8 Now Herod was very glad when he saw Jesus; for he had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had been hearing about Him and was hoping to see some sign performed by Him. 9 And he questioned Him at some length; but He answered him nothing. 10 And the chief priests and the scribes were standing there, accusing Him vehemently. 11 And Herod with his soldiers, after treating Him with contempt and mocking Him, dressed Him in a gorgeous robe and sent Him back to Pilate. 12 Now Herod and Pilate became friends with one another that very day; for before they had been enemies with each other. Luke 23:8-12

If Jesus was indicted, arrested, and arraigned today, and the event was televised, surely people would tune in. They’d at least be curious. Some would wonder if he’d do some kind of miracle on live TV. Certainly, they’d want to hear him account for himself under a barrage of questions, or would want to witness his public humiliation.

What they’d see according to this account is a pompous oaf asking silly questions of him amongst the hysterical catcalls and hurled insults of the chief priests. In the center of it all was a silent Jesus, stonewalling every accusation and insult, while being bullied by obnoxious soldiers, goaded on by an increasingly agitated king.

Our natural reaction would be to urge Jesus to just say the word! Put them in their place! Fight back!

In the end they’d strip him of his modest cloak and hoist a luxurious scarlet robe on his shoulders, in a sign of mockery and contempt. They’d ridicule him some more for good measure, and shove him back to Pilate. No doubt the chief priests continued to circle him like a pack of bloodthirsty hyenas on the way back to the Praetorium.

But Jesus was on a mission. Never had more self-control been practiced and exhibited before man. And even more would be necessary in the hours to come.

As an aside, Luke makes a note about Herod and Pilate’s budding relationship. Politics makes strange bedfellows.