Playing the "neutral card" and not taking sides.
Monday, July 18, 2011 at 8:42AM "So when the Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather than a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying: 'I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourself." Matthew 27:24
When the going got tough, Pilate turned away from what he knew was right and just. He wanted to save himself from humiliation, embarrasment, crowd's anger and maybe even from potential physical danger. He silenced the voice inside of him and decided to play the "neutral card", thinking he was not taking sides. After all, he did was his hands and declared his own innocence, even he knew he was sentencing this man to his death.
How many times have I turned away when I should have acted? How many times have I decided to please people instead of speaking the truth? How many times have I crucified Jesus by washing my hands of the situation that I would't be able "to gain anything from" like Pilate did?
Not playing sides is very tempting. I could just navigate life avoiding any inconvenience or contradiction by turning away every time when doing the right thing would be seemingly too hard. However, that would be like Pilate trying to save his soul clean by splashing some water on his hands. Did he really believe that a would clear his conscience or did he suffer from that awful guilt of knowing he was wrong?
Despite the fact that I have many times turned away from Him, Jesus has not turned away from me. He has washed and cleansed me anyway despite my many betrayals. That is the kind of love that does not look for it's own gain.
Tommi The Trainer
PS: "All that is necessary for the forces of evil to win in the world is for enough good men to do nothing." Edmund Burke