The journey from the Mount of Transfiguration to Mount Calvary goes through Pilate's palace several times. Pilate had hoped he might be finished with Jesus. He had passed Him on to Herod. Now Herod sent Him back.
Pilate urges the crowd to take note that Jesus has done nothing deserving death. They will not hear of it. He pleads with them to accept Barabbas as a substitute. They will not. Now he has an option-stick to his principles, declare Him innocent, and let Him go free.
He chooses a different action. He will try to excuse himself from responsibility by washing his hands in the presence of the crowd. He will try to pass the blame on to the crowd. They accept it gladly: "Let His blood be on us and on our children" (Matthew 27:25b). But it does not lift from Pilate the responsibility for the journey to continue to Calvary.
We understand Pilate's dilemma all too well. We have been there. We are faced with decisions where we know what is right and we know what is wrong. We know the pressure of the crowd. We, too, often want to please them. We, too, wish to pass on the responsibility to others. We, too, fail.
THE PRAYER: O Lord, give us courage to make the right decisions. When we fail, forgive us. This is not as we deserve, but as we need. Amen.
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