John 18:28: Hypocrisy.

“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.” NIV

We can easily be blind to the glaring hypocrisy in our lives. Others may be able to see most clearly what we can’t. As I read this verse today, the blatant hypocrisy of ”the Jews” slaps me about the face. I can’t miss it. But I may yet fail to see the ways in which I’m playing a game.

Basically, the Jewish people wanted to be religious. They wanted to keep the religious rules and remain part of the religious club. They were happy to settle for religion without transformation. So long as they could have the benefits of their faith, they were content to do without repentance and heart change. They were truly concerned, in their ‘washing up’ exercise, to clean the outside of the cup but leave the inside filthy. It was okay in their thinking to kill Jesus, but not to enter Pilate’s palace. Hypocrisy can take us to some tragic, sad and ridiculous places.

To paraphrase Burns, ‘O would that God the gift would give us, to see ourselves as He sees us.’

PRAYER: I recognise that I can be like this. I want to be part of the church, and break bread with brothers and sisters; I desire to share in fellowship. But I don’t really want to be challenged, and I don’t want to change. I want to have my cake and eat it. I want to keep my God and my sin at the same time. From such corrupt and flawed thinking deliver me dear Lord, that my hypocrisy might not bring your Name into disrepute.