An Odd Band of Cohorts - Luke 23:12

That very day Pilate and Herod became friends with each other, for previously they had been at enmity with each other. - Luke 23:12

    It’s odd how quickly men who harbor only hatred and contempt for one another will find themselves in league when they share a common enemy. This was the back story between Pilate and Herod. It was suggested that once Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea, understood that Jesus was a Galilean he quickly sent him before Herod, probably in an effort to avoid having to deal with the local Jewish authorities, himself. Either way the Sanhedrin returned Christ to Pilate, insisting that as governor he had the power to condemn Jesus to death by crucifixion, despite Herod’s dismissal of the charges.
    Two men who had been at enmity with each other now became cohorts, bonded by their hedonistic disdain for our Lord and Savior. It is a story that accurately depicts today’s special interests groups in our decaying and despicable culture. Abortion-rights advocates join arms with atheists who join arms with homosexual advocates who join arms with liberation theology advocates who join arms with feminists, ad nauseam.  Despite their differing agendas it would seem that the only sure thing they all agree upon is their utter hatred for the Christian faith as depicted in the Bible. “He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.” - John 14:24.
    The animosity these lovers of the world hold for Christians outweighs the differences and disagreements at play amongst themselves. They hate nothing more than they hate Christ and His message of salvation. “Then He said to them, ‘Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.’” - Luke 24:46-47. Repentance and remission of sin is a message that still brings out the fang and claw of the worldly. It places us in polar opposition to everything they stand for, represent, advocate, and defend. And it places us in their cross hairs.
     “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” - John 15:18-19.
    As we stand on yet another precipice in our rapidly degrading culture we are faced with a choice: worship at the altar of the world and lose our divine inheritance or remain in the faith that reassures us of our election as saints in Jesus Christ. Let this odd band of cohorts do what they may. Our Savior has overcome the world! Preach it boldly: Jesus Christ, yesterday, today, tomorrow and forever.