Avoiding Responsibility

Avoiding Responsibility

John 18:37-38, NLT

Jesus responded, “You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.” 38“What is truth?” Pilate asked.

Matthew 27:24-26, NLT

Pilate saw that he wasn’t getting anywhere and that a riot was developing. So he sent for a bowl of water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. The responsibility is yours!” 25And all the people yelled back, “We will take responsibility for his death—we and our children!” 26So Pilate released Barabbas to them. He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip, then turned him over to the Roman soldiers to be crucified.

Setting the Scene

When Jesus said he had come to “testify to the truth,” Pilate cynically responded, “What is truth?” He was beginning to rationalize away his responsibility for whatever happened to Jesus. If truth is unknowable, then he couldn’t be held responsible for what he would decide about this man standing before him. When we have no basis for truth, then we have no basis for moral right and wrong. Justice becomes whatever works or whatever helps those in power. Certainly that must have been the underlying motivation for most of Pilate’s decisions as a Roman politician.

Pilate performed the act of washing his hands as a gesture of innocence. It was a Jewish custom, not a Roman one, to illustrate that a person had nothing to do with a murder (see Deuteronomy 21:6-9). Pilate may have done this to show his utter contempt for the Jews and their demand for Jesus’ crucifixion. In excusing himself and placing the responsibility for an innocent man’s death on them, he followed the path already taken by the religious leaders as they had dealt with Judas when they said, “That’s your problem” (Matthew 27:4, NLT). Pilate washed his hands, but the guilt remained.

Getting Personal

What excuses have you heard given by individuals caught in illegal or illicit behavior?

Why do we try rationalizing instead of taking responsibility or admitting guilt?

For what mistakes and sins do you often make excuses?

Pilate was looking out for himself and not worrying about justice. He rationalized and took no responsibility for his actions.

We’re all like Pilate. We may know we should or shouldn’t do something—our conscience and the Holy Spirit tell us—but we make the wrong, more convenient and self-serving choice, rationalizing along the way. Instead, we should make the right decision, even if it costs us, and we should stop making excuses for our sin. We need to realize that every sin is serious; our sins put Jesus on the Cross. He doesn’t condemn us for them; he forgives. But he wants us to be honest with him and confess.

Talking to God

Make no excuses as you come to the Lord in full confession today. In his great love and mercy, you are already forgiven, thanks to Christ’s act of redemption.