During his journey from Galilee to Jerusalem, Jesus entered within the jurisdiction of Herod Antipas who was stupid, wasteful of his money, and ill tempered, having committed many crimes though he was continuously convicted by his conscience (Matthew 2:16; Luke 3:19; 9:7; 23:11). May be he sought to satisfy the Pharisees, having known that they hated Jesus and wanted to drive him out of their surroundings, so he promised them to use his few guards for this purpose. The Pharisees designed to lessen Christ’s reputation by frightening him and showing the people that he was coward, lover of his life, and afraid of death. Herod probably wanted further to satisfy the Roman occupying authority by delivering up to them a rebel popular leader, to prove his submission and loyalty to the authority.
Jesus perceived the machination of the king and his allies, and called the king a fox, for he knew his conspirative thoughts and designs, condemning and making fun of them. Nevertheless Jesus officially informed the stupid Herod of his works that he might know him well who was serving in his territory. Christ is the Victor over all demons. In his contacts with evil spirits, Herod was afraid of their unjust dominion, and used to tremble with fear. But Jesus cast out the evil authorities by an utterance of his tongue. With these powers he healed the poor and the tormented. His divine love was the motive of his ability.
And yet Jesus testified that no man, even the king himself, could kill him without the will of God who appointed the time and place of his mission, which Jesus had to finish completely. God is the Possessor of the world, and no king or vile leader can hinder, or oppose the establishment of the kingdom of God through his artifice and human power.
Jesus knew beforehand that his way led to the cross. He called his death of the infamous tree perfection of his mission and character. Was Jesus not perfect at all times? Undoubtedly, all the fullness of the Godhead dwelt in him bodily. But his ministry was perfected on the cross, reconciling the world with God. His human body had to bear the unperceivable last temptation. The Spirit of god made the weak man Jesus an almighty man who united the world with God by his precious blood, and was worthy of being raised bodily from the tomb. Today, this glorified human body is sitting down at the right hand of God.
Jesus knew that the last hour of his life on earth would only be in Jerusalem. He obeyed the instruction of the Holy Spirit to die there on the altar of the world.
The Son of God suffered, at the same time, from the devilry of this city, for he who was murderer from the beginning found in the center of the Jewish culture a wide place for his crimes. Jesus called the City of Peace "the one who kills the prophets". Jesus was not dazzled by the splendor of the capital, nor was he captured by the majestic dresses of spiritual and civil leaders. He smiled at the deadly weapons of the occupying forces, and despised the riches of the development of civilization. Instead of these perishable appearances, Jesus tried to unify the ignorant people who long for God in this city through the power of his love that they might stand secure near him and receive everlasting life. He called them, ran after them, and worked laboriously for them. But the people of the city, especially the professors, did not want at all to follow the Physician who came from the underdeveloped village. So they hardened their minds toward the call of God, and became ripe for the fearful judgment.
Woe to the village, city, and country whose people shut their ears against the voice of the love of God. The coming grievous judgment is inescapable. Wars must come because of men’s unbelief in Christ. Why do multitudes wonder at the commotions, disasters, and wars in our world?
God’s condemnation continues, and spiritual blindness increases, for the light of the gospel is being veiled and darkened. Woe to the city or country from which the Spirit of Christ departs, because its people did not open their hearts willingly to him. Then evil spirits come from the south and all sides to exercise deception, mastery, fornication, disorder, hatred, and fear.
Thus Christ showed the haughty professors the judgment to come on their nations. But he left for them the dawn of hope shining on the horizon of history, and directed them to his second coming, and the probable repentance of the people of the Old Testament who would mumble frightfully in his heavenly shining glory, reiterating the words quoted from Psalm 118:26) applied to the coming of the High Priest into his temple, and crying with tears, "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord."