Listen to this devotion
Did You Wash Your Hands?
In the Word
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” (Matthew 27:24).
Of the Word
In William Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth, Macbeth killed the king of Scotland. In an attempt to relieve his guilty conscience, Macbeth tried to wash the king’s blood off his hands but realized not even all the water in the ocean could wash away the blood. Instead, he was convinced the whole ocean would be turned red by his hands.
Pontius Pilate attempted the same thing by washing his hands at Jesus’ trial. He told the crowd that he was innocent of Jesus’ death. Like Pilate, we try to evade responsibility and justify sin. Hand washing cannot do that!
The crowd shouted, “His blood be on us and on our children!” (Matthew 27:25b). And it was — but not in the way they were intending. The blood of Jesus is indeed upon us and our children; not in a condemning way, but in a saving, restoring, sanctifying way. Jesus paid the price for our sins; we have been washed clean; we have been declared innocent.
Walking with my Lord
Heavenly Father, Jesus’ blood has washed away my sins. Give me the assurance that through faith and Baptism, I am declared innocent. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Mustard Seed: Water of Life. Michael Heckmann, author. 8/28 ©2013 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations were taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
