Then the assembly rose as a body and brought Jesus before Pilate. They began to accuse him, saying, ‘We found this man perverting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to the emperor, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king.’ Then Pilate asked him, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ He answered, ‘You say so.’ Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, ‘I find no basis for an accusation against this man.’ But they were insistent and said, ‘He stirs up the people by teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to this place.’ When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. And when he learned that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him off to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had been wanting to see him for a long time, because he had heard about him and was hoping to see him perform some sign. He questioned him at some length, but Jesus gave him no answer. The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him; then he put an elegant robe on him, and sent him back to Pilate. That same day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other; before this they had been enemies.
Herod wanted to save Jesus, he wanted to see a sign that would allow him to save Jesus. But Jesus didn't play ball, he didn't give a sign, this was not a game he was entering into.
Do we enter the game? The game that society requires of us?
Do we act as if our faith is less than everything to us? Do we allow culture to overshadow Jesus in our lives? Do we play their game?
Or do we dance to Jesus' beat? Acting against injustice; standing up for equality; making a difference?
As we bask in the memory of last nights London2012 Olympic opening ceremony and all it stands for, let us stand up for peace and fairness and equality as Jesus calls us to do.
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