Pilate and Herod Judge Jesus

And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate. And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King. And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it. Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man. And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place. When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man 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 again to Pilate. Luke 23:1-11

Steps: 4, 5, 6

The Priests and Elders bring Jesus to Pilate – the Roman governor – to accuse Jesus by presenting false charges to him. They cannot officially kill anyone and they want the state to find a charge and have the state kill Jesus. They, the Priests) would have been happy to kill Jesus but they could not without running up against the laws of the state. After Pilate evaluates Jesus and finds no fault in him. Legally he should have released Jesus immediately but Pilate wanted to please the Church leadership and so we have a church state relationship developing in this story. Then Pilate figures he can send Jesus to the ruler of Galilee, who happened to be in Jerusalem at the time. Herod also evaluates Jesus and finds no fault in Him, and after abusing Jesus sends Him back to Pilate to do with as he sees fit. This dual inventory concludes that there was no fault in Jesus, but the fault was in the church and in the state. After doing their inventory they did not recognize their Higher Power.

Prayer for Today: God, help us to recognize our Higher Power, Jesus the Christ, from Nazareth. Help us not to get so caught up in the affairs of the state that we forget that there is a Higher Power that demands integrity from us. Help us to recognize God and to obey Him over the state, Acts 5:29, when those times come, and to obey God over the church, when those times come. Thank You for Your mercy and for the opportunity to recognize You and enter into deep relationship with You. Thank You for allowing us to see that sometimes the church and the state unite and come up with decisions that do not reflect You, or Your principles of recovery.