S - "Now
the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false testimony
against Jesus in order that they could put him to death. (Matthew 26:59 LEB) …
Then they brought Jesus from Caiaphas to the governor’s residence. Now it was
early, and they did not enter into the governor’s residence so that they would
not be defiled, but could eat the Passover."John
18:28 LEB
O - This glaring and tragic
inconsistency was of no notice or concern to the practitioners and leaders of
the religion of Jesus' day. Were they not, even according to their own
religion, already defiled by falsely accusing Jesus (the ninth commandment
"And you shall not
falsely bear evidence against your neighbor." Deuteronomy 5:20 LEB)?
Why would they be so careful about observing a (sad) tradition with no
support from the Scriptures and blatantly violate one of the Scriptures'
primary commands? This is the blindness
caused by all religions; the yeast (hypocrisy) of the Pharisees Jesus
consistently warns against and the practice which inspires a complete disregard
for the truly important matters ("Woe to you, scribes and
Pharisees—hypocrites!—because you pay a tenth of mint and dill and cumin, and
neglect the more important matters of the law—justice and mercy and
faithfulness! It was necessary to do these things while not neglecting those.
Blind guides who filter out a gnat and swallow a camel!" Matthew 23:23-24).
A - Religion is culture; all religion (Christianity, Islam,
Buddhism, Hinduism, etc.). This dynamic swirling around Jesus and all the
inhabitants of his day is the same one which swirls around me/us. It is the
product of culture over time … all culture - religious and secular. Politics,
education, science, economics, athletics, social cubs and service clubs, etc.
all move to this myopic sickness. For us earthlings there is no once and for
all cure, only one specific, intentional, ongoing regimen which will deliver
relief. Daily, full strength, complete commitment and response to the person
and spirit of Jesus. Relief for me and for all only comes from this one source
for all of cultures' expressions. He
says: "Truly, truly
I say to you, we speak what we know, and we testify about what we have seen,
and you do not accept our testimony! If I tell you earthly things and you do
not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?" John 3:11-12 LEB
P - Our Father,
I
admit my susceptibility to this great sadness and praise you for engaging the
entire human race with it's relief. Thank you for offering it to us all in the
person of Jesus and for his willingness to engage an ongoing relational regimen
with us. I accept! I am grateful to live and pray in him and in his name.
Steve
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