Jump Start # 564

Luke 23:12 “Now Herod and Pilate became friends with one another that very day; for before they had been enemies with each other.”

What a strange set of circumstances that bring these two long time enemies together. Herod, came from a long line of murderous rulers, beginning with Herod the Great, who killed all the baby boys in that region when Jesus was born. He was jealous that another king was born. Now one of his descendents is reigning as king of Judea. This was a position that the Romans allowed to appease the Jews, since Herod was a nominal Jew. Pilate was Roman through and through. He was the appointed governor, and the official Roman voice and authority in that area. There are many reasons why Pilate and Herod would have hated each other and have nothing to do with one another. Politically, they both were in position to cause each other headaches and upset Rome. Pilate would have liked nothing better than to climb the Roman chain of command to the senate in Rome.

Jesus had been arrested. The Jews were causing Pilate problems. Riots were nearly breaking out because Pilate refused to act. Word of civil unrest would have been the death blow to Pilate’s future career. Pilate found Jesus innocent. He didn’t know what to do. Learning that Jesus was from Galilee, and that Herod happened to be in town, opened the door for Pilate to shift responsibility, blame and anything else to Herod. Jesus is taken to Herod, who had heard about Jesus and was hoping to see a miracle, like a side show carnival. Herod found Jesus to be harmless and innocent, so he sent Him back to Pilate. The blame, problem and responsibility shifts back to Pilate once again. The rest of the story we know. Pilate again questions Jesus and finds Him innocent. He offers the crowd a choice—a no brainer. Jesus, who did nothing wrong, and Barabbas, a legendary murderous thug who tried to rebel against Rome and brought the troops into town and made life unpleasant for everyone. Jesus or the real criminal? The crowd responded, “Crucify, Crucify” when Pilate mentioned Jesus.

Through all of this, two long time enemies, Herod and Pilate became friends. These were not  the only enemies that came together at Jesus’ death. The Pharisees and the Sadducees worked together to bring about Jesus’ death. The Jews and the Romans worked together to try Jesus. Odd, how differences came be thrown out the window for a common cause. Hatred and love, though opposites, tend to do that.

Hatred will cause enemies, like Herod and Pilate, to unite. They united around a common nuisance—Jesus. Herod and Pilate becoming friends. Misery loves company, the saying goes, and these two corrupt, selfish politicians forged a friendship because of Jesus. Wicked Herod. Ambitious Pilate. Different backgrounds, different goals, yet friends because they both had no place for Jesus.

Love will do the same. People that are at odds, will unite when love prevails. When the prodigal left home, he was glad to leave. His father was hurt and he was glad to be moving away from that situation. Love brought them back together. The love for what is right will cause people to apologize to each other. The love for the Lord will cause people to reach out to others and connect with others, even those who are different than they are

Even in His death, Jesus had a way of bringing people together. He still does. That is the beauty of a church family. We can be very different in personalities, and likes and needs, but through Jesus we can connect, unite and work as one. Individuality is put aside as we look to one another, as Jesus does. Selfishness is destroyed and compassion for others prevails. Through forgiveness, we who were once separated from God, are now united with Him. That same forgiveness allows those who have been hurt to connect, restore and enjoy a powerful and wonderful relationship.

Jesus unites. Jesus brings enemies together. Jesus is the means to relationships that would not be possible. The majority of the people I consider friends, have come about because of Jesus. Had it not been for Jesus, we would have never met.

What a friend we have in Jesus…Indeed!

Roger