Thursday, April 18, 2013

Jesus before Herod

6 When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 7 And when he learned that he belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. 8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him. 9 So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer. 10 The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. 11 And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. 12 And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other. (Luke 23:6-12)
“And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other.”
Herod throws the hot potato back. He wastes little time doing it. He finds nothing he can charge Jesus with, and knows that doing anything against him will only make things worse for him with his people, who still remember his ill treatment of John the Baptist. At first he was glad to see Jesus. He had long heard of him. But when Jesus wouldn’t do his bidding, even as John would not, then he grew bitter fast. He mocked him. Arrayed him in splendid clothing all a part of mocking him as a king. And sends him back to Pilate. These two then become friends. They begin to see each other as on the same side of the fence, and at odds with the people. And Herod recognized that Pilate had done him a huge courtesy by sending Jesus as a Galilean to him, even while he was on Roman ground.

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