Jaw-dropping Jewels about Jesus
Rarely does Jesus, God the Son, do exactly what we expect of Him. It seems odd that He so frequently surprises us, given that He never changes. Hebrews 13:8 makes this absolute statement: “Jesus the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” Still, though He is blessedly consistent in His goodness, Jesus does unforeseen things. Even when He does what is expected, He does not always do it in the way that we anticipate. Let us join with Jesus on a jaw-dropping journey. (I will be using this opening paragraph for each of the brief messages in this series. The following material will change daily.)
The physical death of John the Baptist (Mark 6:14-29) is not the worst aspect of this passage. Worse, far worse, is the ongoing spiritual deaths of the Herod family. Like all people, they “were dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1b) and needed salvation and spiritual life, but they spurned the Savior, Jesus Christ. Herod Antipas is a prime example of this rejection. Luke 23:6-12 records his personal interaction with Jesus: “When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man [Jesus] were a Galilaean. And as soon as he knew that He belonged unto Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time. And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see Him of a long season, because he had heard many things of Him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by Him. Then he questioned with Him in many words, but He answered him nothing. And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused Him. And Herod with his men of war set Him at nought, and mocked Him, and arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him to Pilate. And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves.” This passage reveals that Antipas had no real interest in Jesus. Rather, he wanted a “miracle,” just as he had wanted his step-daughter Salome to dance lasciviously at his feast. His newly-forged alliance with Pontius Pilate illustrates the clear warning of James 4:4b: “Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?” Antipas and Pilate chose each other rather than choosing Jesus, Whom they killed. However, He rose from the grave the third day, as He had predicted and promised. The “second death” (Revelation 20:6, 14-15) is everlasting separation from God, and that tragic outcome is what “the friendship of the world” brings.