(Verse 28) - An almost laughable act of hypocrisy. They considered the very touch of a Gentile to be defiling. It was seen to be as or more defiling as touching a dead body. They were concerned that they be ceremonially clean so they could observe the Passover. They were concerned about their ritual cleanness but at the same time were not concerned with the defilement that the persecution of Jesus and ultimately of sending Him to an unjust death for political reasons. Were this not such a serious matter, it would be laughable! 

Really. this is another little  snapshot of the state of the Jewish religion at the time. There was a tremendous concern for the exteriors, that they appear righteous before men; but were wholly unconcerned with the enormous crime of crucifying an innocent man. That is the focus here. They had become convinced that rightness with God was a matter of external observances. In their minds, if they were in conformance with the externals then they had done their duty. Once duty was observed, God was satisfied and rightness was achieved. 

In that we see a snapshot of human religion and the convenience of human righteousness. This is all about what man can do and not much at all about what God must do for us. In this, the Jews were typical of all human religion. Man's religion is about works to one degree or another. It is about humans being righteous enough for God to accept. The sad part is that we have repeated their mistakes again and again. Most EpiMethoBapterians make the same error when they make salvation about what man wants and needs and not, primarily, about what God desires and has set about doing. 

At this point in the narrative, Jesus had been condemned by Jewish authority and declared worthy of death. This could only be achieved with the co-operation of the Romans. They were the governing authority in the land and, like it or not, they had to be dealt with. This was particularly true because the real reason the Jews were killing Him was neither the reason they gave Pilate (sedition) nor the reason the gave the public (blasphemy). The real reason was their personal offense and anger at His teaching and at His condemnation of their stewardship of the trust God had given the nation. They could not substantiate the blasphemy charge legally; and the people would never support a personal vendetta against such a popular preacher. and so they are left with an appeal to Pilate. 

(Verse 30) - In charging Jesus thus they were charging Him with a violation of the Law. This was completely untrue. Jesus had broken no true, Biblical Laws. What He had done was break their traditions and condemn their human brand of spirituality. Once again we will note that men have the strong tendency to equate their opinions with God's opinion. If we are convinced of a thing, then it must be so! Moreover, it must be what God thinks as well! How silly we are! Christ completely obeyed the Law of God, both in letter and in spirit. He was in no way guilty of any offense against the holiness of God in His character or in His actions. The charges brought by the Jewish Leaders were utterly and completely false.

The trial of Jesus is an astonishing and an alarming illustration of two kinds of wickedness. One kind, the ignorant kind, is shown by Pilate as he sits in judgment of the Lord. His expression of wickedness, humanly speaking, is far easier to understand. The other kind, the informed kind, is shown by the Jewish Leaders, is far more difficult to comprehend on any level. The human heart is truly a complex and mysterious thing! What we should realize is even though there is a difference, both groups still manifest great evil!