S) " 12 Now Herod and Pilate became friends with one another that very day; for before they had been enemies with each other."
Luke 23:12 (NASB)
O) During the trial of Jesus, Pilate heard that Jesus was a Galilean, he knew then that the case the Jews had against Him would actually be under the jurisdiction of Herod (see vv.6-7). This is how Herod became involved. Although it seemed that Pilate initially had no real malice toward Jesus, it is easy to see that Herod might have (see v.11 and Luke 13:31). So, what we see is a man who quite contemptuous of Jesus, befriending a man who had only a mild opinion of Jesus.
A) This is, unfortunately, still the case. When a person has a mild opinion of who Jesus is, or even what Christianity stands for, they will find themselves siding more often than not, with those who treat Christianity with contempt and hate Christ. Jesus said, "He who is not with Me is against Me;" (Matthew 12:30) and this plays out, even today. First, I need to acclimate myself to that reality. If a person is not following Jesus, then it is likely they are listening to, hanging alongside, bonding with, people who have expressed hatred toward Jesus and Christianity. Second, my aim should not be to engage and combat the "Herods" of the world, but to seek out and befriend the "Pilates" of the world. There is a large group of people who are "okay" with the existence of Jesus and Christianity, but choose not to follow it. That may be (at least in part) because most of what they are hearing about who Jesus is and what His disciples believe, is coming from people who hate Jesus and Christians alike. There will always be people like Herod. Jesus said people will hate me because they hate Him. I cannot change that. Instead, I should focus on loving the people like Pilate, who need to hear the truth about Jesus and Christianity.
P) Father, I don't want to waste Your time. I don't want to spin my wheels, fighting against people and their opinions, when it will never bear fruit. I know there have been plenty of people throughout the Bible and history, who have been called to speak the truth in the face of futility, just like Jeremiah. And Lord, let Your will be done. But, I also want to seek out, and focus on, people who will actually hear the gospel. Open my eyes to see when a person needs to hear the truth of the gospel, not just the slander that society may have fed them. I know people will always unite in their rebellion against You, but I also know that Your grace will pierce even the hardest of hearts. May the Holy Spirit reach the depths of my family and close friends. Let me start there, with sharing the truth of who Jesus is, and what it means to be a Christian. Bring salvation to my family and friends, Lord. Open their eyes and ears, and soften their hearts to the gospel. Be glorified in my life. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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