Thoughts on the Gospel of John (184) - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2025

Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium, and it was early morning. But they themselves did not go into the Praetorium, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover.
John 18:28

Thoughts on the Gospel of John (184)
It is between 6 and 9 o’clock in the morning. Jesus is led into the Praetorium, the official residence of the Roman governor. The story of Jesus’ sufferings continues seamlessly, without a pause. We can date the events of the preceding night as follows:

o In the evening Jesus eats the Passover with His disciples.
o Immediately after dipping the morsel of bread Judas leaves the upper room, and Jesus institutes the Lord’s Supper for His disciples
o The Lord goes with His disciples to Gethsemane.
o Between 9 p.m. and midnight, Jesus is arrested.
o Between midnight and 3 a.m., the high priest Annas interrogates Him.
o Between 3 and 6 a.m. the main interrogation takes place before Caiaphas and the Jewish council.

There is probably no more inappropriate time for court hearings than at night. But the religious leaders in Israel make it a matter of urgency. The night is the best opportunity for them to condemn the hated Jesus of Nazareth without a crowd.

Since the Jewish people are not allowed to carry out the death penalty, the chief priests and the servants hand Jesus over to the Roman governor. But what terrible hypocrisy! The religious leaders do not enter the Praetorium lest they defile themselves by touching pagan sites. The Passover celebration is exceedingly important to them – or so it seems; but they have no scruples of conscience about advocating murder and seeking out false witnesses. This is what religion is capable of in the absence of living faith.

(to be continued next Sunday)

Today’s reading: Genesis 2:15-25 · 1 Peter 1:1-7