Have you ever overheard someone’s comment and thought, “Wow! Really?” I’ll be honest, that’s my first thought when I read a lot of what’s posted on social media and in the news these days. I’m left scratching my head in amazement, seriously wondering how some people function day to day. Earlier this week, I had one of those moments as I read my daily Bible reading, especially with Easter right around the corner.
“Jesus’ trial before Caiaphas ended in the early hours of the morning. Then he was taken to the headquarters of the Roman governor.
His accusers didn’t go inside because it would defile them, and they wouldn’t be allowed to celebrate the Passover.”
John 18:28 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.18.28.NLT
Did you see it? Jesus’s accusers were among the high priest’s cabinet, the spiritual elite, meant to lead God’s people toward righteousness and here they are, tiptoeing around Roman authorities in order to keep Passover while recommending the “lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” for the death sentence! Of course all these events fulfilled prophecy about the Christ, but I can’t help shaking my head and wondering where they came up with their particular definition of defilement.
Man-made rules and regulations, according to Jesus, were keeping people from God’s kingdom by placing them under so heavy a burden, and these leaders of God’s people were to blame. The same ones who prayed loudly on street corners and clanked their coins into the temple treasury so as to be noticed now slunk away from being seen near the Roman headquarters so they could take their prominent places in the Passover observance. Jesus was hard on this breed of self-satisfied know-it-alls, calling them white-washed tombs filled with dead mens bones and filth. When they criticized His followers for eating with unwashed hands, Jesus answered them.
“It’s not what goes into your mouth that defiles you; you are defiled by the words that come out of your mouth.”
Matthew 15:11 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.15.11.NLT
“Anything you eat passes through the stomach and then goes into the sewer.
But the words you speak come from the heart—that’s what defiles you.
For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander.
These are what defile you.
Eating with unwashed hands will never defile you.””
Matthew 15:17-20 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.15.17-20.NLT
What comes out of your mouth defiles you.
“In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches.
But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire.
It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body.
It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.
People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue.
It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison.
Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God.
And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!”
James 3:5-10 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jas.3.5-10.NLT
What proceeded from the mouths of the religious leaders amounted to jealousy-induced false testimony, yet even as their lips were spewing hatred and lies, they gave pause to entering the Roman headquarters for fear of becoming unclean. They call to mind the modern day hate-mongers who cry tolerance and inclusivity while further dividing our nation. What do we make of a people who can be stirred into a frenzied cry of “crucify!” with so little evidence? Even Pilate recognized their true motives.
“Pilate responded, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?”
They shouted back, “Crucify him!”
“Why?” Pilate demanded. “What crime has he committed?”
But the mob roared even louder, “Crucify him!”
Pilate saw that he wasn’t getting anywhere and that a riot was developing.
So he sent for a bowl of water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. The responsibility is yours!”
And all the people yelled back, “We will take responsibility for his death—we and our children!””
Matthew 27:22-25 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.27.24-25.NLT
What a horrible thought! Lay the responsibility for this heinous act on our children. Thank God, in His great mercy and grace, Jesus saw His accusers from the cross with eyes of compassion, praying, “Father, forgive them for they don’t know what they’re doing.” (Luke 23:34) No one is ever too far gone, past hope of redemption. All have sinned. I have sinned. You have sinned. All fall far short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) We all need Jesus, the one and only Way to the Father.
“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead.
Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.
And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.
So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while.
These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold.
So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.”
1 Peter 1:3-7 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1pe.1.3-7.NLT
“But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends:
A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day.
The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake.
He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.”
2 Peter 3:8-9 NLT
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