March 21. Family Altar - F.W. Herzberger (1922)

"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

just person; see ye to it." Then answered all the people and

said, "His blood be on us and on our children!" Matt. 27,24. 25.

In vain Pilate goes through the farce of washing his hands

clean from the murder of the innocent Jesus. All the water in

the ocean cannot wash the bloody guilt from his hands or his soul.

God avenges the blood of His innocent Son on the cowardly and

guilty judge. A few years later Pilate is deposed from office and

cited to Eome to give an account of his many illegal acts while

governor of Palestine. In his guilty fear he plunges into his

own sword and dies by his own hands. And to this day there

rests on the Jews the awful curse which their fathers brought

down on themselves and on their posterity when they cried in

their blind hate: "Christ's blood be on us and on our children."

But let us never forget that the blood of Christ which they spilled

speaketh better things than AbeFs blood. Abel's blood cried to

God for vengeance, Christ's innocent and divine blood pleads for

mercy also for His murderers and enemies. Then let us also pray

for the conversion of the Jews, and support our Gospel-mission

among them. The apostles were Jews, and many a gifted teacher

of Christ's saving Truth has come to the Church from this de-

spised and hated race. But above all let us make the blood of

Christ, the Son of God, our only hope in life and death in sincere,

humble, and grateful faith. In Him we have redemption through

His blood, the forgiveness of sins. (Eph. 1, 7.) By His blood are

we redeemed from "the pit wherein is no water" (Zech. 9, 11),

and gain admittance among heaven's singing hosts. For they that

are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in

His temple, "have washed their robes, and made them white in

the blood of the Lamb." (Rev. 7, 14.)

Glory be to Jesus, Blest through endless ages

Who, in bitter pains, Be the precious stream,

Poured for me the life-blood Which from endless torments

From His sacred veins! Did the world redeem!

Grace and life eternal Abel's blood for vengeance

In that blood I find; Pleaded to the skies;

Blest be His compassion, But the blood of Jesus

Infinitely kind! For our pardon cries.