Friends At Last
Or
Enmity Set Aside
Sunday June 11, 2023
Scripture To Consider:
“When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked if the Man [Jesus] were a Galilean. And as soon as he knew that He belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Jesus to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at the time.”
“Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad; for he had desired for a long time to see Him, because he had heard many things about Him, and he hoped to see some miracle done by Him.
“Then Herod questioned Jesus with many words, but He answered him nothing. And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused Jesus. Then Herod, with his men of war, treated Jesus with contempt and mocked Him, arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him back to Pilate. That very day Pilate and Herod became friends with each other, for previously they had been at enmity with one another.” Luke 23.6-12
Something To Consider:
The Jewish leaders brought Jesus to Pilate because Rome had stripped away their power and authority to execute the death sentence. And so Jesus began to be passed back and forth between Pilate and Herod.
From the moment Pilate heard that Jesus was from Galilee he probably thought that he had found a way of escaping his passing judgment against Jesus, and therefore sent Him to Herod. Herod, like Pilate, was in Jerusalem at the time of the Passover Feast, and Herod was desirous to see Jesus, but for all the wrong reasons.
Are we desirous of seeing Jesus at His second coming, possibly for all the wrong reasons? Will we be found as a truth believing, truth obeying friend seeking to endure to the end of our life or to the end of this age? The truth to our answer is already known to God!
Or will we be found as an enemy of Jesus, God the Father, and all that is good and godly? How can we know the truth of the answers to these questions? The prophet Amos asked a question in Amos 3.3, by stating; “Can two walk together unless they are agreed?” Do we agree w/ God’s Word or do our lives reflect the truth of our disagreement and opposition to God’s Word?
Something Else To Consider:
It is important to understand that before this time Pilate and Herod had been enemies. Pilate, as mentioned earlier, was appointed manager of Judea by the Roman government, while Herod Antipas was tetrarch of Galilee. Therefore, it is always amazing to see how many times down through recorded history worldly enemies have been willing to join forces against the cause of Christ or against God’s people. How sad and how shameful!
According to biblical end time prophecy, this evil tactic will be enforced by enemy nations once again. A study of Ezekiel’s prophecy in Ezekiel chapter 38, will uncover enlightening proof to any end time bible student of enmity being set aside, while enemies become friends at last as they join forces in an attempt to crush Christianity.
Though the names used in Ezekiel 38 are centuries old, an in-depth study will prove that the enmity of enemy nations will be set aside, and many will become friends at last, or at least to combine forces against Israel, of what nation Jesus Christ came forth from. Therefore, keep an open eye on the little but significant nation of Israel!
Israel, a forgotten nation by most, but has risen from obscurity and apparently has been extremely blessed of God in the latter half of the 20th century. But, the nation of Israel has become as the nation of America. In the midst of great divine provision, protection, and favor with God, as America, Israel has rejected Jesus Christ and will be severely judged along with every nation that has rejected or forgotten God, as will America!
Something More To Consider:
To Herod, as to the nation of Israel, Jesus was of little importance. To Herod and to the nation of Israel, Jesus was nothing more than a onetime miracle working itinerant preaching rabbi. To millions in every generation since, Jesus is of little importance in their everyday lives.
Herod, in our Scripture to consider, was exceedingly glad to see Jesus for all the wrong reasons. Herod will no longer be exceedingly glad, but exceedingly sad and sorry, when he stands before Jesus at his own soon coming judgment.
Herod will also be greatly surprised, astonished, and sorry for the mocking and mistreatment he allowed of Jesus of Nazareth, the true King of kings and Lord of lords of not only the earth, but of all creation. Herod’s eternal fate can never be altered, but we can change the eternal fate of our own lives, and possibly through prayer the lives of others.
If any enmity exists between God and us, now is the time to set it aside. For God’s eternal end time alarm clock may be ready to sound at any wakening moment. As we at this very moment, stand at the midpoint of 2023, how can we assume we are not the final end time generation?
Are we and our loved one’s friends at last with our creator? Or are we foolishly a part of the end time delusional lie of believing in a pre-tribulation rapture when things get bad? Look around! Things are already bad and according to Scripture, things will progressively be getting worse.
Are we friends or enemies of God’s end time plan? Time may not allow us time to change! Let us not be found as friends with God’s enemies during the tribulation. The short season of pleasure has an eternal paycheck of fire and brimstone as well as eternal separation from God!
A Few Final Words:
Jesus declared in Matthew 24.21; “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.” And every enemy of God will be sorry they had not become a friend of God in and through His Son Jesus Christ. Let us therefore not be among the enemies of God in the end!
Worldly men and women of all nations are naturally at enmity with Jesus Christ, until He becomes their King of kings and eternal Lord of lords. For according to Luke, “That very day [the day of the mock trial of Jesus] Pilate and Herod became friends with each other, for previously they had been at enmity with each other.”
Prayer:
Our Father in heaven, prepare our hearts as friends of Jesus and never as enemies. Help us to examine ourselves in these last days. Bring us to the end of this age truly believing in Jesus as the living Word of God. In Him Always, Amen!
According to Jesus 