KEY SCRIPTURE: John 18:28 ISV “Then Jesus was led from Caiaphas to the governor’s headquarters early in the morning. The Jews did not go into the headquarters, to avoid becoming unclean and unable to eat the Passover meal.”

Jesus was now sent to the governor for his interrogation and judgment. The Jews said they were not going to the meeting place of the governor because that would make them unfit for observing the Passover meal. The governor as a gentile was considered unclean and they could have nothing to do with unclean one. These people were very strict with God’s laws of sanctity yet they were single-mindedly seeking to crucify Jesus. To them, they were righteous about getting Jesus killed. These people were keen about keeping Holy yet they wanted Jesus killed. They were sincere, yet they were sincerely lost.

Religion always makes heartless followers, who would do anything to defend their religion. True Christianity is not a religion. Religion is a practice in which the practitioners follow certain rules, and observe ordinances so that they would be acceptable to their God or supreme being. Religion is all about self-effort. The result of self-effort is a breeding of self-righteous people who would judge and condemn anyone who they think does not fall within their acceptable standards. These people are prepared to die for their course. These were the people who were seeking to kill the Lord Jesus. These people have a zeal for God, yet they lack the knowledge of the right way to serve God.

Apostle Paul says he prays for his fellow Jewish people, for they have a zeal for God, yet they lack the knowledge of God’s way of making people right with Himself. Rom 10:2,3. They seek to establish their own way of righteousness. God’s way of justifying a sinner is not by works but by faith. Dear one if you are counting on your works or how good you are and not trusting in the finished work of Jesus, then you are still in your sins. The Lord Jesus stands at the door of your heart knocking for you to welcome Him into your life. Turn from the deceit of religion to the reality of encountering real life. Jesus came to give His life, that is eternal life to all who would believe in Him.

THOUGHT: RELIGION BREEDS SELF-RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE WITH HATRED, WHILE CHRISTIANITY RAISES SAINTS WITH LOVE.

FURTHER STUDIES

Rom 10:2 3 ISV “For I can testify on their behalf that they have a zeal for God, but it is not in keeping with full knowledge. For they are ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God while they try to establish their own, and they have not submitted to God’s means to attain righteousness.

Rom 3:22 KJV Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: