Pilate and Herod became friends

There is a scripture in the book of Luke that has always intrigued me:

That day Herod and Pilate became friends;

Before this they had been enemies (Luke 23:12, NIV).

The setting for this verse is during Jesus’ trial. When Jesus was arrested he was brought before Pilate. Pilate did not want to be guilty of condemning Jesus so he sent him to Herod. The ploy did not work because Herod, finding that Jesus was under Pilate’s jurisdiction, returned him to Pilate. Right in the middle of this drama and political circus something remarkable happens: Herod and Pilate’s long term feud was halted and they became friends.

In this verse I believe we see the essence of why Jesus came. He came to heal our broken relationships. First off, Jesus came to heal mankind’s broken relationship with God. Since the garden of Eden men have been at odds with God. Jesus came to heal this breach  through the atoning sacrifice of His blood.

As a consequence of man’s broken relationship with his God, humans also suffer from broken relationships with one another. We hear heartbreaking stories of family members that will not speak to one another. Long time friends allow a slight to separate their friendship. I have even heard of fellow church members taking one another to court instead of working out their own issues as Paul instructed (I Corinthians 6).

All of these things show us just how broken our relationships can become. We are all human and have all hurt been hurt and hurt others. We even inflict pain on our own selves at times. We humans are a pitiful lot without the help of God. Yet all is not lost. This Christmas season we celebrate the fact that God came into the world, wrapped in the body of his Son, Jesus Christ, to save us from our sin. Along with the healing for our sins I believe his sacrifice also paved the way for broken relationships to be restored. If two Roman politicians could have their friendship restored while they were plotting to crucify Jesus how much more could God do for his children.

Is there a broken relationship in your life? Perhaps it’s not completely broken but just needs a little love and care. What better time than at Christmas to reach out in love. Send a card, write a letter, make a phone call. You never know what God will do until you try. It may be this Christmas season that God brings the healing in your circle of influence.

Merry Christmas,

Sullivan Jones