Some had seen him…and he was all they could talk about.
Was he everything the people said he was?
Did he really heal people?
Did he really feed People? …Did he really offer wisdom like that of one of the prophets of old? Was he really “that charismatic?”
Did he “really” offer forgiveness?
This Jesus I tell you was becoming a bit of a rock star. People could not get enough of him.
And of course, word had reached Herod.
Everybody knew it would…it was just a matter of time…
This is not Herod the Great mind you, but rather, Herod the Tetrarch (his son)…also known as being Herod Antipater. (The ruler of one quarter.) He was also known as being the “puppet king.”
Herod ruled over Galilee and Perea as a “client state” of the Roman Empire. Talk about your collusion! This guy was caught up in the thick of things…
He was responsible for building projects at Sepphoris and Betharamphtha, and more important for the construction of his capital Tiberius on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. Named in honor of his patron, the emperor Tiberius, the city later became a center of “rabbinic learning.”
To say that he was hated and despised is to say virtually nothing about the man.
He is also the guy directly responsible for the decapitation of John the Baptizer.
The Gospel of Luke tells us that Jesus was first brought before Pontius Pilate for trial, since Pilate was the governor of Roman Judea, which encompassed Jerusalem where Jesus was arrested.
But then, surprisingly Pilate handed Jesus over to Antipas, in whose territory Jesus had been most active, but in yet another surprise move, Antipas sent him back to Pilate’s court.
But I am getting “way” ahead of myself!
So what we have before us – is Herod threatening Jesus…
In another surprise move, it is the Pharisees of all people who come to warn Jesus of the danger ahead…
But Jesus ain’t scared of no Tetrarch. He will not be deterred by idle threats.
But the message was heeded, kind of… it would be better for Jesus if he left Herod’s jurisdiction, which he would ultimately do…
But only on his own timeline, following his own schedule…not on anybody else’s.
Herod has no bearing on him…
As a matter of fact it has been recorded throughout history, that Jesus urged the Pharisees to “go and tell that fox” that he’ll be on his merry way doing his job, exorcizing and healing…and only after a few days more, will he consider—continuing on into Judea.
He is the maker of his own fate. His life is in God’s hands…
Jesus truly believes that it is his destiny to die where all the prophets die. And it is precisely all this talk about Jerusalem that provokes Jesus to lament over the fate of this city.
She kills the prophets.
She stones those who are sent to her.
But Jesus loves this city. It is the city of God. His temple is located here. It is here that the faithful come…
If he could, Jesus would give the city of Jerusalem a big old hug, like a hen gathers her brood under her wings…But Jerusalem will have none of it.
Jerusalem for all of its beauty and for all of its splendor, it has been corrupted. Corrupted by the Romans. Corrupted by the High Priesthood. Corrupted by the priests and scribes. Corrupted by the Pharisees and Sadducees. Corrupted by the likes of King Herod and Pontius Pilate.
It was a credible enough threat. Threats like temptations came from many corners…
Jesus would be unfazed, undeterred, unruffled and nonchalant about the threat.
Just who did Herod think he was anyhow? Why Herod is nothing, compared to God! So Jesus continued on… “his way!”