Avoiding Incongruity

Scripture – John 18:28-32: Then the Jews led Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness the Jews did not enter the palace; they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?” “If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you.” Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” “But we have no right to execute anyone,” the Jews objected. This happened so that the words Jesus had spoken indicating the kind of death he was going to die would be fulfilled.

Observation – (Write down what you see in the scripture.) This scene really summarizes the conflict between Jesus and the established religious authorities. In the midst of their plan to have Jesus killed, the leaders were careful to avoid “ceremonial uncleanness.” Their vision had dropped from serving and worshipping God to serving and worshipping the written rules and traditions. There was a huge incongruity between their actions and God’s intentions. Jesus came to re-connect people with God. His message was that God loved them as they were. People could know God and have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

Application – (Write how you will be different today because of what you have just read.) That’s still true today. We have to be careful in the church that we don’t become a religious establishment that values traditions and rules over people. I will be very careful about that this week. I will look for ways that happens and I will make whatever adjustments we need to make.

Prayer – (Write out a brief prayer.) Lord Jesus, help me build bridges to you this week. Show me the ways I let “church stuff” serve as a stumbling block for people. Show me how you would have me fix those barriers and open them up.