“His Blood Be On Us”
What the people meant when they said “His blood be on us and on our children” was that they were willing to accept the responsibility for the crucifixion of Jesus; what Pilate meant when he said “I am innocent of this man’s blood” was that he was not willing to accept responsibility for the crucifixion of Jesus.
It is likely that the people didn’t realize the gravity of what they were saying; it is possible that they were caught up in a mob mentality; it is possible that the many in the middle were swayed by the passions of the extremists.
It is likely that Pilate did realize the absurdity of what he was saying; it is possible that he was caught up in political survival mode; it is possible that he was afraid of the situation in which he found himself.
We would never say such a thing as “His blood be on us and on our children” but, dear God, we bear the responsibility nonetheless; after all, it is for our healing that he suffered.
We would never say such a thing as “I am innocent of this man’s blood” although sometimes we try to ignore or to evade our responsibility but, dear God, we bear the responsibility nonetheless; after all, it is for our sins that he died.
There is another sense in which his blood can be on us, O God—your Book teaches us that our sins can be covered by his blood.
“His blood be on us”—cause us to accept our responsibility, O God.
“His blood be on us”—enable us to know your forgiveness, O God.
Amen.
“So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, ‘I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.’ Then the people as a whole answered, ‘His blood be on us and on our children!’
So he released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified." (Matthew 27:24-26)
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