Question: You remember the line of Herods from your studies of history, right? First, there was Herod I (a.k.a. Herod the Great) who was appointed by Rome, the empire that ruled the ancient Near East during Christ’s incarnation, life, death, burial, and resurrection). He was appointed king of the Jews by Rome. That’s a very important detail. By Rome. By human authorities, by human fiat, by human means.

Second, there was Herod Antipas, the son of Herod I. Herod Antipas governed Galilee at the same time as Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, governed Judea. Again, this was during the time of Jesus’ public ministry.

There are other Herods, of course, like Herod Philip. And there was Herod Agrippa, the grandson of Herod I. He had John the Baptist beheaded for telling the truth. But for now, I want you to just concentrate on Herod I briefly, one of his sons, Herod Antipas, and Pontius Pilate.

Two Incidents: At least two glaring incidents are remembered in world history and church history involving these two Herods.

First, look with me at Luke 23:6-16. Why? Because this is one of the most significant conversations in history. This is where God the Son, Jesus Christ, is hauled before Pontius Pilate and Herod Antipas in order to see what the kingdoms of men plan to do with Him (Jesus).

The Setting of Luke 23: Here was Jesus, God incarnate, who had been doing miracles, saving people, restoring sight to the blind, healing leprosy, casting out demons, causing the lame to walk, rebuking the demonic spirits, forgiving sinful women and men, welcoming children to his kingdom, etc. and revealing Himself to be the promised Messiah, the Holy One of God.

But all this goodness was rather upsetting to the kingdoms of men. Why? Because the kingdoms of men hate truth, hate God, and aim to enthrone man as king.

When Christ came, He revealed all that. When you study the lives of Herod Antipas and Pilate, you see men that were consumed by hunger for the applause of men, with their own comfort, with their own power. Truth, after all, the innocence of Jesus, for example, could not be admitted. Why? Because that would change everything. The political thing to do would be to try and wash one’s hands of truth, acting as if it would not affect oneself or others, and aim to return to business as usual.

Pilate admitted he could find no fault in Christ (Luke 23:14). Herod admitted he found no fault in Jesus either (Luke 23:15). And so Jesus was released back to the mob of Jews crying for Jesus’ crucifixion.

And when you get to verses 18-25 of Luke 23, they are some of the most heartbreaking in world history. Why? Because we see mobs screaming for violence against innocence:

¹⁸ But they all cried out together, “Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas”— ¹⁹ a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder. ²⁰ Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, ²¹ but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” ²² A third time he said to them, “Why? What evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him.” ²³ But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. ²⁴ So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. ²⁵ He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will.

Don’t Miss This: Why is this incident crucial in world history? Because it reveals the heart of sinners and the character of God.

Christ was and is King, but the world hates that truth. So the world system, here personified by the mobs of screaming Jews, by Pilate, by Herod Antipas, by sinners, hates that truth. They hate God. They are not neutral or impartial or somehow ambivalent. No, they hate God. This is the clear testimony of history and of Scripture:

⁵ For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. ⁶ For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. ⁷ For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. ⁸ Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8:5-8 ESV)

That was Paul in Romans. But it’s the same teaching as Jesus gave in John’s gospel:

⁴² Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. ⁴³ Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. ⁴⁴ You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. ⁴⁵ But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. ⁴⁶ Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? ⁴⁷ Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.” (John 8:42-47 ESV)

The fact that sinners deny this only reinforces the truth, namely, that sinners hate God, the truth of God, the ways of God, because the idea of spiritual neutrality is a damnable lie.

This is why we must be in Scripture. That’s the authority. Not the preaching of men. We are only wise teachers insofar as we rightly divide Scripture. If our eyes are not in the text of Scripture, we need to be discerning and courageous enough to admit that error and return to Scripture.

So we saw how Herod Antipas and Pilate responded when the King of kings was in their midst. And violence, murder, and demonic mobs continued to slaughter.

The Pattern of Militarism: This week, I have been saddened by the latest Islamic terrorizing militarism in Gaza. Babies have been stabbed by the terrorists. Mothers have been raped. Children have been gunned down. Bodies of Jews have been dragged in the streets. Boys and girls and women have been burned alive. And the terrorists post it on social media for all to see.

Why does this happen? Because unless and until men and women embrace the once-for-all sacrifice of the God-man, Jesus Christ, they will continue to steal, kill, and destroy and labor to erect kingdoms built upon lies.

What sets Christianity apart is the good news (εὐαγγέλιον, the evangelion) that “Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:6 ESV).

Romans 3:9-20 is, in my view, the clearest example of how the kingdom of God distinguishes itself from the militaristic kingdoms of men:

⁹ What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, ¹⁰ as it is written:

“None is righteous, no, not one;
¹¹     no one understands;
    no one seeks for God.
¹² All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
    no one does good,
    not even one.”
¹³ “Their throat is an open grave;
    they use their tongues to deceive.”
“The venom of asps is under their lips.”
¹⁴     “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.”
¹⁵ “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
¹⁶     in their paths are ruin and misery,
¹⁷ and the way of peace they have not known.”
¹⁸     “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

¹⁹ Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. ²⁰ For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. (Romans 3:9-20 ESV)

Encouragement: World history is, among other things, the record of what spiritual warfare looks like when it is played out via the actions of men. Ideas, in other words, have consequences. Demonic ideas result in demonic activity. Godly ideas result in godly activity. Darkness differs from light, because it hates the light. Satan, the prince of darkness, hates Jesus, the light of the world (John 8:12 ESV).

The same warfare that faced Herods, and Pilates, and the mobs of screaming Jews demanding the crucifixion of God in the flesh–that same spiritual warfare runs through our hearts and minds, too. And we are either part of the mobs of darkness, bloody with stones, scepters, and spears, or we are welcomed in by the Good Shepherd, who died in our place, so that He might forgive us sinners, ransom us sinners, reconcile us sinners, and show us that the kingdom of heaven suffers violence because we so often think politics and militarism will solve our problems. They won’t; only God in Christ is big enough for that.