At the trial of our Lord Jesus, the leaders of the Jews were determined to see Jesus die. The text says, “When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.” (Matt. 27:24). Even more chilling is what came next, “And all the people answered and said, “His blood be on us and on our children.”” (Matt. 27:25). While the people who wanted Jesus’ death accepted that their hands were dirty in this matter, Pilate failed to grasp a critical reality that many today fail to grasp!

All of our hands are dirty with the blood of Jesus. As Pilate declared, Jesus was a just man! He died for our sins (Rom. 5:6-11)! The sins that you and I commit are as much responsible for nailing Him to that cross as the shouts of those who cried out, “Let Him be crucified!” (Matt. 27:22).

Yet, our God wants us to “lift up Holy hands without wrath and doubting” (1 Tim. 2:8). How do we do that when we have the stains of the blood of Jesus on them?

The same blood that stains our hands because of our sins can cleanse not only our hands, but our hearts, consciences and souls (Heb. 9:11-15). Jesus shed His blood (i.e. gave His life) on that cross so that we could find forgiveness of sins (Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14). Jesus was the sacrifice our Father in heaven offered for us (John 1:29; cf. Job 1:5).

The blessing of this sacrifice—forgiveness—is conditional. John writes, “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:6-7).

As James wrote, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” Are your hands clean?