This is Holy Week in the Christian calendar; today, Palm Sunday, Jesus Christ rides into Jerusalem on a borrowed donkey with palm-waving and shouting citizens announcing His arrival. My blog is based on the questions that Pilate asked Christ and the mob on Good Friday, before angry and violent citizens who no longer cared about Christ but wanted Barabbas instead.  I think we are all Pilates at one time or another in our lives. How could we not be?

Jesus only answered one of Pilate’s questions. Pilate asked, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “You say so.” Pilate continued: “Do you not hear how many accusations they make against you?” Barabbas was brought onto the stage. Pilate asked the crowd, “Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus of Nazareth who is called the Messiah?” After Pilate received a note from his wife stating that Christ was innocent and he should wash his hands of the matter, Pilate again asked the crowd who they wanted. The crowd said, “Barabbas!” Pilate angrily asked, “Then what should I do with Jesus?” The crowd shouted more loudly, “Crucify him!” Pilate cried out, “Why? What evil has he done?” Again, the crowd shouted in the voices of an angry, violent mob, “Let him be crucified!” Realizing that this mob was erupting into violence, Pilate washed his hands over and over again, and shouted, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves! His blood will be on us and our children!”

How many of us can say we haven’t been in Pilate’s shoes, wondering what to do with someone we can’t tolerate, can’t speak to, can’t be around before we say, “Let them have it!,” as in today’s malicious words, or actually wish them harm? For those of you who think you haven’t thought about another person in this way, may you be the first to throw the first stone.

I have written about my fears for the direction of our country and the world before, but there are too many Pilates who see evil today and do nothing to stop it. They just wash their hands over and over again, thinking that Christ’s blood isn’t on their hands. Christ is always beside us, always guiding us, always in our thoughts, however light or dark they may be. His blood runs in our hearts and minds because He died for our sins. And yes, every generation to come will know who He is because of our words, deeds, and actions today.

So what do we do with the Pilates of our lives? We stand up against injustices, we fight for those who cannot fight for themselves, we do not accept mob rule on any issue, and we lay all of our sins before the cross. Christ will always be with us in our hearts as long as we answer Pilate’s questions with, “He is my Lord and Savior. No one else can help me carry my cross like He does.”

Anna Hartt