When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform a sign of some sort. He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate. That day Herod and Pilate became friends—before this they had been enemies.

–Parallel verses:
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭2‬:‭16‬-‭18‬
When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭14‬:‭1‬-‭2‬, ‭6‬-‭10‬
At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, and he said to his attendants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”
[Looking back] On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests and pleased Herod so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted and had John beheaded in the prison.

Sometimes in life it can feel like many forces are against us. I have, at times, felt this. Spiritual attacks can come from different corners. I felt this way recently when I had a beyond challenging situation at work, was hit at 50 miles an hour (and no brakes) while waiting for a light to turn green, with major whiplash, and had some interesting personal relationship issues all at the same time. For years, none of these things had happened to this degree. Then they all happened at once. I believe God was allowing me to be tested intensely to draw me closer to him and help me rely on his strength and prayer support from my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Sometimes it feels like evil joins forces. I Peter 5:8-9 says: “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”

Jesus is experiencing the combining of evil forces here — Herod and Pilot. It is said “the enemy of my enemy is my friend”, and apparently that is what Herod and Pilate decided.

In the cross references, we see that earlier, Herod the tetrarch beheaded John, the one who preached about the coming of Jesus. This was as much a warning to Jesus as it was a delayed consequence for John’s calling out Herod’s sin. (Though the reason for his death was the request of a seductively dancing, young woman). Earlier still, we find the predecessor to Herod the tetrarch, Herod, who tried to annihilate the threat of another king being born by slaughtering all Jewish male children two years and under. This was beyond horrible! All along, these evil men, controlled by the devil, plotted for the death of Jesus on their terms. They thought with him dead, they could continue their evil rule over the people. But Jesus had the ultimate victory card, the perfect sacrifice on the cross of the perfect life to pay for our sin. So, as we shall see later in the story, he wins in the end.

My takeaway today is to wait on the Lord when evil forces or multiple challenges hit all at once. He is the good shepherd, always faithful to care for his sheep. And he always wins in the end. So we just have to … WAIT FOR IT!

Thank you, Lord, for your word which fills my heart and teaches me to wait for your ULTIMATE VICTORY in the middle of the storm. YOU ALWAYS WIN! Praise you, Father God, for your great faithfulness to me!