Oh, the Irony

"Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium, and it was early morning. But they themselves did not go into the Praetorium, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover" - John 18:28

There is quite a bit of irony in this passage that can often be overloooked which I want to point out. In context, the Jews have arrested Jesus and are leading him to Pilate in the Praetorium (the palace area in which he lived) so that he can give them permission to put Jesus to death. However, it was Passover time and in their rituals, if they entered into a house that contained leven they would be defiled and not be able to take part in the Passover ceremonies. The Praetorium was obviously a Gentile residence and thus leven was probably there and thus they did not want to enter in and defile themselves.

So think about this rephrased this way: the Jewish leaders have arrested God Himself because of their pride and hatred toward Him and are taking Him to be put to death and yet are afraid of defiling themselves by entering into a Gentile residence that may contain leven! Again they are missing their true heart condition (that is really defiling them) and focusing on the outward "religious" regulations instead. The One who can truly clease them they have condemned. No wonder Jesus called them white washed tombs.

And yet there are many who are just like these Jewish leaders. Outside the church they are living for the world and all its pleasure, but they feel good about themselves because they simply go to church on Sundays. There are those husbands that are in full time ministry that do everything to impress those around them and yet pay little attention to their ultimate ministry, their families (sometimes even justifying this because of their "position" in the church).

Our "religious works" aren't what justifies us. When we focus on the outside rather than on the inside, we too can be just as blind.