It won;t wash off

Pilate washed his hands saying he was free from guilt. He continued his evil ways until being called back to Rome, where he was banished to Gaul. Just outside Lucerne Switzerland stands Mount Pilatus. Tradition says when storms rage on the mountain, Pilate’s Ghost is seen in the rain seeking to wash the guilt from his hands, crying, “It won’t come off! It won’t come off!” Nor will it ever do so. ILLUSTRATED LIFE OF JESUS Herbert H. Hobbs author.

When Pilate washed his hands, thinking this would free him of guilt, the Jews that waited for the verdict told Pilate that, “His blood be on us and on our children!” (Matthew 27:25). Their statement was all the more terrible, if we remember the teaching of the Mosaic Law regarding the shedding of blood. Pilate didn’t know, but the Jews did. In Deuteronomy 21 the law considered the innocence of unsolved murders. Jesus was innocent, and they were about to...murder... an innocent man! Absolution was sought as it says in Deuteronomy 21:7-8 “Our hands did not shed this blood; out eyes did not see it.............” But no absolution was sought for the murder of Jesus!

Thus, Pilate released Barabbas and caused Jesus to be beaten and crucified with no mercy. They mocked Him by putting...royal robes... a scarlet cloak belonging to a guard...on Him and plaited a crown of thorns for His head. A reed of grass was placed in His hand for a royal scepter. And they all, in procession, bowed before Jesus, hailing Him, King of the Jews, while spitting on Him and beating upon His head. When they were tired of this, they led Jesus away to be crucified. Jesus carried His cross to Golgotha, a hill shaped like a skull.

Pilate tried to wash away his guilt. The Jews didn’t, rather they claimed it! But, had Jesus ...not... shed His precious blood that day, there would be ...nothing... to wash away my sins...nothing to cleanse me. Only the innocent blood of Jesus can cleanse me from all ...unrighteousness... and make me ...righteous... before God! Jesus had the ...world’s eternity... on His back, my eternity! What a load it must’ve been...to know what He had to do to save me....but praise God He did!