Scripture: When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. And when he learned that he belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. 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. So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer. The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other. Luke 23:6-12 ESV
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Observation: Recapping Yesterday’s Daily Focus, Jesus enters Jericho, drawing a crowd of onlookers. Curious about all the fuss, Zacchaeus scales a sycamore-fig tree to see for himself. And when Jesus approaches the tree, he commands Zaccheaus to hurry down and prepare for his stay. The crowd is shocked that Jesus would socialize with a known sinner who had dishonestly gained wealth. But Zaccheaus is elated and declares to those around him that he will donate half of all his possessions to the poor and remunerate fourfold any he has defrauded. So Jesus assures Zacchaeus that having genuinely repented, he is a son of Abraham, and thus salvation has come to his family. Lastly, Jesus announces amid the crowd’s hearing that his mission is to seek and save the lost.
Today’s reading (skipping over the remaining segments leading up to Jesus’ arrest covered in the parallel passages of Matthew and Mark) brings us to Herod’s examination of Jesus. Pilate, having preliminarily interrogated Jesus to ascertain whether he is a threat to Rome (vv.1-5), declares to the chief priests and the crowds that he “finds no guilt” in Jesus (v.4). But, with a sense of urgency (i.e., to secure Jesus’ crucifixion before Passover), they contend that he stirs up the people with his teachings to the far reaches of Galilee (v.5). So when Pilate learns that Jesus falls under the tetrarch Herod Antipas’ jurisdiction, he schemes to delegate responsibility to him, having conveniently arrived in Jerusalem for the Passover celebration.
The plan initially works out well because Herod is eager to meet Jesus and see him perform a miraculous sign (based on all the stories reported to him). So he questions Jesus for some length, but Jesus remains silent, to Herod’s disappointment. And with the hovering religious leaders lodging their accusations, Herod has heard enough of this tedious matter. So with the aid of his soldiers, he proceeds to entertain himself by toiling with Jesus, dressing him with fine linens of the wealthy, and mocking him. Once the taunting is over, Herod sends Jesus back to Pilate, and, ironically, this incident spurs reconciliation between the two, who set aside their grievances and become friends.
Takeaway: The mockery would continue when Pilate’s soldiers would soon dress Jesus in a purple cloak, press a crown of thorns into his scalp, salute him, and kneel before him, hailing him as King of the Jews while beating him with a scepter-like rod (Mark 15:17-19). At first glance, this heartwrenching story of a governor and king disregarding and abusing Christ seems like nothing more than a tragic injustice. However, digging deeper provides striking contrasts that foreshadow the culmination of Christ’s redemptive mission. First, by incurring humiliation and abuse, Jesus brings reconciliation between two enemies (Pilate and Herod), pointing us to the climatic moment of Christ bearing our sins in his body to reconcile us to the Father (1 Peter 2:24), we who were once God’s enemies (Romans 5:10).
Secondly, being stripped of his humble garment of the “Suffering Servant,” he takes on the exquisite apparel of the rich, not too unlike that of the chief priests’ fine linens. Hence, clothed in splendor, he reveals that his suffering is sufficient atonement for all walks of life, for all who, by faith, repent. He then receives a royal robe and crown that points to his kingship over Jews by the facetious title bestowed on him by Pilate and over Gentiles by those Roman soldiers mockingly kneeling and paying homage to him. And no matter whether any believe this to be true, that fact remains: Jesus is King over all creation.
So what’s our takeaway? In short, it’s another example of the great exchange: Christ puts on the clothes of us sinners so that we might put on his clothes of righteousness (Ephesians 4:20-24). And he who is rich became poor so that by his poverty we would inherit his riches (2 Corinthians 8:9). Lastly, Christ, who is our King, has reconciled us to God (we who were once his enemies) through his suffering and death (Romans 5:10). But it is worth noting that in this same verse, Paul contends how much more then will we be saved by Christ’s life.
Indeed, we are clothed in Christ’s righteousness and reconciled to God—but not just to rescue us from the penalty of sin. Christ has also “saved” us for good works (Ephesians 2:10): to press the boundaries of his kingdom to all walks of life and help others put on his clothes of righteousness, whether the poor, the oppressed, the wealthy, or even our corrupt leaders.
Prayer: Father God, we thank you for your Son who endured humiliation and suffering to cover our polluted garments (Isaiah 64:6) with his righteousness. Still, we confess that we are prone to put our faith in the fading apparel of prosperity and power. So would you please intervene through the work of your Holy Spirit and help us shed these superficial coverings for the endurable wear of your Son’s righteousness, that we might grow his kingdom and glorify you? Amen.
Rev. Gordon Green, M.Div., M.A. Counseling
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