Lesson 71L From Herod to the Cross Luke 23:6-

Herod’s Jurisdiction 23:6- 12

English Standard Version Chapter 23

6 When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 7 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. 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. 9 So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer. 10 The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. 11 And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. 12 And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other.

In our weekly lessons, we will notice from here on out, much less red letters. Jesus will be speaking in very close directed words, remarks, and sentences. Never forget that He still is the Word! He has been from the beginning. The Word was God. The Word is God. The same was in the beginning with God. Even though I/we see less red, I/we are not seeing less truth. I/we believe the Bible of the Word of God from cover to cover. I/we believe the cover because it says it is THE HOLY BIBLE. I/we will not accept substitutes, nor replacements, or other things that come from other Gods. What have here in this small passage of Scripture is the narration of the Holy Spirit as He hovered over this situation and He provides an unbiased look into this poignant hour in Christ’s life, by the writer of the book, Luke.

Pilate could tell by the man’s accent/clothing/beard/ or lack of refinement. that he was a Galilean. That point alone is a small but important feature in the gospels that show us that man and God can care about the smallest details. It does mean that Pilate, Gentile, does not have the jurisdictional rule over Jesus. This part of the gospel story only comes from Luke. The Jewish King Herod has jurisdictional rule.. Herod just happened to be in Jerusalem at the moment. Herod had more than one residence of luxury and could have been at any one of those palaces and that delay in His getting to the scene might have delayed the start of the process of the crucifixion had he not been in town.

Herod was glad to see Jesus finally, and all because Pilate wanted nothing to do with this case because the Savior had done nothing worthy of death in the sight of Rome. But Herod’s family had been involved in an attempt on his life since the Christmas story. The opening of Luke finds Herod the great in rule. This King Herod is Herod Antipas, the son of Herod the Great. Jesus was a threat to this family as King of the Jews. Nonetheless, the son of Herod the Great was not in a hurry to rub out the Savior as this was an honor to have the Roman Governor refer something to this local politician. Herod also wanted to see some miracles or something grand from Jesus that might tip the scales in sentencing.

Jesus let Herod down. He said nothing. Herod is the only one Jesus did not respond to. With great zeal Jesus Christ was accused by the chief priests, Scribes, Herod and the soldiers who first questioned Him. At this time, the men around Him accused The Christ with great force and violence. They shouted their opposition to His face. It does not say that in the text specifically. The Greek words portray the measure of strength with which the accusations were delivered. I’m sure no one had their face veiled during this incredibly tense accusatory arraignment. Their words were hard and cutting. People say, “sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never harm me.” They say that because words really do hurt and they think they can lesson the pain with a handy little saying. It’s interesting how people can almost forget a broken bone, but violent, angry words, can never be taken back. They can only be forgiven. The only man who could completely forget was Jesus Himself. After the words, His clothes were taken away and He was mockingly put in royal splendid clothing, perhaps like He had never worn this side of the swaddling clothes. All in the context that Jesus was about to die.

The words that were said are also previewed in substance in Psalm 22. Not specifically, but they said things that this Psalm conveys to us in its harshest manner, how much Jesus endured. This Psalm is a scene from Him hanging on the cross, but the words shouted at Him while on the cross had made their way into Scripture pages, long before Golgotha’s gory scene. I took the liberty to put red on the verses that specifically point out the violence of the words of this scene as David prophesied what the Messiah would endure for the whole world. As David writes and we read, we can see the Savior of the world crying these things from the cross:

King James Version Psalm 22

“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?

2  O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not;

And in the night season, and am not silent.

3  But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.

4  Our fathers trusted in thee: They trusted, and thou didst deliver them.

5  They cried unto thee, and were delivered: They trusted in thee, and were not confounded.

6  But I am a worm, and no man; A reproach of men, and despised of the people.

7

Verse 7 has the “laughing to scorn” as first up. Scorners are the ones who help usher in the last days, just before His imminent return. As they ushered Him out of this world in this trial and at the cross, they will announce His return with the same type of mockery as they scorn His creation, the Genesis flood, and his soon return. The “shooting out of the lip” is the making of your mouth to hurl an insult or angry proclamation. Think about how one’s face is contorted when in angry reply or accusation. It is someone who hurls their words as they are sure of a way of an escape or they have an unhealthy confidence that they are free from danger. “They shake the head” is making the point with an attitude, not just in your words but in the back and forth motion of the head. Today we would call that swagger. It is blasphemy. swagger in making a mockery, I don’t believe it has a place in the life of a believer because the stuff that sent Jesus to the cross.

The quote from the crowd that they Psalmist commits to our memory is a mockery of trusting in the Lord God, Jesus Christ. It is blasphemy of belief and deliverance and God’s pure delight in His Son. How could David say these things? He was not there! It is because the Holy Spirit put them there in his head, heart and hands as he penned. In fact, many of the Psalms numbered from 20- 29 are Messianic modeled. Psalm 20:6 says, “Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed: He will hear Him from His Holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand.”- There is the future of the the Messiah in the words “His Anointed.” Then Psalm 21:11 says “for they intended evil against thee...” Psalm 23:5- “Thous preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies, thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over.”- again the anointing with the enemies round about the Messiah. Psalm 24:20 announces, “ who is this King of glory? The Lord of Hosts, He is the King of Glory.” We know who this Messianic Lord of Hosts is, Jesus Christ the Righteous. A reading of those Psalms will stir your hearts for Jesus.

Only God could see in future years how mankind would be bullish about the death of His Son. Mankind is fierce lion with his mouth ripping and tearing the Son apart with His calculated, menacing, and accusing words. God’s Son was allowed to be placed in their custody by a heavenly Father who knew where the path would take. Mankind is saying “Amen” to the sin that has separated us from God. Today is the day to make sure that you are standing on the correct side of separation. We stand on the side of Christ, separate from sinners, ready to welcome them when their hearts and minds are open. Friend, where do you stand today?