Pearls from the Cross 86

Are we someone who concerns about cleanliness a lot? The Bible talks about someone who valued being ritually clean even if their heart sought to kill someone. This can be seen in John 18. When the Jewish authorities went to Pilate to ask him for permission to kill Jesus, verse 28 says, "The Jewish authorities did not go inside the palace, for they wanted to keep themselves ritually clean."They were so ignorant that they could not even see the prophecies on the Messiah being fulfilled before their own eyes.

Pilate, in verse 35, says it was the chief priest who handed Jesus over to Pilate. The priest had every access to read and meditate on the word of God. But the priest and the people failed God by focusing on keeping themselves ritually clean and killing the innocent blood at the same time.

Hey friend, are we able to see everything happening around us or everybody in our lives in the light of God? Are we able to recognize God's word? May God protect us from being ritually clean and killing innocents while reading God's word.

Dear God, open our hearts and eyes to know you in the way you want us to. May we understand your heart. May the light of your word help us recognize you and your people. May we never fight and kill each other like ignorant people. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.