My Daily Journal:
I thought there was an interesting parallel between Herod and Lot in our verses today. Both men had moved along side others who did not believe in God. They had started “in the family” of Abraham, but had entwined themselves and their families into the culture around them. Both men served as judges in their communities. We have Lot’s wife. We have Herodius, Herod’s wife. We have The Angel of The Lord appearing at Lot’s doorstep. We have the Lord appearing at Herod’s. But Lot leaves this life behind and follows the Angel of the Lord out. Herod stays and sends the Lord away – mocking him for being who he is, the King whom Herod should have fallen down and worshiped.
I also found it interesting that we begin our trek with Jesus to see Pilate with the words of Jesus quoting from Daniel: “From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” That was the “blasphemous” statement. That Jesus, the Son of Man, would be the one sitting in the judgement seat at the right hand of God.
We reach our climax with Pilate, where else than at his “judge’s seat.” Matt 27:19, “While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat“.
Some people have a reclining chair, where they recline. Some have a reading chair where they read. In the children’s show, Blue’s Clues, there is a thinking chair where they think. I just assumed if someone had a judge’s seat, they would judge. But despite having a special chair for this very purpose, the one thing Pilate fails to do is judge. Instead, he leaves the chair to symbolically wash his hands of being judge while forfeiting the responsibility of judgement to a misguided mob. “I find no basis for a charge against him”, yet still turned him over to be flogged and executed.
For the high priests and teachers of the law, this scene must have brought to mind the warning that the Prophet Jeremiah had given for the Kings of Judah in Jeremiah 22. “Thus says the LORD, “Do justice and righteousness, and deliver the one who has been robbed from the power of his oppressor. Also do not mistreat or do violence to the stranger, the orphan, or the widow; and do not shed innocent blood in this place.” “”But if you will not obey these words, I swear by Myself,” declares the LORD, “that this house will become a desolation.”‘”
How well do we heed these words in our own lives? What responsibility do I try to avoid and delegate to someone else? What tough stand do I attempt to “wash my hands of” instead of doing what is right and just (and unpopular with the crowd)?
My Answers:
11.
a.
Entertainment, a show. Hoped to see him perform a sign of some sort
b.
Killed John the Baptist
c.
He was a jew, he knew the prophecy and scripture about the Messiah, he knew the teaching of JTB and of Jesus
d.
Having heard the gospel demands an appropriate response
12.
a.
I find no basis for a charge against him, John 18:38; told by wife He was innocent Matt 27:19; I am innocent of this man’s blood, Matt 27:24;
b.
we have no right to execute anyone, unable to participate in passover, John 18:28-32
c.
Self-serving – His position was tenuous before Caesar, if crowd revolted against him would look bad
d.
Serve the Lord, not men and not myself
The Notes are Good 