John 18:28, Jesus Before Pilate

28 Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor's headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor's headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover.

It is now about six or seven o’clock in the morning as Jesus moves from one house of ungodliness to another. Caiaphas, the high priest, has no personal interaction with Jesus in John’s gospel as he does in Matthew and Mark. Jesus is taken to the governor’s headquarters where he will meet face to face with Pilate. Caiaphas and his cronies follow along with Jesus but do not enter the headquarters of a Gentile, since entering would have defiled them and kept them from partaking in the Passover celebrations. At this point, the Gospel of John is dripping with irony. They are delivering to the enemy of the Jews the Passover Lamb and think that they are keeping themselves clean by not going into his house!

Father, keep us from thinking that religious rituals can keep us clean. Help us to always remember that faith in Jesus as the way and the truth and the life is why he indeed is our Passover Lamb. Amen.