Making Irresponsibility Look Nice

15 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. 16 And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17 So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up. 19 Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream.” 20 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” 22 Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!” 23 And he said, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!” (Matthew 27)
The Jewish leaders were bent on getting rid of Jesus, but reluctanct to accept any responsibility for doing so; so they tried to make it Pilate's problem. In a sense, this backfired, because Pilate dumps it back in their laps: "You choose." He was trying to look like a nice guy, and they were trying to look like nice, forgiving, generous people, willing to forgive barbaric Barabbas. All the nice gestures in the world cannot override the evil intents in our hearts, or our own tendency to deny responsibility. We need to call it what it is: "selfish sin." Take responsibility, but don't stop there; repent and make it right.