Sermons 2024

A sacrifice beyond our thought
Why God’s own Son should now be brought
Before a judge whose only care
Is washing ‘way the guilt he bears

O Lord, may the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts, be acceptable in Your Sight, O Lord our Rock and our Redeemer.

In Shakespeare’s McBeth, he illustrates a scene that mirrors the one that Pilate enacted many years ago. Lady McBeth is walking and talking in her sleep about the assassination of King Duncan, in which she is implicated. Both Lady Macbeth and Macbeth have been unable to sleep since they murdered Duncan, but when she does manage to fall asleep she is plagued with a nightmare about the murder and the blood they have shed.  In this episode she is observed by a serving woman and a doctor who are overhearing her confession of the regicide she has committed.
As she walks she rubs her hands as though washing them, trying to get rid of the blood. The spot she’s referring to is a spot of blood on her hand. She’s rubbing it, trying to erase it, but cannot. “Here’s yet a spot,” she cries, desperately rubbing. “Here’s the small of blood still.”

Shakespear is drawing on a historical event for his scene. That of Pilate at the trial of our Lord. The people are clamoring for Jesus’ blood. They are so bloodthirsty for Jesus’ blood that they ask for Barabbas, a known murderer, criminal, and rioter to be freed instead of Jesus. Pilate needs to think of something to do, and quick.

Pilate cannot allow a riot to happen. Pilate needs to maintain the good graces of the Emperor, lest he lose his job, or worse, his head. Pilate is already close to losing the Emperor’s favor. He has multiple opponents already bringing two serious grievances against him for what is often called the standards affair. 

When Pilate first became governor of Judea. He did what most Romans would have done. He had a pair of gilded shields inscribed with the name of the Roman Emperor Tiberius into King Herod’s former palace in Jerusalem, in violation of Jewish customs. The Jewish historian Flavius Josephus told a similar tale that Pilate permitted troops carrying military standards bearing the likeness of the emperor into Jerusalem, although Jewish law forbade images in the city. A great crowd traveled to the Judean capital of Caesarea in protest and lay prostrate around Pilate’s palace for five days until he relented. since in their view, Pilate was breaking the second commandment by not only making a graven image but also putting them up where temple worshipers could see them, as well as having coins minted with the Emperor’s image on them. The Samaritans also accused Pilate before Vitellius, legate of Syria, after he attacked them on Mount Gerizim (36 ce) killing hundreds.

One, two, three strikes you are out. Now Pilate is in dangerous waters. The religious leaders have brough him Jesus, claiming that he is calling Himself a King, committing treason under Roman law, a crime punishable by death. Pilate is close to having a riot on his hands. He needs to do something to calm the crowds. His own wife has told him to have nothing to do with this man because of a dream she had. So Pilate literally washes his hands of the matter. He has a bowl brought out, washes his hands, and says he is innocent of Jesus’ death. He basically says, Fine, I am innocent. Jesus is your problem now.’ The crowd takes responsibility, replying His blood be upon us and our children.

So Pilate delivers Jesus over to be crucified. He is mocked, beaten, and dies a painful and agonizing death. Thus the plan of God is fulfilled. His own Son is offered up as a grand sacrifice on our behalf. Upon Jesus all the wrath of God is laid that we might not have to bear it because of our sins. He bears our sins and punishment on our behalf.

Thanks be to God, that He does not wash His hands of us because of our sins. Rather He washes us clean in the waters of Holy Baptism for the forgiveness of our sins and the salvation of our souls. God used Pilate to accomplish His plan of salvation. 

In Jesus’ name. Amen.