Pilate took water and washed his hands in the sight of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. Look to it yourselves.”

Matthew 27:24

Pilate goes along with the crowd and allows Jesus to be executed. He then washes his hands as a sign that this is not his decision, but rather the crowd’s choice. He tries to absolve himself of any responsibility for what happened to Jesus.

While Pilate tried to absolve himself of any responsibility for Jesus’ death, it still happened on his watch and under his authority. This is why we say in the Creed every single week that Jesus “suffered under Pontius Pilate.” We cannot absolve ourselves of our responsibilities and we cannot absolve ourselves of our sins.

Ask God today for his mercy in the times that you have tried to absolve yourself from responsibilities. Ask God to cleanse you from your sin. Thank him for his mercy.