Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness they did not enter the palace, because they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. John 18:28

They wanted to be able to eat the Passover.

Such a loaded and bitterly ironic phrase. Because the true Passover lamb is already there and they are devouring him.

Their farcical religious trial can achieve very little which is why they have to call in the Romans so they can actually get a criminal charge leading to a punishment. Basically all the Sanhedrin can do is knit pick about the Old Testament rules and regulations. Sure they could stone him, but it’s a bit hard to do that in the dark and they’ve got a Passover feast to attend.

Time to get the Romans and get the show on the road.

When you read this passage you cannot help but shake your head at the foolishness of these leaders carting Jesus from one trial to another and yet then standing outside so they don’t become ceremonially unclean.

Meanwhile they’re trying to kill a man!

It’s hard to fathom how they didn’t fathom their own hypocrisy.

Yet I know I can be the same. We are all blind to our own sin at times.

On my shelf I have a book called Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges.

The synopsis on the back asks the question: Have Christians become so preoccupied with the major sins of our society that we have lost sight of our need to deal with our own more subtle sins?

It’s a good question to ask.

I flicked open the book and my eyes met the sentence “Closely akin to anxiety or worry is the sin of frustration.”

Whoever thinks of frustration as a sin? I mean, welcome to the workplace.

But if frustration comes from a heart with a wrong attitude, then it must be sin.

Jesus says that if there is anything causing us to sin we should cut it out (does this mean I should quit my job?)

If frustration is sin then this means I need to work on my heart. I’m sure we all do.

Praise God that the Passover lamb has already offered up a perfect sacrifice of himself, thereby allowing us the opportunity for forgiveness and starting over again in his grace.

Yours hopefully moving past frustration,

Alison