The Gospel According to Herod

Introduction

I must admit, when I first looked at this reading for our sermon series, I thought I had my work cut out for me. Our series after all is about how the enemies of Jesus accidentally confess the Gospel, or speak truths about Jesus. You may have noticed the obvious problem with that when it comes to tonight’s reading, “the Gospel According to Herod:” Herod doesn’t say anything! Of course, that isn’t completely true, Herod says a lot, he “questioned” Jesus at some length, and he “mocked” him. But that isn’t much to go on. We don’t know anything specific that he said.

That was my first reaction. But I eventually realized that when you look more carefully, Herod really does confess something about Jesus. When you read this text in context, Herod speaks volumes. As a matter of fact, what Herod doesn’t say speaks louder than what he does say.

Herod

Who is Herod?

So what should we be expecting Herod might say in a situation like this that he doesn’t? Well, to answer that, we need to know a little something about who Herod is. This is Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee, which means he is the main authority in the region that Jesus is from. He is one of the sons of Herod the Great, the famous King Herod who saw baby Jesus as a threat to his power and tried to have him killed in Matthew’s Gospel. Opposition to Jesus runs in his family. And maybe most interestingly, Herod Antipas is the man who had Jesus’ cousin John the Baptist beheaded. So we know that Herod is willing to execute trouble-making preachers if he has to, especially ones associated with John the Baptist.

Luke’s Gospel seems especially interested in what Herod thinks about Jesus. In Luke 9:9, when Herod hears the rumors about the things Jesus does, he asks, “John I beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things?” And he sought to see him.” So clearly, Herod has been fascinated with Jesus for some time, and is even nervous about what he’s up to.

We get an even more concerning report about Herod in Luke 13 when a few Pharisees approach Jesus to warn him, “get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” So we have reason to think that Herod is not only fascinated by Jesus, or nervous about him, but is openly hostile to him and even wants him dead.

The Situation in the Text

So then comes Jesus’ trial, and you must imagine that Herod Antipas can’t believe his luck when Pontius Pilate invites him to do an investigation of the very man he’s been so interested in seeing. Here Herod has been worrying about this Jesus of Nazareth, wanting to know more, and suddenly Pilate hands him a golden opportunity to meet Jesus, to find out if he can really do the parlor tricks he’s heard about, and even to recommend a death sentence if he wants. Herod has every reason to get rid of Jesus. Jesus is on trial for insurrection and the chief priests are hurling accusations at him. Jesus refuses to say a word in his own defense, and refuses to play ball with Herod’s desire to see miracles. Herod and his soldiers clearly treat him like a joke. What do we expect Herod to say? “I recommend that this man be put to death.”

The Result

That’s why it’s so remarkable that he doesn’t. Somehow, despite everything that would predispose Herod to get rid of Jesus, Herod sends him back to Pilate with no verdict. Even without Jesus saying a word, just to meet Jesus and look at him was enough to tell Herod that this was an innocent man. This was a man who came to bring peace, not violent revolution. Jesus didn’t come to destroy people, not even people like Herod, but to save them. Somehow Herod saw a glimpse of that and was forced to recognize it. Jesus had no desire to be his enemy. If we read a little further, Pilate reads into Herod’s silence and makes the message explicit: he tells the crowd, “after examining [Jesus] before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us.” Even these two unbelieving rulers are forced to acknowledge that here is an innocent man, in fact the only truly innocent man who has ever lived.

And the final verse of our text tells us that Jesus’ innocence even served to reconcile Pilate and Herod who had formerly been enemies. It’s like Jesus just can’t help but give gifts of peace, forgiveness, and reconciliation. The effects of Jesus’ innocent suffering flow out from him almost involuntarily as he walks through his Passion. Of course, I’m not saying Herod became a believer. He didn’t truly understand who Jesus was. But just looking at Jesus was enough to convince him that Jesus didn’t want to be his enemy. And it even convinced him that Pilate didn’t have to be his enemy either.

Application

I wonder, do you ever worry like Herod did, that Jesus might be a threat to you? Do you ever feel like Jesus is out to get you, or like God is just waiting for an excuse to punish you? I think that many people today look at the Christian God like a kind of “cosmic fun police,” a stern judge whose primary desire is to destroy the wicked. Oh sure, he might begrudgingly save you from his wrath if you say really nice things about Jesus and behave yourself. But you better watch out, because God is still just itching to lower the boom on you if you step out of line.

I think it can be especially tempting to start thinking that way during Lent. Because the season puts so much emphasis on turning from our sin, taking it seriously, and pondering the significance of Jesus’ suffering and death, it can be easy to misinterpret the call to repentance as a guilt trip. “You’d better give something up for Lent, God might start to get nervous if you’re having too much fun! Look how much Jesus had to suffer for you! Look what you did to him! Better not get on his bad side, or he might want revenge!”

Now let me be clear, I’m not saying Lent is a bad idea. it is good and proper to discipline ourselves and take sin seriously. The wrath of God is no joke and he takes sin - all the horrible, selfish things humans are capable of - deadly seriously. Each of us had a part in hanging Jesus on that cross, and it’s healthy to take time to ponder that. Jesus certainly didn’t approve of Herod’s wickedness. Herod had murdered Jesus’ cousin John the Baptist. That obviously wasn’t just “no biggie” to him.

But neither was Jesus out for revenge. Jesus didn’t want to destroy Herod or be his enemy. He wanted to save him. Like his Father, Jesus has no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their way and live. Herod must have seen something of that when he looked in Jesus’ eyes. It’s good to be reminded of that truth in this Lenten season. Do you honestly think that the man who prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,” for the people who were crucifying him, has any interest in holding a grudge against you? No. He wants peace. He wants reconciliation and forgiveness. The whole reason he suffered without complaining or even defending himself was so that it could be said, “God and you became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other.”

Conclusion

So this Lent, I do invite you to take a good hard look at your sin and what it cost Jesus. Look at him as he hangs there, carrying the weight of human injustice and selfishness. But don’t stop there. Don’t let it just be a guilt trip. Don’t forget to also look in Jesus’ eyes. Because there you won’t see an ounce of hatred, or hostility, or anger. Only love and forgiveness.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.