SURPRISING ’STARS’ OF THE PASSION
Part 2: Pilate & Herod: Villains We Can Learn From
Rev. Todd G. Leupold, Perth Bible Church, Sunday AM 3/9/2008
INTRODUCTION:
In our look at some of the Surprising ’Stars” of The Passion, we turn today to two government officials of great power and ill-repute: Pontius Pilate the Roman Governor of Judea, and Herod Antipas the ’King’ over Galilee. Though much and could be said to present the biographies of these men and their despicable character, that is not our aim or focus this morning.
The ’big question’ on many Christians’ minds whenever they think about these men is, “Why did God ever allow such men to do what they did with Jesus?” And, “How we can say God is always in control in the midst of accounts like these?” “Why did the LORD God Almighty allow such heinous villains to play such a role IF He is really in control at all times?”
The truth is that God is always in control, even in the face of such apparent injustice and evil as we see in these men and their treatment of Jesus! And, yet, it is important to recognize that through these men God has not cursed the world, but rather given us a great gift! The greatest gift, of course, is the ultimate sacrifice of Christ that provides for the eternal gift of salvation!!! But, couldn’t that have been given giving men like Pilate & Herod such a prominent role? Was it really necessary for the Father to allow them to draw out the process and humiliate Jesus the way they did?
This morning, I would like to challenge us to look afresh at Jesus’ encounters with Pilate & Herod and see together that there is much these villains have to teach us!
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO BE NEUTRAL ABOUT JESUS!
PRAYER
LESSONS TO BE THANKFUL FOR:
Through these villains - their attitudes, questions, comments, and decisions - we can all learn 7 important lessons for our own lives!
PILATE, PART I Mt. 27:1-2, 11-14; Mk. 15:1-5; Lk. 23:1-8; Jn. 18:28-38
1.PROPER UNDERSTANDING OF AUTHORITY Lk. 23:1-5; Jn. 18:28-37b
Notice that the core issue at question here is that of authority. Who is really the ultimate authority? Is it Caesar? The appointed leader of the Jewish people?
The idea of a yet higher authority isn’t even a consideration or option, until Jesus emphatically introduces it as such (Jn. 8:36-37b).
The lesson Jesus proposes to Pilate and now to us, is that the real and final authority in this universe does not rest with any man or determined by the election of any group. Rather, it is that which is inherent and irreversibly of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!!!
Any time we fail to recognize that Christ is the only perfect, indisputable and final authority, we are every bit the self-absorbed, stubborn and ignorant fool that Pilate played!
2.TRUTH IS IMPORTANT Jn. 18:37-38 (14:6; 8:31-32)
Pilate’s focus was on what he and the Jewish leaders had the ability to decide and do, based on the subjective and fickle laws and authority of men.
By contrast, Jesus breaks His silence in order to re-frame the debate as an issue about truth. Not just any truth. Not one person’s idea of ’truth’ against another. But, an absolute, universal, and unalterable Truth.
With this, Jesus gave Pilate a tremendous opportunity, an opportunity stand and stake his life and position on such a Truth rather than the vapors of an opinionated truth that is only as true and strong as one’s ability to impose and enforce it.
We, in turn, must recognize that Jesus gives us the same opportunity. Will we respond, like Pilate, and flippantly challenge the entire notion of a certain truth? Or, will we embrace that which is absolute and unalterable, regardless of our denials and efforts to re-define?
3.TEMPTATION TO HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH JESUS
The bottom line and lesson of this encounter is that ultimately Pilate wants nothing to do with Jesus.
He would rather ignore just ignore Him and leave Him to others to figure out.
To what degree have we done the same?
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO BE NEUTRAL ABOUT JESUS!
HEROD ANTIPAS Lk. 23:6-12
The encounter between Jesus & Herod Antipas (son of the King Herod who reigned when Jesus was incarnated and sought to kill all the first-born baby Jews) is a brief, yet significant one.
4.JESUS EXISTS FOR MORE THAN OUR PLEASURE Lk. 23:8-12
Herod never had any interest in picking up this ’political football’ and making any decisions himself.
Nor, I’m sure, did he relish the idea of giving audience to the cousin of John the Baptist, whose head Herod had cut off for daring to question his adultery and incest.
Yet, Herod did meet with Jesus, and with some degree of pomp and circumstance no less? Why?
The simplest of reasons – pleasure, entertainment, a magic show, perhaps even a demonstration of how might increase his own power and influence.
How did Jesus respond? He did nothing and said nothing. Not because He could not, but because He would not. His power and purpose is for far greater things than mere pleasure and fascination.
What about us? How often do we come Jesus to be entertained? See something new and amazing? How often do we mock and deny Him when He fails to entertain and amaze us in the way we expect and at our desired time?
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO BE NEUTRAL ABOUT JESUS!
PILATE, PART II Mt. 27:15-26; Mk. 15:6-15; Lk. 23:13-26; Jn. 18:39-19:16
5.THE PULL OF POPULARITY IS DEADLY Mt. 27:15-26
Again, notice the ultimate determiner of Pilate’s choices in life.
Not Truth, as Jesus proposed.
Rather, to Pilate ’truth’ in this instance was whatever the crowd wanted it to be.
Pilate declared Jesus legally innocent. His wife warned Him that God spoke to her of His innocence and to judge accordingly.
Still, Pilate left the decision up to the desires of the crowd rather than justice or Truth.
Friends, the pull of popularity is very strong, and it is often very deadly!
6.PEOPLE LOVE REBELS, HATE AUTHORITY Lk. 23:13-25
Now we see what too often happens when wisdom, truth, and righteousness is seen as nothing more than the present will of the masses – masses no less who are enslaved to their sinful nature.
Given a choice, the people clearly chose to save, honor and celebrate the rough, murderous rebel (Barabbas), rather than the One who was most deserving of their honor and celebration yet to Him they most accept as having authority over them.
That, my friends, was and is the real choice!
To speak for and release the rebel would cost the people nothing. To speak for and release Jesus would cost them a sacrifice – the sacrifice of acknowledging that He truly was the ultimate authority to whom they should submit and follow. No matter the Truth. No matter the love and miracles He showered upon them time and again. No matter the future hope He promised. What really mattered to the crowd that fateful day was their own present ability to define their own lives and dreams without interference.
Can you relate?
7.EACH INDIVIDUAL IS RESPONSIBLE Mt. 27:24-26
Pilate symbolically and vocally attempted to excuse himself from all responsibility, even though he alone had the authority to sentence Jesus.
In contrast, the crowd unanimously and even enthusiastically accepted full responsibility. In fact, they seemed to be eager to do so and to take great pride in it.
Why? How? Elementary, my dears. If they could lay claim to having Him beaten, humiliated and sentenced to crucify as a guilty man, they surely that makes each of them better than Him.
Perhaps some of us today are similarly condemning Jesus as no more than an ordinary man, teacher or even trickster, because it makes us feel better about our chances in comparison.
Is that an assumption or mistake worth taking?
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO BE NEUTRAL ABOUT JESUS!
CONCLUSION:
How did these encounters with Jesus turn out for those involved? Herod went down in history, not as a Great Ruler like his father, but a mostly-forgotten buffoon. Pilate continued to struggle in his position and, according to tradition, committed suicide himself.
