5 jenn gaffneystone

Matthew 27:21 – 26

21The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified.” And he said, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified.” 24 So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that 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 yourselves.” And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” Then he release for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified.

Jesus had been sent to Pilate to be put him to death, however Pilate could find no fault in Jesus and tried more than once to instead release him. When Pilate was not able to turn the crowds toward releasing him, he then literally washed his hands of the entire condemnation, putting it all upon the crowd and their descendants.

In this artwork I attempted to show the overwhelming power that Pilate had over Jesus’s fate as well as how he took no real responsibility for ultimately condemning Jesus. I have depicted Jesus as meek and quiet and was attempting to show how in the face of so much hatred he continued to be full of grace and the peace of his Father.