How Did Pilate Miss Jesus?
His wife had warned him.
When her note came in the middle of the trial, he accepted her message.
“Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him,” it read.
“I know, I know,” he may have thought. Pontius Pilate had already proclaimed the man’s innocence, and he had also offered to release him as part of the Jewish Passover celebration. And still, the religious leaders were insistent that Jesus be crucified.
The issue was that if he were to go against their wishes, they would create trouble for him in Rome. Caesar didn’t like problems in his provinces and had been known to punish governors with demotion and even death.
Pilate’s Dilemma
The powerful Pontius Pilate was afraid.
He was afraid for his own well-being if he pardoned Jesus.
But he was even more afraid when he learned that Jesus claimed to be the son of God. His questioning of Jesus then changed from, “What have you done?” to “Where do you come from?”
Undoubtedly, Pilate had heard reports of the miracles Jesus had performed. He may have also been perplexed by Jesus’ authoritative demeanor, which was not that of a man falsely accused and facing death. Instead of answering Pilate’s questions, Jesus responded with his own questions or with silence.
When Pilate tried to engage/enrage Jesus by reminding him that he alone had the power to free him or crucify him, Jesus’ response must have shaken him further:
“You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.”
After that exchange, we’re told that Pilate did his best to pardon Jesus. But the political pressure was too great for this Roman governor.
Matthew described the scene like this (27:24):
When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere and that a riot was imminent, he took a basin of water and washed his hands in full sight of the crowd, saying, I’m washing my hands of responsibility for this man’s death. From now on, it’s in your hands. You’re judge and jury.”
Like some of us when we’re in a dilemma, Pilate shrugged.
He refused to be accountable for a decision that he alone was in the position to make. Instead, he shifted responsibility, expressing aloofness, disdain, and indifference.
Pilate had earlier displayed the same behavior when he and Jesus had a conversation about truth.
As Jesus stood before Pilate and warned him that everyone on the side of truth listened to him, Pilate shrugged.
He flippantly asked Jesus, The Truth, “What is truth?”
Our Dilemma
When life becomes too hard, too personal, shrugging may seem to be an easy way out.
“It doesn’t really matter,” we say.
“Whatever. Who cares?”
“I’d rather not get involved.”
With indifference, we separate ourselves from fears, choices, decisions, and people. Indifference says that it’s okay to look away.
Is it time for us to do a “shrug check”? Whom are we treating with aloofness? How are we showing disdain to others? Where have we blamed others instead of accepting responsibility ourselves? Where do we need to replace being indifferent with making a difference?
Instead of washing our hands, how can we use them in caring for others?
Let us never forget that when Pilate raised his shoulders and shrugged in indifference, Jesus stretched his arms and died in love.