Jesus Before Religion

“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. So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?” “If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you.” Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” “But we have no right to execute anyone,” they objected.”

‭‭John‬ ‭18‬:‭28‬-‭31‬ ‭NIV‬‬

You've heard the sayings “actions speak louder than words," or "practice what you preach.” Our actions must reflect what we believe. Sometimes, we try to honor Him with our words (or religious practices) yet deny Him with other actions. 

Here in the passages above, we see the religious leaders sticking to the law and religious practices to remain clean. They would not enter the palace so that they would remain clean and be able to participate in the Passover. All the while they were plotting Jesus’ murder!

Later on, we see them objecting to Pilate's directive for them to judge Jesus, when they push back and say they actually didn’t have the right to execute anyone. All the while, I repeat, they are plotting Jesus’ murder! They were faithful to the law, but not faithful to Jesus.

I find this fascinating.

I find it fascinating that they firmly held fast to their religious beliefs, all the while denying Jesus with their actions. While plotting a whole murder, the religious authorities were careful not to spoil their opportunity to partake of the religious ceremonies. This feels like a glaring oxymoron.

I am a firm believer in applying the stories in the Bible to our present-day lives. So, this makes me ask myself, in what areas in my life am I holding firm to religious practices, all the while inadvertently denying Jesus with my actions? While I am not one of those religious leaders who were denying Jesus, I am sure there are areas where inadvertently my actions do not line up with my beliefs. Let’s examine.

Faith

How many times have I declared faith and healing for others and quoted scripture, etc., all the while not fully believing He can work the miracle in my own life? I followed the religious practices, but I didn’t truly believe.

Loving others well.

How many times have I quoted things about unity, and judged others for gossip and dissention? All the while in my own heart I was not fully happy when someone else succeeded because I was actually dissatisfied with my own self and life. Let’s talk about it. The times when we gossip but call it venting. Those moments. These moments are very few and far in between nowadays, but I cringe when I look back on all the times when this was a lifestyle for me. I didn't truly know there was a better way and though this wasn't a glaring sin in our fleshly comparison of what we consider the "bigger" ones, it was wrong, wrong, wrong. Thank You Jesus for a better way.

Out of place priorities.

How many times have I neglected simple obedience to what God has asked of me and instead ended up getting caught up with religious practices that served what I thought other people expected me to do? Putting ministry opportunities before my family. What do we do when God assigns us a task or season that we really don't want to do? Do we honor it and do it well? Or do we just do want we want to do? Let’s talk about it! How many times have I spent the day giving my best to everyone and everything else, showing up in my gifting and calling, but not actually spending any time with the Lord? Discipling others without discipling my children. Saying yes to others joyfully but saying yes to my husband begrudgingly because I'm so busy being preoccupied with things that are great, but they weren't God, so they drained me instead of fulfilled me. Presenting my best self to the world but neglecting the things God asked of me that were quieter and less glamorous.

I know this isn’t an apples-to-apples comparison to plotting Jesus' murder. But it is an apples-to-apples comparison of how our hearts can be so tethered to religion, but yet so distant from the man himself [Jesus].

Today, what areas do you jump at giving a yes to-no questions asked-to religious practices, but deny Jesus inadvertently? What areas in your life need to increase in your proximity and intimacy with the man Himself—Jesus. Not just doing things for God, but choosing being with God, first. He must tip the scales every time. Jesus at the center. He knows our hearts, the truest intentions, and we cannot hide from Him, no matter how well we present ourselves to the world. He knows our hearts—and He wants our hearts. Give him the yes of your heart today and watch everything else in life fall right in line with where He wants them to be. Jesus, always, before religion.

-R 🧡