UNITED
AGAINST JESUS!
In the following passion drama we see
the curious reunion of two rival rulers. Pilate represented the occupying force
of Rome and Herod was Rome’s puppet king. Let’s take a look.
Luke
23:1-12
23:1
And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate.
2
And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the
nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is
Christ a King.
3
And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered
him and said, Thou sayest it.
4
Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in
this man.
5
And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching
throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place.
6
When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean.
7
And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him
to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time.
8
And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him
of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have
seen some miracle done by him.
9
Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing.
10
And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him.
11
And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed
him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.
12
And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for
before they were at enmity between themselves.
As a police chaplain I learned that
the most dangerous call to which an officer might respond was a family
disturbance. Why? Husbands, wives and other assorted kinfolk and friends might
be bludgeoning each other with whatever is handy but will stop to fight the
responding officer before returning to their own conflict. We always called for
backup and never relied on a one man unit.
Our narrative suggests that Pilate
found no cause worthy of death in Jesus and sought to have him released. Herod
was a true despot and saw Jesus only as a curiosity. He wanted to see some
miracle performed by him. That is not to say that Pilate was good and Herod was
bad but that Pilate was bad and Herod was worse.
Scholars are uncertain of the cause of
the rift between Pilate an Herod but generally conclude that it began when
Pilate overstepped his authority and killed some Galileans in Jerusalem as they
were offering sacrifices in the Temple (Luke 13:1,2). Herod was furious not
because his subjects had died but because he was not consulted on the matter.
Those who wore evil like a garment united in
opposition to Jesus. Herod dismissed him with a lunatic cackle and Pilate simply
washed his hands of him but both agreed that Jesus would die. Now, however,
they are dead and Jesus still lives!
Tiny Israel has a land mass smaller than
New Jersey.
It is the apple of God’s eye and yet it is and will continue to be the focus of
world conflict. History confirms that those who fight against Israel fight
against God.
Beware
making a pact with evil.
Your
arms are too short to box with God!
He
who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep (Psalm 121:4).
Dear
Lord, protect your heritage and your people today. Cover your people with your
wings. AMEN
