24 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.” 25 And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” 26 Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified.
The figure of Pontius Pilate also demands our attention in the story of the trial. If ever a man was placed on the horns of a dilemma, he was. He saw through the treachery and duplicity of the Jews; he saw that this was indeed a unique Person before him, and he wanted to release Him. He would have given anything to be relieved of the agonising task of making a decision concerning Him - this was why he remitted the case to Herod, in the hope that the responsibility of condemning Him might pass from his shoulders. But he could not do so, not even by 'washing his hands' of the matter (24). In this, Pilate also stands as a representative man. For Pilate's dilemma is every man's dilemma, when faced with the gospel of grace and the challenge of Christ. Pilate wanted to release Him, but other considerations weighed more heavily - his position and his prospects in the world - and he chose wrongly, as the Jews also did (25) to their irreparable loss. It is a question (22) that by nature we would all gladly shelve, but none may do so, since it is one which in its very nature demands a decisive verdict: For or Against. Neutral we cannot be. It is all or nothing, acceptance or rejection, loyalty or denial, submission or betrayal, crowning or crucifixion. Admiration, sympathy, fellowfeeling will not do. Pilate admired, sympathised - and delivered Him up to be crucified. That is something to think about, is it not?