The King and I Am

2. The King and I Am Luke 23:8-12

3. Who is this Herod? • He is Herod Antipas, ruler of Galilee. • He is known to be an adulterer by taking as a wife his niece Herodias. • As a Roman tetrarch, Herod had no “Kingdom” to give. • Was he right and his actions justifiable? • Prov. 18:21 • James 3:6-10 • Rom 1:18-32

4. Jesus’ comment on that occasion was revealing for it was the only time he had shown “contempt” for any single individual (Luke 13:31,32) Some have suggested that Jesus’ use of this expression is hard to reconcile with Exodus 22:28; Ecclesiastes 10:20; and Acts 23:5

5. Prophets, speaking as mouthpieces of God, and with divine authority, were often commissioned to rebuke leaders publicly. (Isaiah 1:23; Ezek.22:27; Hosea 7:3-7; Zeph.3:3) Since Jesus spoke with perfect divine authority, He had every right to speak of Herod in such terms.

6. Jesus wasn’t afraid of Herod. His use of the expression today, tomorrow, and the third day signified only that Christ was on His own divine timetable. • John 10:17,18 • Herod had to learn that assassination was not in the Father’s plan and purpose for His Son. • Acts 4: 27-28 • God had purposed it.

7. The king was excited at the prospect of seeing Jesus. Perhaps he would perform a miracle in front of him (Luke 23:8). Herod’s desire to meet Jesus was on that level: a wish to be entertained. John MacArthur writes: There are quite a significant number of churches who have fallen to a false gospel of self-esteem. No longer do they preach the true gospel which is a call to self-denial, rather their message is a call to self–fulfilment. They view Jesus as a utilitarian genie.

8. 2 Tim. 3:1-7 • 2 Tim 3:10-12 • Yes, expect persecution. All those who desire to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. • vv.13-15 • The fox (Herod) wanting to outdo the eagle (Pilate) received a silent treatment from the Lamb (Jesus).It was an ominous silence.

9. Gen. 36: 1 • Gen 36: 9 • Gen. 25: 29-34 • Numbers 20: 14-21 • Romans 9: 13 says, As it is written, Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated. This is quoted from Mal.1: 2,3 • Gen. 33 • The cup of God’s wrath, Edom will drink from it continually till no survivors shall remain of the house of Esau (Obadiah 1-21).

10. Nothing produces rage from bullies more than a dignified silence. • Prov. 17: 27-28 • Prov. 10:19 • The truth of the matter is this: Herod and the crowd were thinking that Jesus would put on a show, or so they thought, but it was actually them who were part of the Circus as clowns in full view by the Majesty in heaven.

11. Now, in one of history’s great ironies, the son of a king had the man born to be King at his mercy. Mockery is the coward’s last resort (Luke 23: 11). Unwittingly in their mockery of the Lord of glory, the mere dressing of Jesus with a brilliant robe deserving only of a king was God’s orchestration to show that truly Jesus is King.

12. Gal. 6: 14,17 • Heb. 3: 7-19 • He who had known eternal purity in the highest, was now the target of impure humanity at its lowest. He who had experienced exquisite and eternal love as God the Son was now subjected to vile hatred among the godless (John 17: 24). • Phil. 2: 6-8

13. The Messianic King-Priest saw the irony in all as the Herodian king and Jewish high priest encouraged the obscenity (Zech. 6:13). The crowd who claimed to be Abraham’s descendants belittles the one who claimed “before Abraham, I am.”

14. Jesus had failed to stimulate the excitement as He endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself (Heb. 12: 3). He had been abused at the hands of the Jews, the Romans and now the Herodians. He is rightfully the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, the Great I am.