To Speak or not

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF LUKE

TO SPEAK OR NOT

Luke 23:5-12

5 But they insisted, "He stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here." 6 On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean. 7 When he learned that Jesus was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time. 8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform some miracle. 9 He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10 The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. 11 Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate. 12 That day Herod and Pilate became friends — before this they had been enemies.

NIV

Isn’t like the world to want to see a miracle even though they do not believe in Jesus. Herod only wanted to see a magic show, a miracle from Jesus. He had no intent or desire to hear any truths, or for what purpose Jesus was doing all he had been doing. Yes, we are told he asked him many questions. But those questions had to be to prompt Jesus to do a miracle to gratify the curiosity of Herod. He had more than enough opportunity to see Jesus in action when he was in Galilee, but did not take the time to seek Jesus out. Now that he has been presented with him, he now wants to see him do a miracle. We know that Jesus never refused to meet the needs of the poor, even the beggars. He did miracle after miracle for those who had need, yet as he stands before Herod, he remains silent, doing not one thing, to simply gratify the curiosity of this man. When Herod was not satisfied, when he could not have his desires fulfilled he turned to ridicule and mocking. This is how the world is today. Although they do not believe, they want us to prove Jesus is real. Would a miracle have converted Herod? Would he have become a disciple of Jesus simply by some sign or wonder? We have not been told, but by the context of the text, we can be sure Herod never asked Jesus why God sent him here or what was his purpose for being here, or doing all the things he had heard that Jesus did. It may also be that the reason people want us to prove Jesus is real is so they can disprove what we say. Why would Jesus do a miracle for someone who does not desire to hear what he has to say, or recognize that he is who he is? Jesus did miracles for those who are seeking him, but for Herod nothing, because Herod was not seeking Jesus. Today he still does miracles for those who are truly seeking him. This man is a prime example of that. Seeking the truth about life, about death, about eternal life and finding the truth, finding Jesus because of his miraculous power at work to prove he is who he says he is, then seeking his every spoken and inspired word recorded for me to ingest into my being. Herod had no such desires, so Jesus remained silent. This may well hold true for people today. If they only want to have their curiosity answered, Jesus might just remain silent, but if people are really seeking to find the truth, he will display his mighty power in their lives. It may well be that we need to express this in our witness for Christ, showing the unbeliever, who, by the Spirit's gift of discernment, we know is a true seeker. We can ask a healing for the sick, seek help for the needy, openly so they can know it is Jesus who has done this for them. Our faith in Christ should be put into action. Yes, because of the knowledge given to us by the Spirit, there may be times we need to remain silent, as Jesus did before Herod. But there are times when we should act, when a miracle is needed to bring someone seeking the answers to life, death, and eternal life, to Jesus. No one that mocks God is seeking. We see that in Herod. But those who want to live, that are seekers, such as men like Nicodemus and Zacchaeus, Jesus does what he does best, sees into their hearts and answers their need. Jesus is not speechless for those who seek him, but to Herod, not a word. Jesus knows when to speak and when not to. By the power of the Spirit we should do the same.