Luke 23:6-9
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.
Luke 23:6-9
My first experience of traveling abroad was a sightseeing trip to England. I planned thoroughly in advance in order to make efficient and effective use of my time. Late one afternoon after a long day in London, I made my way to Westminster Abbey, the home of every English coronation since that of William the Conqueror on Christmas Day in 1066 and a site of Christian worship since 960.
Ready to behold the graves of princes and poets, to see the coronation chair, and to study the architecture, I stepped up to the docent stand to be admitted only to learn I had just missed the last tour. I would have return another day unless, as the docent encouraged, I wanted to remain for evensong, the Church of England’s evening service of Scripture reading and prayer.
Knowing I did not have the time to return the next day, I decided to stay for worship. I stood in line with other pilgrims waiting to be ushered to a seat. Though late for the tour, I was early for worship and secured a prime seat on the back row of the choir, behind two rows of young choristers whose voices blended with those of the angels to wed heaven and earth for a few moments that evening.
It was an overwhelming experience. I was freed from the notion of encountering the abbey for what it could offer me as a tourist and invited to encounter the abbey through its intended purpose. And to think I almost missed a chance to worship my Savior because I was consumed with my itinerary. Those chances to worship come not merely with the rhythm of each Lord’s Day, but through our redemption of the ordinary and the common elements of life as opportunities to do everything unto the Lord.
The day begins. The kids’ uniforms didn’t make it to the dryer the night before. The dog relieved himself on the carpet in the night. The decision to fuel up the car on the way to work today rather than on the way home yesterday proves to be unwise because now we’ll never make it to school and work on time. We’ve been up for just under an hour and we’re already two behind.
The day ends. Determined to avoid a third drive-thru dinner for the week, we make a mental assessment of the pantry and freezer, hoping to pull dinner together without a trip to the grocery store. We open the microwave to thaw our favorite protein only to discover the coffee we reheated three times this morning yet never drank. Email notifications alert us to the challenges that will face us at work tomorrow.
In the midst of reacting to life, will we fail to respond to Jesus who is in our midst? Will we miss an opportunity to give thanks in everything? Will our prayers cease to exist? As our day fills up with sorrow and sighing, will we fail to be filled with the Spirit? We must consider those questions because if we do not we are no better than Herod, who was very glad to see Jesus because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him.
Pilate had Jesus hauled before Herod, hoping to rid himself of the crisis of conviction raging in his soul. This was an opportunity for Herod to receive the kingdom of God—God’s powerful rule and reign—into his life by worshiping this Jesus his father had sought to destroy. But Herod looked at this encounter with Jesus not for what he could give, but for what he could get. He wanted to be entertained. He wanted to see a miracle, a wonder, a sign performed in his midst. Jesus was a sideshow and Herod had a ticket of admission.
Herod squandered his chance to worship Jesus.
Will you?