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.

John 18:28

For Meditation

Is it not interesting how we think sometimes? We go extra miles with every effort possible to avoid one sin while committing the gravest sin at the same time.
The high priest and the Jewish authorities were caught in that caldron when they took Jesus to Pilate for trial. The Passover was approaching, and they had to keep themselves from defilement. However, they had Jesus on their hands, and they were determined to get him nailed to the cross before the celebration. 
It reminds me of Joseph and his brothers. They had received the food Joseph had brought from home to them and their appetite was wet for a good meal. But first, they had to deal with their brother. Their hatred for him had reached unbearable level so they had to get rid of him before eating. They threw him into a pit and left him to die. Then, they sat down to eat. What cruelty?
Ask Haman how it feels to have Mordechai as a thorn in your flesh. “But this is all worth mothing as long as I see Mordecai the Jew just sitting there at the palace gate” (Esther 5:13). That’s what Jesus had become for the Jewish establishment.
They had planned a big Passover celebration. It had a sweet aroma around it already. The chief priests and leaders could smell and taste it. But first, they must get rid of the crowd puller from Nazareth they call Jesus. So long as He was around, they had no joy. 
Confession is good for the soul. Hasn’t somebody’s presence ruined your appetite before? Hasn’t a colleague’s promotion diminished your joy for your own promotion before? How about a compliment by your friend to your spouse?  
The Jewish officials had had it with Jesus, so they took Jesus to Pilate with their own verdict on their lips. Jesus must die by crucifixion! All they wanted was Pilate’s validation. But there was another problem.
How could they defile themselves by entering the Gentile Governor’s court to present their case? Yet, all along, their hands were dripping with the blood of the innocent Son of God. Talk about the Ostrich with the head buried in the sand while its entire body was on display under the sun. The deception of the human ego! But, don’t we do that all the time.?
A lie ceases to be a lie when something beneficial is at stake. We dress it in new garbs and call it, “white lie”. It looks nice, sounds good, and feels cool. Pathetic souls we are! How could the Omniscient God not know? 
Maybe it’s time for soul-searching before the penetrating eyes of the holy God for once. In genuine repentance, the masks will come off, and we can behold the beauty of our Lord once again. He restores and refreshes the penitent soul.
Is that not what you desire?