I know I talk about my devotional book, a lot.
That is because I love it.
And this is too rich not to share...
"I'm reading today from John chapter 18 where Jesus is taken before Pilate for the final verdict before his execution. Verse 28 describes how the Jews of that day wouldn't come into Pilate's headquarters because they didn't want to risk defilement from interaction with a Gentile (non-Jew) and thus be unable to participate in the Passover feast. In other words, they had all kinds of laws about not becoming "contaminated" by people who were considered "unclean"; and if that ever happened, they had to go through intensive cleansing rituals supervised by the Temple priests. Until their cleanness was certified by the priests, which could take days or even weeks, they couldn't participate in worship or special feasts or any of the other religious rites.
So since the Passover was already underway, none of them dared to enter Pilate's quarters: Pilate had to come outside to speak to the crowd. And the fact that he did so just goes to show how eager he was to please the people; he didn't want a riot that would put a stain on his political reputation. But when it came to Jesus, nobody seemed to care whether the young rabbi became contaminated or not. He was a dead man anyway. So they sent Jesus inside to Pilate, though Jesus was a fellow Jew-and a good one, at that.
And so our Saviour went alone into the place of defilement, technically losing his place among those "fit" to partake of the Passover. He entered the world of the Gentiles- he who was clean in every sense, our Passover sacrifice-and thus He took upon himself the uncleanness of the unbelievers, of the Roman world with all its cruelties, of Pilate with his belligerence and irreverence. He who had no sin took upon himself the sin of the whole world. Not just of his own people, but of every tribe and nation and race, including yours and mine."
I have read the story of the Crucifixion many times.
These details, are the ones that I often overlook.
Yet they add so much to the story.
That is because I love it.
And this is too rich not to share...
"I'm reading today from John chapter 18 where Jesus is taken before Pilate for the final verdict before his execution. Verse 28 describes how the Jews of that day wouldn't come into Pilate's headquarters because they didn't want to risk defilement from interaction with a Gentile (non-Jew) and thus be unable to participate in the Passover feast. In other words, they had all kinds of laws about not becoming "contaminated" by people who were considered "unclean"; and if that ever happened, they had to go through intensive cleansing rituals supervised by the Temple priests. Until their cleanness was certified by the priests, which could take days or even weeks, they couldn't participate in worship or special feasts or any of the other religious rites.So since the Passover was already underway, none of them dared to enter Pilate's quarters: Pilate had to come outside to speak to the crowd. And the fact that he did so just goes to show how eager he was to please the people; he didn't want a riot that would put a stain on his political reputation. But when it came to Jesus, nobody seemed to care whether the young rabbi became contaminated or not. He was a dead man anyway. So they sent Jesus inside to Pilate, though Jesus was a fellow Jew-and a good one, at that.
And so our Saviour went alone into the place of defilement, technically losing his place among those "fit" to partake of the Passover. He entered the world of the Gentiles- he who was clean in every sense, our Passover sacrifice-and thus He took upon himself the uncleanness of the unbelievers, of the Roman world with all its cruelties, of Pilate with his belligerence and irreverence. He who had no sin took upon himself the sin of the whole world. Not just of his own people, but of every tribe and nation and race, including yours and mine."
I have read the story of the Crucifixion many times.
These details, are the ones that I often overlook.
Yet they add so much to the story.
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