Luke 23:8-11 8 Herod was delighted at the opportunity to see Jesus, because he had heard about him and had been hoping for a long time to see him perform a miracle. 9 He asked Jesus question after question, but Jesus refused to answer. 10Meanwhile, the leading priests and the teachers of religious law stood there shouting their accusations. 11 Then Herod and his soldiers began mocking and ridiculing Jesus. Finally, they put a royal robe on him and sent him back to Pilate.
People go to the zoo to see some of their favorite animals that would otherwise only be seen in the wild. Like the lion, except that you might not want to see a lion on the wild. Sometimes the lions at the zoo are inside sleeping and you can’t get a good view. How dare they? Don’t they know I paid good money to see them. That’s it! I want my money back; I didn’t get to see the lions! How easily we forget that the lions, monkeys, and seahorses are not just a spectacle; they are life. In their minds, they exist for more than just show. (Except for the monkeys, maybe.)
Jesus wasn’t a monkey and he certainly wasn’t here to be a spectacle. His ministry was not a zoo and he wasn’t trying to impress. But Herod had always wanted to meet Jesus for those exact reasons. He didn’t want to hear his message, he just wanted to see a miracle. He was hoping for a David Copperfield. And when he didn’t get it, he mocked and ridiculed Jesus. He rejected him completely.
So many people are just like Herod. They have heard about Jesus and might even been impressed with the stories they have heard about him. They would love to see one of his magic tricks. They would love to see him do something miraculous. They will travel the world chasing the signs and wonders that follow a revival. Yet they won’t apply His message to their lives. They won’t accept his free gift of grace and forgiveness. They won’t embrace the freedom found in obedience and discover the everyday miracles of a true follower of Jesus. But I hope you will. I hope that He becomes more than a miracle man to you. I pray He becomes your everything: your savior, your Lord, your peace, and your life.
Extraordinary Jeni 