Read or listen to these thoughts from Bishop Alastair
But Jesus remains silent. There can be no real communication between human politics based upon evidence of added value, and the mysterious power of a citizenship based upon sacrifice of self, and putting faith, hope and love before intellectual understanding.
This localised, popular approach is acted out in the second stage of the trial of politics – Jesus being put on trial by another king - Herod. This is the account in our text from Luke.
Two worlds and two languages are unable to connect, because of the driving selfconfidence of Herod’s political leadership in dominating the agenda.
Herod represents politics as localised, and as based upon experience and evidence. He is a person like many in the west today, intelligent, self-satisfied, well-off, mildly interested in religion, able to order much of his life as he chooses. His main interest is in the latest sensation – in this case the phenomenon of Jesus. Political responsibility is exercised by asking for evidence to substantiate the claims he thinks that Jesus is making in His use of the language of kingship. In the memorable words coined by Tim Rice in the pop opera Jesus Christ Superstar, Herod in effect says to Jesus, ‘prove to me that you’re no fool, walk across my swimming pool’, an echo of the miracle of walking on the water, but as a personalised sign for this particular audience. Politics in this mode will only support things that ‘add value’ to what we already have – in a demonstrable way.
The contribution of the chief Priests and scribes is equally nervous and partisan condemnation. This is a ‘trial’ with no examination of the issues, simply a continuation of the defensive choice to maintain the status quo which has been formed between political and religious leaders. Both the political and the religious ‘trial’ is instant - no space for reflection or receiving anything new- the tenor of engagement is mocking and humiliating the One who is different. This is the classic form of humour in politics. Yet neither Pilate nor Herod find Jesus guilty. Politics has been on trial and found wanting. However, politics is willing to tolerate this funny ‘king’ - even if He needs to be contained by being mocked and marginalised.
Herod also questions Jesus at some length. He is interested in the agenda of a new kingdom.
Group discussion The Herod mentioned here is Herod Antipas who ruled as a Tetrarch – a word which suggests a group of four leaders, each given a particular territory (tetra is four in Greek). These are mentioned in Luke 3.1. Antipas had seen a series of Roman governors, of which Pilate was one; take over from his brother Archelaus as ruler of the biggest part of his father’s kingdom when it was divided up. His stepbrother Philip was also a Tetrarch. The other Tetrarch Lysanias was not Herodian. What do you think this situation added to or detracted from Herod Antipas’s ability to rule?
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