Based on John 18:28-40 (New King James Version)
“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. Pilate then went out to them and said, ‘What accusation do you bring against this Man?’ They answered and said to him, ‘If He were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him up to you.’ Then Pilate said to them, ‘You take Him and judge Him according to your law.’ Therefore the Jews said to him, ‘It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,’ that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which He spoke, signifying by what death He would die. Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, ‘Are You the King of the Jews?’ Jesus answered him, ‘Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?’ Pilate answered, ‘Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?’ Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.’ Pilate therefore said to Him, ‘Are You a king then?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.’ Pilate said to Him, ‘What is truth?’ And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, ‘I find no fault in Him at all. ‘But you have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Do you therefore want me to release to you the King of the Jews?’ Then they all cried again, saying, ‘Not this Man, but Barabbas!’ Now Barabbas was a robber.”
How is it that the Pharisees, being so religious, not only had enmity with the Lord, but they even had Him killed? Some will think that the death of the Lord simply had to happen, so the Scriptures could be fulfilled, and that everything that happened was the will of God. And yes, it is true, that everything had to be fulfilled, because everything that is written is fulfilled, in one way or another. But the Word itself also says: “Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!” Matthew 18:7. That is, Christ had to die, but each person chose to do what they did out of their own free will, and not because God forced them, because it is also written: “If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire.” Matthew 18:8. So, everyone, and especially the religious, could have chosen to do things in a very different way. So, what was the problem?
The point is that religion or religious practices do not lead to God. What is religion? By definition, it is: A set of beliefs or dogmas about divinity, feelings of veneration and fear towards it, moral norms for individual and social behavior and ritual practices, mainly prayer and sacrifice to worship it. And this was what the Pharisees observed. They did not follow God, but based their lives on beliefs, rules and commands. Therefore, and although they thought they pleased God, they were very far from God, because following God does not consist of doing religious things, no matter how good they look. Works are vital to faith in God, but God desires something that goes far beyond simple works alone. The point is that God looks at and searches the most intimate part of man, the intentions of the heart. This is what the Word says: “I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.” Jeremiah 17:10. “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12. The Lord Himself spoke about this, clarifying that doing things that appear spiritual and even supernatural are not a sign of true faith, nor that these things ensure entry to heaven, when He said: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” Matthew 7:21-23. And the Word says this also: “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3. What love is Paul talking about here? Of feelings, of fleeting and emotional things? Of carnal passions and desires? Absolutely not. The love that makes everything have value before God is the genuine and pure love towards the Lord, as it is written: “Jesus answered him, ‘The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:29-31. This love for God must be the reason for why we do all things. This love must be the root of everything in our life, the reason why we love our loved ones, as we must also love our enemies, because our neighbor is everyone around us. Paul also said this: “For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.” Romans 14:8-9. If love for God is not what governs us for everything in our lives, and the reason for why we do all things, then we will be against God, as the Pharisees were, who despite their strict religious practices, they had the Only Begotten Son of God killed on the cross. Now, of course each of us was responsible for the Lord's death, because He died for all of our sins, but they were the instigators. Therefore, nothing is gained from being religious. The basis of everything must be love.
Now, how will we see more clearly this issue that what God seeks most is to be loved? Our best example is David. This is what God Himself said: “And when He had removed him [speaking of Saul], He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’ From this man’s seed, according to the promise, God raised up for Israel a Savior—Jesus— Acts 13:22-23. David was not perfect, but one thing is very certain, and that is that David loved the Lord, and he loved Him in such a way that God Himself established that the Messiah had to be the Son of David. So, is loving the Lord your motivation for everything in life, rather than simple religion? Lord bless! John. God bless Israel!