Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/721

 Herod was  glad  to  see  Jesus,  of  whom  he  had  heard  many wonderful things. He hoped  to  witness  some  great  miracle. When Jesus was  brought  before  him  he  asked  many  questions,  prompted by idle  curiosity. But our  Lord,  knowing  his  motive,  made  no answer  to  any  of  his  questions. Then Herod  and  his  court  mocked Jesus, and  treated  Him  as  a fool,  and,  clothing  Him  in  a white garment, sent  Him  back  to  Pilate. And “Herod  and  Pilate  were made friends  that  same  day,  for  before  they  were  enemies  one to another.”

The Love  of  Jesus.  Contemplate  Jesus  led  about  from  one  judgmentseat  to  the  other,  from  Annas  to  Caiphas,  from  Caiphas  to  Pilate,  from Pilate to  Herod,  and  from  Herod  back  again  to  Pilate;  how  much  He suffered  from  false  accusations,  scoffs,  mockery  and  ill-treatment,  and then remember  that  He  suffered  all  this  for  love  of  you,  and  to  make satisfaction for  your  sins,  whereby  you  have  despised  and  offended  God.

Jesus suffered  patiently, and  has  taught  us  by  His  example  that  we too  should  be  ready  patiently  to  suffer  scorn  and  persecution  for  His sake, for  faith  and  for  virtue.

Jesus suffered  undeservedly.  The  traitor  Judas  was  not  the  only one to  affirm  his  Lord’s  innocence. The Roman  governor  openly  declared: “I  find  no  cause  in  this  Man”;  neither  could  Herod  discover any guilt  in  Jesus,  although  the  chief  priests  and  scribes  “earnestly accused Him”;  and  not  being  able  to  condemn  Him,  he  treated  Him