If ever a man had a golden opportunity to do what was right and to stop that which was wrong, that man was Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor. And yet what did Pilate do? Well, he listened to the crowd, and then he washed his hands and he sent the Lord Jesus Christ out to be crucified. What was wrong with Pontius Pilate? Pilate stands before the people and he says to them in Matthew 27:21, “‘Which of the two will ye that I release unto you?’ And the crowd shouted, ‘Barabbas!’ Pilate saith unto them, ‘What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?’ They all say unto him, ‘Let him be crucified!’ And the governor said, ‘Why, what evil hath he done?’ But they cried out the more, saying, ‘Let him be crucified!’ When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, ‘I am innocent of the blood of this righteous person'” (vv. 21-24, paraphrase).

You see Pilate was a man who fought his conscience. Oh how God spoke to this man! When Jesus spoke to Pilate, Pilate was frightened. When you read the Gospels, you find that Pilate went out and addressed the people. He came back and talked to Jesus. He went out, he came back. He was vacillating. His wife warned him, “Have nothing to do with this man!” The crowd was speaking and yet Pilate fought his conscience. That’s a dangerous thing to do. Pilate listened to the crowd. He wanted to please the people. “If you let this man go, you are not Caesar’s friend. We have no king but Caesar!” Pilate had to take care of his job. After all a man has to live or does he?

And so Pilate fought his conscience and Pilate listened to the crowd. And then Pilate tried to scheme his way out. He looked for some way of escape. He said, “I’ll release Jesus or Barabbas. Which one do you want?” He was sure they would ask for Jesus. No. They asked for Barabbas. And then after the deed was done, Pilate tries to avoid responsibility with a bowl full of water. You can’t wash away your sins with a bowl full of water, and he washed his hands and said, “I’m innocent.” No he wasn’t. He was guilty; guilty of fighting his conscience; guilty of listening to the crowd; guilty of scheming; guilty of trying to avoid responsibility. Pilate was a failure when he could have been a success.