Scripture: Luke 23:7-11
And when Pilate learned that Jesus was under the jurisdiction of Herod Antipas, Pilate sent him off to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had been wanting to see him for a long time, because he had heard about him and was hoping to see him perform some sign. He questioned him at some length, but Jesus gave him no answer. The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him; then he put an elegant robe on him, and sent him back to Pilate.
Luke has told us earlier in Jesus' Galilean ministry that Herod Antipas wished to hunt Jesus down and kill him (Luke13:31-33). Herod had already executed John the Baptist for inciting the people against him. Now Herod feared Jesus, as a follower of John, would do the same. But here Herod seems more curious than threatened. Perhaps, Johanna one of Jesus' supporters who was married to Herod's steward Chuza (Luke 8:1-3) had convinced Herod's court that Jesus was not a threat to him. Herod's primary concern is whether Jesus has some kind of supernatural power that might change the power equation. When Jesus says and does nothing, Herod, backed by his soldiers, is sure that Jesus is only a harmless crank worthy only of mockery and contempt. Let Pilate deal with the troublemaker and those for whom he was making trouble.
Before we leave this episode we might want to stop and think about how much Herod is like us. We tend to want some miraculous sign that God is talking to us or approves of our actions. The standard of love (compassion, nurture and liberation) seems too simple a test to pin our hopes on. When our power and security might be threatened we ask for the sort of sign we know we will never get. That way we don't have to change our direction. That was Herod. No sign. No change. Josephus tells us that he continued down the path of selfish indulgence and injustice protested by John and Jesus, and eventually it backfired. John the Baptist had chastised Herod Antipas for divorcing an Arabian princess to marry his brother Phillip's wife, Herodias. Not long afterward, Aretas, the father of the spurned princess, went to war against Herod and soundly defeated him. Josephus tells us that the people thought this was the judgment of God. They were probably right.
Do we use the same excuse as Herod to avoid becoming involved? Do we wait for a rainbow, a burning bush or some other sign of God's approval before we will act? Earlier in Adam Hamilton's book, 24 Hours That Changed the World, he quotes Sir Edmund Burke, Bristish philospoher and politician, who said, "All that is necessary for the forces of evil to triumph is for enough good people to do nothing." That thought ought to be sign enough!
Prayer: Lord, grant us the courage to speak up whenever the innocent suffer. Help us to remember that whatever is done to least of persons is done to you. Amen.
