MISJUDGING JESUS (3): HEROD

(Luke 23:6-12)
October 1, 2017

Read Lu 23:6-12 In Stories I Tell My Friends, General Ike tells of his first
days at West Point straight off the plains of KS. Recruits were required to
salute all officers. Ten days in a row he ran into the most decorated fellow I
had ever seen. Each time he gave his snappiest salute, but he never got a
return salute. A classmate finally told him, Youre saluting the drum
major! Ok. No harm done, right? But what if Ike had met another highly
decorated guy next day, thought Oh, another drum major and blew off the
commandant! Big trouble. You dont want to misjudge the leader.

But imagine seeing nothing of merit in the most important person who ever
lived. Imagine seeing God-in-the-flesh face-to-face and calling Him common.
Its happened to millions of people, then and now, whove misjudged Jesus.
As Luke describes Jesus trial and conviction of an innocent man, he shows us
4 different ways people mistake Him. Perhaps one of these is you or
someone you know. Such misjudgment would be fatal. So lets look.

I. The Dodger (Pilate)

After first seeing Jesus, Pilate declared Him Not Guilty and tried to release
Him. But the Jews were not having it: 5 But they were urgent, saying, He stirs
up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place.
This is the Sanhedrin pulling out an ace in the hole Hes from Galilee, you
know! Why does that matter? Because Galilee, the northern district of
Palestine was the hotbed of revolution, where Roman opposition thrived. The
guerilla fighters and zealots all came from Galilee. Theyre trying to taint
Jesus guilt by association. A tactical masterstroke to renew Pilates interest.

But it actually had the opposite effect. Pilate ruled Judea and Samaria in the
middle of Palestine, but Galilee was ruled by Herod the Greats son, Herod
Antipas. So when Pilate hears Galilee, he thinks, Ah, hah. Heres a way out.
If this guy is from Galilee, Ill change venue and send Him to Herod. Pilate
usually resided in Caesarea Maritime. Herod usually resided in Tiberias on the
western shore of the Sea of Galilee. Both were in Jerusalem for the feast
Pilate to keep order and Herod to placate His Jewish constituency. So, Pilate
sent Jesus to Herod who was just down the street. Hes unloading this political
football. Let Herod decide! Ill take a pass. Hes a Dodger!

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How many people thru the centuries have done that? Taken someone elses
word for Jesus rather than decide for themselves. Taken someone elses
judgment and made it theirs. Like Pilate, theyve delegated lifes most critical
decision. Theyve taken the word of their Philosophy 101 prof or their science
teacher or an agnostic friend or family member. Theyve transferred the
decision about the validity of the claims of the only person in history who has
made a credible claim to be ultimate truth and the only way to God theyve
delegated that decision to someone else. Thats the Dodger. Ducking the hard
question. Who is Jesus really? You decide and let me know. Wow!

In 2001 I got a new car same one I drive now. It has an early-day GPS. So,
one day Patty and I are going up to the mountains from our OC home a trek
wed done hundreds of times. But we decided to let the lady in the machine
guide us see what shed do. Shortly, she directed us off 91 onto 15 N a
little longer, but it could work. Only she kept us going past every turnoff we
knew. We thought maybe she knows something we dont know. Eventually
she took us off onto a pretty sketchy dirt road. Now were leery but very
curious! Soon were into hairpin corners, rough terrain and wide enough for
only one car. It turns out were on an access road for emergency use only. It
didnt pay to delegate directions to someone who didnt know.

But thats nothing compared to delegating identifying Jesus to someone else

intelligent as they may be. Find out for yourself. Read Mark. Read John.
Read Matthew and Luke. Youll find that most of the opinions of the educated
elite not only change constantly, but they are dead wrong compared to the
original records. Take the challenge. Why delegate your eternal destiny?

George S. Kaufman wrote a Broadway show Of Thee I Sing. One night he

went to see Wm Gaxton perform. It was so lackluster that during intermission
he sent a note to Gaxton: Watching your performance from the last row.
Wish you were here. There are going to be a lot of people when called to
give an account to the living Christ who are going to saying, Wow, I wish
now Id been there, paying attention, when I let someone else made MY
decision to reject Him. Dont abdicate. Investigate. Youve nothing to lose.

II. The Demander (Herod Antipas)

So Pilate sends Jesus to Antipas a waste of a man. His bro Aristobulus had a
daughter named Herodias who married a third half-brother (Herod Philip). But
Antipas became enamored of her, seduced her away from Philip, divorced his
wife, and married her. Thus, she was his niece, sister-in-law and wife. Sounds
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like a red-neck joke. John Baptist called him out. Mrk 6:18: It is not lawful
for you to have your brothers wife. 19 And Herodias had a grudge against
him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, 20 for Herod feared
John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe.
When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.
Please note that Herod was initially open to the gospel.

But Herodias was furious. Herod gave himself a wild birthday party. As things
heated up, Herodias daughter performed a dance so seductive that Herod
promised her anything. At Moms request, she asked for Johns head -- on a
platter. Mark 6:26 And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his
oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. 27 And
immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring Johns head. He
went and beheaded him in the prison. It was downhill from there for Herod.

When Jesus came along, Herod got paranoid. Mark 6:16 But when Herod
heard of it, he said, John, whom I beheaded, has been raised. According to
Lu 9:9: And he (Herod) sought to see him (Jesus). He wanted to see with
his own eyes whether or not it was John. Later in Lu 13:31, we find him
conspiring with the Pharisees to threaten to kill Jesus either in truth, or just
to get him out of his territory. Jesus sent word back that He would leave in His
time and on His terms, calling Herod that old fox. Herod feared Him.

But no more. Now Jesus is beaten and bound. Thus, 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. He doesnt care
who Jesus really is. He just wants to be entertained. Show me what you got!
Come on. Wow me! He doesnt want to know Jesus. Hes not even interested
to examine him, which is the whole point. He wants to use Jesus. He is the
Demander. Give me what I want or this relationship is over.

Millions since are like that. People who care nothing for Jesus except when
trouble strikes. The demanders see God as Magic and Jesus as the Great
Magician on call for emergencies, then back in the closet until next time.
Like the kid acting up in church one day. Dad picked the little guy up and
headed for the door. But just before they got to the foyer the boy called out to
the congregation, Pray for me! Please pray for me! Hed got the picture.
Jesus as the great Genie. People who would never darken the door of a church
even claim to be agnostics will pray fervently enough when trouble comes.

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Mark Twain used to tell about the real Injun Joe who lived in his town -- the
model for the frightening man in Tom Sawyer. On the night the real Injun Joe
died there was a terrific thunderstorm. Twain was certain Satan had come in
person for Joes wicked soul. Terrified, he covered his head and prayed
fervently that Satan wouldnt decide to save a trip and take Twain as well. He
reports, It was a night filled with terror that was only dispelled with the
coming of day. But in the morning, I saw it was a false alarm and concluded
to resume business at the old stand and wait for another reminder. Sadly,
tho he married a Xn wife, and feigned faith for a time, it was never real. When
his daughter and later his wife died, he was inconsolable. He wanted God on
his terms or not at all, and thats just what he got. Jesus isnt on demand.

Herod found that out. 9 So he questioned him at some length, but he made no
answer. Chilling words! This night Jesus had made a last appeal to Judas; He
conversed with Caiaphas; and reasoned at length with Pilate. But for Herod
not a word. Herod came close, but he sinned his way to a seared, useless
conscience. Face-to-face with God in the flesh, he just wanted Showtime. But
Jesus doesnt do Showtime. Its His universe, not ours; His agenda, not ours;
His way, not ours. Herods indifference stilled the voice of God!

Demanders say, I called, but God didnt answer. Hes not there! He wont
jump thru my hoop. And God is saying, You dialed the wrong number.
Not only will I answer, I already did. But you refuse my answer my own
Son. Ive nothing more to say not until you come to be saved instead of
entertained. But I wont be entertainment committee. Im not yours to
command; but Id love you to be mine. Dont still my voice.

III. The Denouncer (Denier -- scribes)

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The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. Jesus
may not have been saying anything, but his accusers sure were. They
denounced Him vehemently. Like Stephen Simon, a Hollywood producer of
spiritual cinema who says Christianity will be eclipsed by spirituality in 30
years. He sees in films like Mel Gibsons The Passion its certain demise,
saying The entire film seemed like the dying gasp of an old ultra-religious
paradigm that is slowly fading into oblivion I was watching the symbolic
conclusion to 2000 years of human history. Gibson has indeed ushered
out this chapter of history in a blaze of Ogory. Theres confirmation of Paul
in I Cor 1:18: 18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are
perishing. Mr. Simons not the first to have this opinion of Christ. It started
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with the chief priests and scribes and continues unabated to our time. But its
never brought Xnty to its last gasp. One simple reason. Xnty is true!

Jesus is who He said He was and He did what He said He would do. The cross
may be foolishness to unbelievers, but I Cor 1:25 For the foolishness of God is
wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. The scribes
could nail Him to the cross because He allowed it to give even them the
possibility of salvation but they could not keep Him there. And neither can
21st century denouncers. As Paul says in Rom 3:4, Let God be true though
every one were a liar. God will make that crystal clear soon enough.

IV. The Detractor (Temple soldiers)

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And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him.
Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. Here are
the mockers. The Detractors. If Jesus wouldnt provide the entertainment,
then theyd make Him the entertainment. Dress Him up and make fun. They
are the first of millions who think Jesus claims too preposterous to be true. So
they dress Him in the robes of nice guy or great prophet and mock His claim
to be God atoning for sin. Thats just a lot of pagan superstition. Not worthy
of 21st century sophistication. He is more to be pitied than worshiped. A pretty
smart amateur shrink maybe but divine? Laughable.

But theyve forgotten Gal 6:7: 7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for
whatever one sows, that will he also reap. The scribes should have known
better. Just days earlier Jesus had stood before Lazarus gravesite knowing if
He raised Lazarus the religious establishment would try to kill Him. The only
way to get Lazarus out of the grave was to put Himself into the grave. He
could only interrupt Lazaruss funeral by submitting to His own. More
importantly, if He was going to save Lazarus and all the rest of us from
spiritual death, He would have to take that death on Himself. Thats why no
smiles at that tomb. It wasnt for show. He cried tears of compassion for the
crowd, frustration at the lack of understanding, and anger at death. But then,
knowing what the cost would be, He cried out, Lazarus, come forth. And he
did. This whole crowd knew that. They assumed it was a trick rather than real,
and now they mocked. The Detractors. Easier to mock than check Him out.

Conc So, opposition to Jesus makes friends of bitter enemies. 12 And Herod
and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they
had been at enmity with each other. There are a lot of ways to misjudge Him.
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People will unite in opposition to Jesus who cant agree on anything else! But
there is only one way to get Him right. He is at once fully man and fully God
in one unique person. No other explanation makes sense of the facts. The
Apostles creed summarizes this way: I believe in Jesus Christ, Gods only
Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin
Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he
descended into hell. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into
heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to
judge the living and the dead. Thats not someone you want to get wrong.

Dr. Ligon Duncan, Chancellor of The Reformed Theological Seminary took

his Ph.D at New College in Edinburgh. One late summer evening he was in
the massive dining hall when he saw a man of rather boyish appearance sitting
alone at one of the tables and decided to befriend him. The man said he was
doing research on George Whitfield. So Ligon informed him New College had
a wealth of pertinent info, and recommended several books. They conversed
for half an hour when Duncan said, Look, I didnt intro myself. Im Lig
Duncan. Whats your name? Im Skip. Duncans ears perked up. Skip.
Not Skip Stout? Yes. Skip Stout from Yale? Yes. You teach there?
Yes. Youre Harry S. Stout, whose biography of George Whitfield just
won the Gold Book Award this last year. Yes. Dr. Stout, I am so sorry, I
want to apologize. I didnt know who I was talking to! Its embarrassing to
misjudge Harry S. Stout. But its fatal to misjudge Jesus, Beloved, before
whom we will all one day soon give account. Dont get Him wrong. Let God
be true though every one were a liar. Lets pray.