When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked if the Man (Jesus) were a Galilean. (7) As soon as he knew that He belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, He sent Him to Herod, who was in Jerusalem at the time. Luke 23:6-7

Passing off a problem is not handling the problem. Pilate desperately tried to hand Jesus to Herod. We can almost envision Pilate congratulating himself for getting rid of this thorny situation. Not only had he managed to pawn the problem off on someone else, it was to someone he didn’t particularly like anyway.

Some folks like to make decisions for themselves and others. They are confident in their choices. But as we have seen so many times in government… most elected and even appointed officials hate to make decisions. These folks are often spineless.  They do not wish to be blamed for anything wrong. In other words, they fear unwinnable scenarios. Doing right offers no benefit personally, because choosing “right” requires conviction. Pilate initially took a pass on Jesus…

Will Rogers said,

“You can summarize American History into two great movements: the passing of the buffalo and the passing of the buck.”

Invariably, the decision we refuse to make will come back to haunt us and ultimately define us. It didn’t take Herod long to punt Jesus back into Pilate’s court. Herod wasn’t really interested in hearing the truth or being earnest concerning Jesus’ future. Most people are not sincere listeners… to Herod Jesus was a joke.

When I was a fifteen year old directionless teenager, I too was confronted with the claims of Jesus Christ. Like Pilate and Herod, I wanted to avoid Him as well. I told myself over and over again that I would make a decision concerning the Lordship of Jesus Christ…L A T E R. In my mind procrastination was the solution. Delaying a decision was not saying “no” to the Lord. I would say “yes” at some later date. As the days, weeks, and months passed I grew sick with that decision. In fact, I eventually went to a doctor because my stomach churned. Only later did I put the two together.

Like Pilate, my decision or lack of decision was defining me. None of us can side-step Jesus Christ. He simply cannot be avoided. We like to think we make some kind spiritual compromise… but those types of choices only serve to appease ourselves. Appeasement, compromise, and apathy are destiny destroyers. In fact, we can even seek comfort from others who make the wrong choice. Notice what happened to Pilate and Herod.

¹² Now Herod and Pilate became friends with one another that very day; for before they had been enemies with each other. Luke 23:12

Just like doing right can create a bond between people… doing wrong or refusing to stand up for truth can create an unholy or ungodly alliance. These two leaders didn’t have any type of bond or agreement before this encounter with Jesus… yet look at them now.  In fact, Pilate and Herod were enemies, in competition with each other.

I used to take comfort in the fact that some of my friends hadn’t made a decision concerning Christ either. One of my friends used to tell me that he wasn’t worried about hell because as he put it, “All my rowdy friends are going to be there.” I have heard that quote about a hundred times since. Back when I was fifteen this thought brought me no comfort.

It was only after surrendering to the Lord that I realized how much Christ divides people. It is taking a stand, becoming a spiritual rebel, standing with conviction and living in truth which makes you dangerous. The world doesn’t really care until you make a decision… it is making a spiritual decision that truly defines you.

Blessings – From God’s Incubator,

Pastor