit on their hands when another is attacked and slandered.

2. There are elders who will say one thing in private but another thing when they are before one (or a crowd) that they fear.

3. There are preachers who are afraid to both teach and stand on truth out of fear for their “jobs.”

4. There are husbands who will not stand and lead their family in the children’s activities and in their dress over fear of the reaction of either the wife or the children.

How will you be known in the courtroom of God? Will you be a friend to Jesus? Consider the lyrics of this old and true hymn by Johnson Oatman.

I’ll Be A Friend

They tried my Lord and Master
With no one to defend
Within the halls of Pilate
He stood without a friend

Chorus:
I'll be a friend to Jesus
My life for Him I'll spend
I'll be a friend to Jesus
Until my years shall end

To all who need a Savior
My friend I recommend
Because He brought salvation
Is why I am His friend