28 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.
Not willing to waste any time, being early in the morning as well as having our Lord apprehended, His enemies industriously sought to put Jesus to death on the cross. Their vile hypocrisy is flagrant. In an effort to avoid ceremonial uncleanness, they remain outside of the palace to keep them from being prevented from eating the Passover. Interestingly, they supposed a piety regarding ceremonial defilement while all the while doing the devil’s work – the murdering of the Messiah. Many are afraid of the stink of the scandal of a bad action – how one appears to the world - rather than of the sin itself – how one appears to God.
I am totally reminded of Paul’s words to the Philippians regarding those that were not too dissimilar to the Jews our verse references today – those allowing their fleshly worldly desires and appetites to get in the way of following Truth. This blatant display of false conscientiousness by our Lord’s wicked enemies could hardly be surpassed. Indeed, the conscience is a very curious thing in the unconverted man becoming hardened and seared - feeling nothing - or becoming excessively scrupulous over lesser matters of religion – matters over ceremony and observances of the trifling externals. All symptomatic of spiritual disease and a heart that remains steadfastly unsatisfied. Quite frankly, their hearts and minds appeared set on physical desires and unrestrained gluttony. Paul writes to the Philippians the following:
17 Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. Phil 3:17-21 (NIV)
Believers, on the other hand, are to be able to quickly discern Truth from error. Earlier in John our Lord gives us further insight regarding this:
42 Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me. 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! 46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don't you believe me? 47 He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God." John 8:42-47 (NIV)
Satan seeks to lead people away from God - the Source of all truth and life - to embrace the lie just as he did all the way back in Genesis with Adam and Eve. He mixes the truth with lies in an effort to get us to embrace the “apple”. He has not changed his ways – he is still up to his same deceitful and dirty tricks prefacing all with “Did God really say...” Satanically inspired thought has a special appeal to the worldly mind. Paul tells us in Colossians believers are to set their thoughts and minds on things above - bringing heavenly direction to our earthly duties:
1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Col 3:1-4 (NIV)
“Luther was right: the root behind all other manifestations of sin is compulsive unbelief—our voluntary darkness concerning God, ourselves, his relationship to the fallen world and his redemption purpose... If the fall occurred through embracing lies, the recovery process of salvation must center on faith in truth, reversing this condition.” Richard Lovelace, Renewal as a Way of Life
This is why it is so important to know the Truth of God’s Word. There are not enough hours in a day to delve into the myriads of the devil’s deceits. Just as one learns how to recognize a counterfeit bill by studying the real thing, we too must learn to recognize deceit by knowing Truth. God speaks this glorious promise through the pen of the prophet Isaiah encouraging us onward:
17 This is what the LORD says-- your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. 18 If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea. 19 Your descendants would have been like the sand, your children like its numberless grains; their name would never be cut off nor destroyed from before me." Isaiah 48:17-19 (NIV)