Jesus Predicts His Death Series

A New York Times editorial claims that America’s views on the death penalty are changing. 35 people were put to death in 2014 which was the fewest in 20 years. And 2014 marked a nearly 40 year low in the number of new criminals placed on death row. While the method of execution may have changed, the death penalty has been around for a long, long time. As evidenced by the sales of John Grisham novels, there’s always high drama when the governor weighs pardoning a death-row inmate. Some political observers believe the state of Colorado’s 2014 elections results hinged on the two political opponents' views on the death penalty.

Today is going to be interesting for two reasons. We’re going to examine a powerful politician who ruled in one of the most powerful empires of all time and his interaction with Jesus Christ. Second, we’re going to see Jesus’ reaction to the powers that be all the while Jesus’ very life was at stake.

If you didn’t bring a Bible with you, you’ll need one today. And we’ve provided you with one if you didn’t bring it. Turn with me to two places in the book of Luke – Luke 13:31-32 and Luke 23:7-12. Pages 1110 and 1123 in the black books in front of you, there in your pews. As matter of fact, you have my permission to take that Bible home with you, if you don’t have one. It’s free for you and a gift from our church. We love God’s Word and we want you to have access to it. We’re involved in a short series looking at some of Jesus’ most curious sayings in the Gospel of Luke. Today, we witness the power of politics and the contempt of Jesus.

“At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, ‘Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.’ And he said to them, ‘Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course.’” (Luke 13:31-32)

You’ve heard and no doubt said at one time or another, “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.” But evidently, words are more powerful than we realize. Think of it: Jesus marshaled no army and He carried no weapon. Jesus never used His miraculous powers to throw the Pharisees off the nearest cliff. Nevertheless, Jesus tallied up enemies all because of the power of words. And the threat of Jesus was so perceptible, that people’s hatred of Jesus often made enemies into allies: “The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him” (Mark 3:6).

And when threatened with His life, Jesus shows contempt to the ruler of the land. Jesus calls Him a “fox,” a derogatory name. Curiously, instead of finding a place of safety, Jesus stays put. Today, I want you to see two very different people. The Cunning of Hero and the Path of Jesus

1. The Cunning of Herod

The name Herod pops up often when you read the gospels. Indeed, there is a dynasty of “Herods” much like the Bush family is to politics in our day – George Herbert Walker Bush, George W Bush, and Jeb Bush. Herod the Great is Herod Antipas is the son of Herod the Great, a man who was married to ten women. It was Herod the Great who famously murdered all the baby boys under the age of 2 when Jesus was born in Bethlehem. It was his father, Herod the Great, that the magi inquired where the King of Jews was located. It was the Father, Herod the Great, that could count among his enemies the famous Cleopatra. His father had six wills - yes, count them six last will and testaments. And it was the father who ordered the murder of his wife, mother-in-law, his brother-in-law, and several of his own sons.

Herod Antipas

It’s his son that is in front of us now, Herod Antipas. Herod Antipas began to rule when he was 25 years old (from 4 B. C. to A. D. 39). His official title was tetrarch of two regions, Galilee and Peraea. And Galilee was a favorite place for Jesus to do ministry. Herod ruled about 1,600 square miles in total – just a little larger than the state of Rhode Island. It’s estimated that he governed some 330,000 people, a little less than the city of Arlington, TX. Herod Antipas built large cities in his day and its probable that Jesus’ step-father, Joseph, employed his skills as a carpenter in the construction of these big cities. Again, Jesus refers to Herod as a “fox.” Jesus calls the ruler of the land a name, a bad name. As opposed to a regal lion, Herod is nothing more than a “fox,” a weasel, a clown, and a poser. Sometime later, Jesus and Herod would stay toe-to-toe and face-to-face…