City Life Starter

Written by Megan Meier

The Word

“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 ESV

Reflection

Pilate knew Jesus was innocent, but the chief priests and crowd bayed for His Blood, claiming He stirs up rebellion all over Israel (Luke 23:4-5). The Jewish rebellions, particularly from the Zealots, were most prominent in Galilee, and the crowd hoped Pilate would use this as evidence to execute Jesus, but he found a way to be “absolved” of his responsibility to declare Jesus innocent and gave the delicate case to Herod. This was the same Herod (Herod Antipas) who imprisoned and executed John the Baptist for pointing out that Herod was committing a great sin by marrying his sister-in-law (Matthew 14:3-11).

Pilate and Herod had a very politically tense relationship, and giving Herod Jesus’ case would have been acknowledgment of his authority, stoking Herod’s ego. Herod could have seen Jesus while he was in Galilee, why didn’t he see Him then? He had no interest in Jesus as the Messiah but wanted Jesus to perform a “magic trick” as proof of His Divinity. What questions did Herod ask Jesus? Maybe it wasn’t what he asked, but how he asked his questions, that he demanded Jesus show a sign in front of the chief priests and scribes. Amongst the demands and false accusations, Jesus did not give in, even with the cruel mockery and contempt (Matthew 26:67-68, 27:27-31, John 19:1-5) He did not say anything.

“He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,  so he opened not his mouth.”

-Isaiah 53:7 ESV

When Luke says Pilate and Herod became friends that day, he doesn’t mean they were true friends, and certainly not the kind of friends Jesus describes in John 15:13, but their friendship was based off of shallow interests. Both were cowards who were afraid of negative public opinion and they valued their powerful positions over doing what was right (Matthew 14:5,9, Mark 15:10-15).

“27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your [God’s] holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.”

-Acts 4:27-28 NIV

Application

As Juvan said this past Sunday, those who persecuted Jesus knew who He was, they just didn’t know what to do with Him. They knew declaring Jesus as the innocent Son of God meant sacrificing their egos and positions. Both Pilate and Herod knew what the right thing to do was, but they failed to do it.

“So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”

-James 4:17 ESV

Prayer

Lord Jesus, grant me the wisdom to know the right thing to do and the courage to put it into action, no matter what the world may think or say. In Your name I pray, amen.