Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By Mike Caton

John 18:28, “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 doesn’t tell us anything that happened when Jesus was before Caiaphas. Matthew and Mark give a little longer account than Luke. They record that Jesus was asked many questions and he refused to answer, much to the frustration of his accusers. Finally, Jesus spoke about them seeing the Son of Man at the right hand of the Father and coming on the clouds. The final nail in the coffin for Jesus was when they asked him if he was the Messiah, the Son of God. Jesus response was I am, Mark 14:62. And at that they tore their clothes and condemned him to death.

But that presents another problem, so they took Jesus to Pilate, the Roman governor. But even that presents another problem. It was almost Passover, one of the biggest holidays on the Jewish calendar, and these pious Jews, who were plotting murder, didn’t want to become ceremonially unclean by going into this Gentile’s home. Makes perfect sense, right? And yet, aren’t we also sometimes guilty of much the same thing? We avoid and look down on certain sins, usually the ones that others do, and we downplay and justify the sins we commit.

Jesus spoke about a man trying to get a speck out of his neighbor’s eye when he had a plank in his own. Sadly, I suppose we have all been guilty of that. We ignore our problems and rush to “help” others with theirs. And sometimes we go to great lengths to get done what we want to get done, with no real thought as to how it happens or the consequences that might come. Maybe we all just need to look a little deeper in our own hearts.

Father, help me see as you see. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Mike Caton is the preacher at Mount Olive Church of Christ in Belhaven. He volunteers at the Ponzer Fire Department and works full time with Hyde County EMS. If you would like to receive daily devotions in your inbox, email mikecaton@centurylink.net.

READ ABOUT NEWS AND EVENTS HERE.