​Week 45, Day 3

​Week 45, Day 3
November 9, 2022
Scripture: John 18
 
“Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness they did not enter the palace, because they wanted to be able to eat the Passover.” (John 18:28)
 
While the Jewish leaders were slandering the Son of God, they also were looking to be ceremonially clean.
In the terrible irony here, they summarize Jesus’ point of the hypocrisy of the Pharisees who clean the outside of the cup but fail to do anything about the inside.  The Jewish leaders hearts are far from God. Here Jesus, the Son of God, is right before them. If they would only pay attention and open their eyes, they would see Jesus for who he truly was, the Messiah. But as John so well formulated earlier in the book, the leaders are blind and do not see.  
 
I am quick to condemn them for the outrageousness that is killing the Son of God but worried about celebrating the Passover. I judge them rather harshly in my mind. But I do need to look at my own ways, my own heart. How have I been complicit in concerning myself with the appearance of righteousness and cleanliness, but falling away from God? How have I been complicit in cleaning the outside appearing to be righteous, but just as much as the Pharisees and other leaders far from God?
 
It's possible to be clean in the eyes of man and hostile towards God.
 
Do I trust God?
Do I seek to know Jesus and walk in his ways? Am I more concerned with the appearance of cleanliness or am I truly concerned about my heart and soul given to God?
 
How about for you? Does your heart need cleansed, through and through?
 
When you wash the inside, the outside gets cleaned too.
 
Give your life to God, believe in Jesus.
 
He’s died for you. He laid down his life, so you may have life in Him.