And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to put Him to death, for they feared the people (Luke 22:2).
Read John 12:12-19.
People don't take too kindly to being told they are wrong-not today and not in Jesus' day either. When someone confronts our decisions-or even worse, challenges the way we have chosen to live our lives-we are tempted to write him off as narrow-minded and intolerant. It's fine for him to believe what he thinks is right, but he should leave me free to believe and live the way I think is right. The only trouble with that is we don't get to decide what's right and wrong: God does.
For many months Jesus has been confronting the Jewish religious authorities. They cling to a religion of works: human rules and traditions by which they believe they earn blessings in this life and eternal life with God afterward.
But Jesus knows better. He knows His Father in heaven is holy and perfect. God cannot simply overlook the wrongs we do. That would make Him unjust. But even though the Father is just and holy, He is also filled with grace, love and mercy. That is why He sent His own Son, Jesus, to save us.
But the Jewish leaders have rejected Jesus-and they are pushing back hard against Him. Even so, Jesus won't go away. He keeps coming back again and again when all they want is to be left alone.
So now this huge confrontation is looming. Jesus cares too much to leave the Jewish authorities in darkness. So He shows them their error by teaching them God's truth. But His words don't sit well with them. They reach the conclusion that He must be silenced.
THE PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank You for caring enough about me to show me my failings and how to be right with my God by confessing my sins and trusting in You as my Savior. Amen.
Today's Bible Readings: Exodus 12-13 Matthew 26:1-35
To Download Devotion MP3 to your computer, right click here and select "Save Link As" or "Save Target As" or "Download Linked File As"