| We all go through difficult periods in our lives, but if you | | | | truth of God. |
| are going through tough times, Jesus Christ | | | | How humiliating this is for Herod, so he turned nasty. |
| understands. Each of us needs to know this | | | | Does all this sound quite familiar? We meet this type |
| thoroughly. | | | | of thing today. Herod was so enraged that he mocked |
| Turn to Luke's Gospel in the New Testament. In Luke | | | | Christ, and encouraged his men to do the same. |
| Chapter 23 the whole united assembly march Jesus | | | | All this has been going on for some time now. From |
| Christ off across town from the House of Caiaphas | | | | the table to the Garden of Gethsemane, to Caiaphas's |
| the High Priest,to Roman Governor Pilate. | | | | house, to Pilate, and now Herod, and these draining |
| There is an array of false charges and when they | | | | hours drag on. |
| cannot get Jesus on one charge they changes the | | | | Try to imagine what Jesus Christ was enduring in |
| charge. In verse 5 the charges change again. | | | | every area of His humanity. |
| Now, these men are becoming annoyed and rattled, | | | | If you are going through challenging days, Jesus Christ |
| and they are becoming fiercer. | | | | understands. That has been a comfort to thousands |
| They say that Jesus is a troublemaker who is stirring | | | | down through the generations. |
| up the people and upsetting everyone everywhere | | | | Jesus is so poised and so manly - so in control and so |
| with his teaching. | | | | silent. |
| As soon as Pilate hears the word Galilee, he says, O | | | | It is to those who repent that Jesus speaks, and |
| Jesus is from Galilee? It is Herod who deals with | | | | no-one wants to repent in this situation. And, Jesus |
| criminals from Galilee. That is his region. You have | | | | does not challenge their sin. |
| come to the wrong department. Go to Herod. Does all | | | | We might want to say, "Now don't go too far - don't |
| this sound familiar? Today's modern bureaucracy is | | | | go over the score." On this occasion Jesus does not |
| not all that modern. And Jesus is sent from one | | | | intervene. He appears to let wickedness have its evil |
| weakling to another. | | | | way and that is another area where we can have real |
| Verse 8. Herod was glad to see Jesus, for all the | | | | difficulties. There is a time to speak out and a time to |
| wrong reasons. It was as if he wanted to be | | | | remain silent. We cannot answer and deal with and |
| entertained. He wanted Jesus Christ to do one of his | | | | resolve all the sin which confronts us every day. There |
| tricks! He wanted to see Jesus perform some miracle. | | | | are situations we just have to leave to Almighty God. |
| Herod was not interested in Jesus as Saviour and | | | | If you are facing various sore and painful challenges, |
| Lord. | | | | Jesus Christ understands. |
| Jesus would not answer. Jesus would not perform. | | | | He has been through it all and He has emerged |
| Jesus refused to cast pearls before swine. Jesus | | | | victorious having conquered even the sting of death! |
| would only minister to those who were open to the | | | | |