28 Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas into the Praetorium, and it was early; and they themselves did not enter into the Praetorium so that they would not be defiled, but might eat the Passover. 29 Therefore Pilate went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this Man?” 30 They answered and said to him, “If this Man were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him to you.” 31 So Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves, and judge Him according to your law.” The Jews said to him, “We are not permitted to put anyone to death,” 32 to fulfill the word of Jesus which He spoke, signifying by what kind of death He was about to die.
Message: Defiled in Heart
Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."
What the Lord is Saying: Preface - Jesus heads to a garden and Judas leads Roman/Jewish officials to Jesus in the garden, then they fall down to the ground and Jesus surrenders to be arrested. Peter thinks he is coming to Jesus' rescue, and pulls out his dagger to cut off a high priest's servants ear, but Jesus tells him to back down, as He is to drink the Cup (of wrath) the Father has for him. Jesus is taken to Annas, but it seem Caiaphas really conducts the arrest proceedings. Peter and John follow though Peter denies being a follower of Jesus (the first time). Jesus is accused by Annas regarding his impact, answers that Annas should ask those that have been impacted, but Jesus is then sent to Caiaphas bound. Peter was questioned two more times about his association with Jesus and two more times Peter denies being a disciple of Jesus.
After the interlude in the previous set of verses mentioning Peter's denial, we are back to the proceedings toward Jesus. The High priests go from Caiaphas to Pilate. They proclaim Jesus to have committed evil acts, but when Pilate turns the table on the Jews to deal with him as they see fit since the offense has been against them, the Jews, the Jews announce that they cannot put anyone to death. This also being a fulfillment of the words of Jesus. Only a Roman ruler had the legal authority to execute Jesus.
Summary: The high priests take Jesus to Pilate, but Pilate puts it back on the Jews but they mention they are not permitted to put anyone to death.
Promise: Keep our hearts always close to God.
Prayer: Lord God, I admit I struggled with this lesson and discovering from it what you want to teach me. Maybe it is simply a reminder that your arrest was not lawful and people focus on things that do not matter. And like I discovered previously that sometimes people make up their minds on you without looking at the facts. Lord, I want to know you and follow you in the right way. I thank you for the way you speak to me and I pray that you would help me as I related to others.
Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.
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