What If We're Wrong?
“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. He asked Jesus question after question, but Jesus refused to answer. Meanwhile, the leading priests and the teachers of religious law stood there shouting their accusations. Then Herod and his soldiers began mocking and ridiculing Jesus. Finally, they put a royal robe on him and sent him back to Pilate. (Herod and Pilate, who had been enemies before, became friends that day.)”
Luke 23:8-12
We have many preconceptions. We assume things about people. Many of our assumptions are wrong. Don’t be offended, realize it’s true. Our assumptions lead to misunderstandings and mistakes.
Herod is a first-rate example.
He had made assumptions about Jesus.
He’d never met Jesus. Never spoken with Him. Never heard Him speak. Herod did not know Jesus. But he had assumptions. He thought he knew Jesus.
Luke wrote that Herod was greatly pleased that Jesus was coming to him. “Because for a long time he had been wanting to see” Jesus. Now consider Herod’s reason. “He hoped to see (Jesus) Him perform some miracle.” Herod wanted to be entertained by Jesus. Herod had heard of Jesus’s miracles. Herod thought of Jesus as a kind of magician. Magicians entertain.
Jesus is not a magician.
He is King of kings. He is Lord of lords. He is the living Son of God. He is Creator of the universe. He is Savior. Standing before Herod that day Jesus knew He faced death on a cross. He died that you and I might live. As sinners we are condemned to death. But Jesus took our sins that day on the cross.
That’s why He is Savior.
Jesus did not entertain Herod. Herod was offended. He and his soldiers jeered, mocked and scorned Jesus. Because of false assumptions Herod missed the opportunity to discover the truth about Jesus.
What assumptions do we have about Jesus? Do our misconceptions about Jesus keep us from knowing who He really is? Who is Jesus, really?
Peter, one of the 12 disciples and one who spent time with Jesus, knew who Jesus was (is). Peter was an eye witness. These are his words:
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Matthew 16:16
If Herod had examined the miracles of Jesus more closely, he would have heard what the demons of Satan said when Jesus MIRACULOUSLY cast them out of demon possessed people:
“Many were possessed by demons; and the demons came out at his command, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But because they knew he was the Messiah, he rebuked them and refused to let them speak.” Luke.4.41
What if we’re wrong? We must return to the question: Do we have assumptions which keep us from believing in Jesus?
Truth sets us free.