Pilate tried to wash his hands of the situation with Jesus—saying Jesus' blood wasn't on his hands but on the hands of those who wanted to crucify him. How often in our lives do we try to pass off the guilt of our sin on something or someone else? Our sin and guilt are the very reasons that Jesus suffered. Though our hands are tainted with sin, Jesus washed them clean through his death on Calvary.

Here is a summary of the great truths of the stories in this message:

1. Our hands have hurt people and make us guilty in God’s court. We are accountable.

2. Jesus willingly bore both the guilt and punishment that should have come to us.

3. Jesus shows mercy to you and me, unworthy sinners though we are, and through faith in him we are forgiven.

Like Judas, we are thieving, sinful human beings who use our hands to steal. None of us deserves heaven or could ever accomplish it on our own. But because of Jesus, we have eternal life. He used his hands to pay for our salvation, which he gives to us freely. Through faith in him our hands are clean of sin.

As believers in Christ and as members of congregations, God wants us to go out into the world and share the news of the Savior, not keep it to ourselves or people we are familiar with. It is our blessing to go beyond our familiar territory and preach the good news to people not like us.

One of the blessings of being part of God’s family of believers is that there is a special bond through Christ from one family member to another. Our love for God is shown through the servant attitudes we display toward others around us. Our fellow believers are people who help carry our loads and share our joys. We are connected to them through our faith in Jesus.