The Curious One

While Pilate wanted no part of Jesus, the Word tells us, "When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had been wanting to see Him for a long time, because he had heard about Him and was hoping to see Him perform some sign."  (Luke 23:8)  Herod was basically just curious about Jesus.  For Herod, Jesus was an entertaining diversion in the midst of a boring life.  But, Jesus proved to be such a disappointment.  Jesus would not answer his questions.  He just stood there in silence, looking at him and others who saw themselves as being the ones with all the power.  When the sport of it all ceased to be fun, Herod simply got rid of Him by sending Him back to Pilate.

 

Jesus had seen others like Herod.  All along he way there were those driven by curiosity and their desire to see Him do a trick or two.  And, also along the way were those who looked down on Him with the contempt belonging to one addicted to power.  Jesus knew their kind.  Sign seekers always need a greater and bigger sign and power brokers never have enough.  If getting more power requires destroying others, it is done without a second thought.  Such is the way of the world.

 

The world is full of people who are never satisfied and always needing more.  Not being able to be content is the symptom of the their spiritual malady.  This spiritual discontentment drives us to the bigger and better spirit upon which is built many churches.  At the same time it feeds the needs of many preachers and church leaders as they strive for greater and greater control over bigger and better churches.  There was really nothing Jesus could have said to Herod.  Herod was one of those who had no ears to hear truth.  He wanted his eyes tickled and his eyes amazed.  Like another ruler, his heart had been hardened.  Discontent does that to a person.  Let us pray our heart shows no symptom of such a spiritual disease.