Mocked

Luke 23:8-12 (The Message)

8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform some miracle.

9 He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10 The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him.

11 Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate. 12 That day Herod and Pilate became friends—before this they had been enemies.

In recent verses, we've seen Jesus physically abused and humiliated.

Now, Jesus stands before Herod Antipas.

He is charged with claiming himself to be the "King of the Jews."

That title had belonged to Herod's father.

Almost 40 years before Jesus' birth, Herod the Great had withstood rebellion and political turmoil. He had gone to Rome, where Caesar had proclaimed him, "King of the Jews."

His son, Herod Antipas, had no plans to give up that title to this Galilean carpenter.

But he was hoping for a good show.

Perhaps it's his pride, his ego...the royalty of his upbringing...but all he thinks that Jesus is good for is a spectacle.

He mistakes the messiah for a magician.

And there's a lot we can learn from him, too. Sometimes, we don't want Jesus to have much space in our lives, except to perform the specific miracles we'd most like to see.

And then we're left wondering why Jesus seems silent in our lives.

The Truth does not speak where it is not truly wanted. "Jesus gave him no answer."

And there was nothing else that Herod wanted to hear. He thinks that he is in charge. He dresses Jesus up. He mocks him. He laughs.

May we see into this story, and learn to see each other with the eyes of Christ.

Father, we pray that we would seek real relationship with you in Christ, throughout every part of our lives. Forgive us for the times when we seek only the miracle, without also seeking to become real disciples.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.