Jerusalem was preparing for the... - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2025

The chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him (Jesus) by trickery and put him to death. But they said, Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar of the people.
Mark 14:1.2.

Jerusalem was preparing for the annual Passover feast. People were streaming in from all over the country to take part. But the religious leaders, firmly determined to kill Jesus, were uneasy. They feared that the visitors might hinder their plan. Many had heard Jesus preaching and seen His miracles. They had often followed Him for days in wonderment. Would they allow Jesus to be killed? The instigators decided that Jesus was not to be arrested during the feast.

However, an amazing opportunity then arose: Judas Iscariot, one of the 12 apostles, was prepared to hand Jesus over to the chief priests secretly. They wouldn't lose that chance. They captured Jesus, and shortly afterwards His enemies sought false witnesses for their fabricated accusations in order to be able to condemn the innocent Redeemer to death. The verdict had been settled already: Jesus had to die.

Then followed the trial before Pilate, the Roman governor, for he alone could pronounce the death sentence officially. So they went to Pilate early in the morning. He had inhibitions about submitting to their demand for His death and stressed repeatedly that he considered the accused innocent. Pilate had seen through the accusers' envious demand. Nevertheless he gave way (cf. ch. 15:10-15).

Jesus accepted the false accusations and the scandalous sentence in silence. He went to death voluntarily in order to atone for the sins of guilty persons. His invitation to come to Him and be saved is valid for everyone, even His enemies.

Today's reading: Jeremiah 17:12-27 · Luke 23:26-38