Let the godly sing for joy to the Lord;
….it is fitting for the pure to praise him. Psalm 33:1 NLT
Luke 23:6-12 (<<click here to read the passage)
At some point in time, we have all probably had a boss or supervisor who thought more highly of themselves than they were due. They may have lusted for the power of leadership. They may even have wielded the power of leadership…but they were never true leaders. People followed, not due to admiration or because of a deep desire to please them but usually out of fear of punishment if they did not toe the line in strict obedience.
Herod Antipas was cut from the same cloth. First, he wasn’t the first one chosen to fill the shoes of his father. Older brothers – and there were several of them – stood in line before him but they were all scoundrels and eliminated themselves ultimately leaving the vacancy for Antipas to fill.
No matter how big he saw himself he was a minor player both historically and Biblically. He played a role in the death of John the Baptist but only because he boxed himself into a corner after his daughter performed a dance that greatly pleased Herod and his guests (Mark 6:22) at a party he hosted. He vowed,
“I will give you whatever you ask, up to half my kingdom!” v23 NLT
When she returned (after being prompted by her mother) asking for John’s head on a platter, Antipas was deeply grieved, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests [who might have regarded him as weak], he was unwilling to [break his word and] refuse her. v26 AMP
He was weak…and small.
In today’s passage, Antipas’ interaction shows beyond a doubt that he is no leader, only a man pursuing his own interests and entertainment.
Before him stands Jesus himself and his response? He was delighted because he’d been hoping for a long time to see him perform a miracle. He asked Jesus question after question, but Jesus refused to answer. v8, 9
When he didn’t get what he wanted (spoiled brat that he was) he and his soldiers began mocking and ridiculing Jesus. Finally, they put a royal robe on him and sent him back to Pilate. v11
People call him king but even that was a lie…he ruled over just a small corner of Israel, nothing more. He was small and proved himself so. Eventually, he ended up getting himself exiled amid accusations of conspiracy against the powers that be in Rome, dying there small and dejected until the very end…the smallest of “kings”.
Humility goes a long way in God’s Kingdom. As Proverbs 16:18 tells us,
Pride goes before destruction
….and haughtiness before a fall. NLT
Lord Jesus, may we never think of ourselves more highly than we ought. May our weakness but find strength in You alone. And may our smallness but enhanced by Your might. May our goal be to follow You with the utmost respect and reverence. You will care and watch over us. We need not fear. Amen.
Jan 3rd, 2021, Sun, 4:34 pm
