Devotion: Herod
Please review the scripture from the weekend: Luke 23:6-12
As Pastor Greg pointed out in his sermon last weekend, it’s frankly kind of odd that this passage from Luke is included in the Gospel at all, considering nothing much happens, at least at first glance. Pilate sends Jesus to Herod, Herod and others question and mock Jesus, Jesus remains silent, and Herod sends Jesus back to Pilate. No surprise that the other Gospels don’t include this anecdote. However, when looked at from a certain perspective, this passage tells us a lot about earthly power and Jesus’s relationship to it.
We know Jesus was a problem for the authorities. His messages went against the status quo and His influence threatened the powers that be. Because he was such a thorn in their sides, Pilate and Herod became fascinated by Jesus. They questioned Him, but Jesus barely responded to Pilate, and not at all to Herod. His silence clearly frustrated them. They were accustomed to their authority being respected and obeyed unquestioningly. Jesus’s silence may have been an act of defiance, or maybe it was a result of being completely broken down by the physical and verbal abuse He faced. But I wonder if it was simply because their authority was meaningless to Jesus. He knew His fate was to die at their hands and His cooperation or lack thereof would make no difference either way. These men’s lives were built around earthly power and privilege, but in God’s plans, that power was just a means to an end and nothing more. It’s not surprising that these two men, who were used to having their authority go unquestioned, became friends; they were united in their hatred of this man who showed how insignificant their power is in the face of God’s designs for humanity.
And yet we Christians still seek after earthly power. Maybe not to the extent of Pilate and Herod, but still we seek wealth, influence, and control over others in our daily lives. But as Jesus showed with his unwillingness to answer these men’s questions, all the power we go after is ultimately meaningless. What God wants from us isn’t power or wealth or privilege. Instead we’re called to be like Jesus: humble, servant-hearted, and selfless.
Heavenly Father, thank you for the enduring, perfect example of your designs for humanity in Jesus. This Lenten season, help us watch out for times when we strive after earthly power instead of seeking to be more like Him. And when we fail, remind us of your grace and forgiveness. Amen.
Written by Preston Thiemann
Preston Thiemann and his wife, Rachel, live in Lincoln with their daughter, Clara. He is the Web Content Coordinator for the ASEM Marketing team at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, where he’s worked since April 2015. At Sheridan, he also plays guitar with the Praise Band and is active in Sheridan’s 20s & 30s group called Second Quarter.
In his spare time, he enjoys reading, watching movies and spending time with friends.