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Context No. 821 of 4322 · Luke

Context · Reflection

Luke 23:6-12: in context

6But when Pilate heard Galilee mentioned, he asked if the man was a Galilean. 7When he found out that he was in Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem during those days. 8Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad, for he had wanted to see him for a long time, because he had heard many things about him. He hoped to see some miracle done by him. 9He questioned him with many words, but he gave no answers. 10The chief priests and the scribes stood, vehemently accusing him. 11Herod with his soldiers humiliated him and mocked him. Dressing him in luxurious clothing, they sent him back to Pilate. 12Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before that they were enemies with each other.

In Luke's account of the trial, Pilate, eager to be rid of the case, learns that Jesus is a Galilean and ships him off to Herod, who happens to be in Jerusalem for the feast. And Herod is thrilled. He had wanted to meet Jesus for a long time, because he had heard so much about him, and he was hoping, Luke says, to see him perform some miracle. He wanted a show. He peppers Jesus with question after question, an audience waiting to be entertained by the famous wonder-worker.

And Jesus says nothing. To Herod, of all the people who question him in the Gospels, Jesus gives no answer at all, not a word. The chief priests stand there accusing him furiously, and still he is silent. Herod came for a spectacle, and he gets stony silence, because Jesus will not be a performer for idle curiosity; the man who wanted to be amused is not the kind of seeker Jesus answers. Denied his miracle, Herod turns, as the disappointed often do, to mockery, dressing Jesus up in fine clothes to ridicule him and sending him back. And Luke adds a chilling little footnote: that day Herod and Pilate, who had been enemies, became friends. Nothing unites people quite like joining together to dispose of the one who will not entertain them. The seeker who comes to Jesus wanting a show, and not the truth, walks away with silence.

Herod wanted a miracle for entertainment and got only Jesus's silence. Do I come to God wanting a show, a proof, a performance on demand, and then feel him go quiet, when what he offers is truth to those who actually seek it?

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