For He Had Long Desired

When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. And when he learned that he belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him. So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer. The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other. (Luke 23:6-12)

In this section, we read of a courtroom type drama that wasn’t about justice at all. Jesus stood before rulers and religious elites, not to receive a fair trial, but to be passed off, mocked, and mishandled. Each person in this passage had the opportunity to respond rightly to the Son of God – yet each chose selfishness instead.

Didn’t Seek Justice

Pilate didn’t seek justice, he sought convenience. When he realized Jesus was from Galilee, he immediately saw a way to get this uncomfortable situation off his plate. By sending Jesus to Herod, Pilate thought he could wash his hands of the matter with no investigation and no courage to stand for truth. It was just an opportunity to shift responsibility and avoid dealing with the weight of the decision.

Herod didn’t seek justice, he sought entertainment. When Jesus was brought before him, Herod was glad – not because he longed to hear truth, but because he hoped for a show. Some miracle, some sign, basically something flashy. But Jesus refused to perform and He had nothing to prove to a man who had no intention of listening.

The chief priests and scribes didn’t seek justice, they sought their own agenda. They only cared about eliminating the threat to their power and influence; the influence and status among the people that they had worked so hard to build, and Jesus disrupted that. So instead of humbling themselves and acknowledging the Messiah, they stirred up false accusations and manipulated the system to preserve their own status.

And the soldiers? They didn’t seek justice either. They joined in the mockery. Jesus, innocent and silent, became their punchline. They dressed Him in royal robes, not to honor Him, but to humiliate Him. It was sport. It was just another way to pass the time and feel superior.

Jesus Brings People Together

And in a twisted irony, we read that “Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other.” How did their friendship begin? Through the selfish handling of Jesus. Their unity was not built on truth or justice – it was built on sin.

Jesus brings people together. For some, He is the Cornerstone upon which a community of grace and truth is built with sinners saved by mercy, are sharpening one another and growing together in faith. But for others, He is a threat or an inconvenience, and their shared mishandling of Him becomes the glue that binds them in sin.

So we must ask ourselves: What do we desire when we see Jesus?

When we come to church, are we coming to worship the Living God – or to be entertained by the worship team and the pastor’s witty humor during a sermon? When we interact with fellow believers, do we sharpen one another and walk in accountability – or do we stroke one another’s egos and build relationships around comfort and self-preservation?

I pray that we would n