What Jesus Did! 'Blinded by the Wrong' — John 19:31

Friday, December 4, 2026

It was the day of preparation, and the Jewish leaders didn't want the bodies hanging [on the crosses] the next day, which was the Sabbath (and a very special Sabbath, because it was Passover week). So they asked Pilate to hasten their deaths by ordering that their legs be broken. Then their bodies could be taken down.
— John 19:31 NLT

Key Thought

Have you ever caught yourself doing something awful and wrong just so you could carry out your sense of religious ritual? Most of us have! I can remember the time I came upon a car full of young Christian women who had run out of gas on the way to church. Hundreds had passed them, but none had offered to stop and help them. Ironically, they were all going to teach children's Bible classes, and most likely, some who passed them by were irritated that their child's teacher was late. Or how about the service staff at places where Christians eat on Sunday? Did you know that Sunday is the day most servers hate to work because "church people's" tips are low and they tend to be rude and demanding? While comparing these things with a request to speed up the death of people being crucified is a stretch, these events should remind us that we have huge blind spots about the confession of our faith and our living it. Jesus was adamant that both our lives and our words should be completely consistent with our faith in him and our commitment to him. How are you doing on that score? What can you do to live the Gospel more fully today - and the days ahead?

Today's Prayer

Forgive me, dear heavenly Father, for sometimes being a better religious talker than I am a Christ-like servant. Convict my heart of what I need to do and give me a soft and courageous heart to do it with boldness and grace. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

1 Related Resource by Heartlight

Blood and Water
Devo: What Jesus Did!
"It was the day of preparation, and the Jewish leaders didn't want the bodies hanging [on the crosses] the next day, which was the Sabbath ... So the....."

Illustration

Illustration of John 19:31 NLT — Then their bodies could be taken down.

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Friday, December 4, 2026

Spiritual Warfare
A daily devotional about God's power for our battles.
'Pray and Watch Because Enemies Plan Attacks'
"They all made plans to come and fight against Jerusalem and throw us into confusion. But we prayed to our God and guarded the city day and night...."
Morning & Evening
The classic twice-daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.
Evening Thought: Matthew 5:9
"This is the seventh of the beatitudes: and seven was the number of perfection among the Hebrews. It may be that the Saviour placed the peacemaker the...."
Today's Verse
A daily devotional featuring a Bible verse, thought and prayer.
Psalm 23:1-3
"The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul."
A Year with Jesus
A devotional to help reclaim Jesus as the daily Lord of our lives.
'Managing Your Assets with Spiritual Wisdom'
"Dear Disciple, Over the ages, people have freely talked with each other about almost everything, except how they spend their money. Once the talk..."

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

More What Jesus Did!