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.
