Who is Jesus like? Vv. 9-12- He did not give any response to those who slandered him and gave false testimony; he did not perform a miracle to King Herod who hoped to see one, and he did not resist the soldiers who looked down on him and ridiculed him. He only kept going to the cross and focused on doing the work of God. The way of a disciple is not something nice and wonderful that others will be envious about. Rather, it is a road full of hardship and thorns where you can do nothing with your own strength. But just as Jesus showed, denying yourself and being obedient is the way to life and glory.
What lesson is God teaching me? Vv. 1-5- The crowd that was hired by the elders accused Jesus of three things: he subverted the nation, opposed paying taxes to Caesar and claimed to be the Christ, a king. None of this was true. They knew about what was written in the Ten Commandments strictly prohibiting false witness (Ex 20:16; Dt 19:18, 19), but greed covered their eyes.
V. 11- Herod dressed Jesus in an elegant robe and mocked him. But this suffering was already shown through the experience of the transfiguration and reminds us that after suffering there is a promise of glory (9:29). And just as how the angels who were wearing clothes that “gleamed like lighting” after the resurrection of Jesus suggests (24:4), after this suffering we can see that glory is waiting for Jesus. Let us trust in God’s wisdom and power that turns the wisdom of the world into foolishness and not turn away from the hardships we face today on account of the Lord.
Help me to remember Jesus who took off the clothes of glory and put on the clothes of suffering.
