March 24

And Herod with his men of war set him at nought and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.—Luke 23:11.

PILATE, discovering that Jesus belonged to the jurisdiction of Herod, sent him unto him, who happened to be at Jerusalem at that time. It seems that Herod had long desired to see the far-famed Jesus, and therefore was exceedingly glad that he was now before him. Herod's desire was merely owing to curiosity, expecting that Jesus would do some miracle before him. Jesus not gratifying this desire, Herod, instead of righteously judging of the case before him, merely asked him a number of idle questions, to which the blessed Saviour answered nothing. Fearing that Herod might follow Pilate's example, the chief priests and scribes stood by, and vehemently accused Christ. What a scene of blindness and malignant infatuation! Herod's heart quite accorded with the Saviour's enemies; therefore, instead of judging Christ, it is left on record that "Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him." "They set him at nought," that is, they made nothing of him — considered him utterly too base and worthless for their consideration. They mocked him — no doubt taunted him with his profession — ridiculed his pretentions — laughed at his claims—dared him to exert his power—treated him as a madman, and as a fool. They also arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, some old tattered robe, which formerly might have decorated royalty, they put upon his person, that he might become the public object of ridicule, contempt, and scorn. Thus it had been predicted how the kings of the earth and the rulers should set themselves against the Lord and his anointed.—Psalms 2:2. Jesus having patiently endured the indignities of Herod, is again dismissed, and sent to Pilate, even Herod, with all his baseness, and hatred, and scorn, finding nothing in him worthy of death.