That same day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other; before this they had been enemies.
Luke 23:12
Scripture: Luke 23:1-25

How do you become friends? How do you make friends?

First, you must be introduced or make the other person’s acquaintance.

Second, through the course of conversation you may learn about things you have in common.

For example, you might discover you are distantly related or have mutual friends. You might have lived in neighboring towns, spent time at the same summer camp, or attended the same college. You might share common interests … liking the same sports, belonging to a social club or volunteering for some charitable organization. You enjoy the same musical genre or group. Both of you enjoy flea markets or fishing, enjoy gardening or grilling, or enjoy history or the same hobbies.

Third, you realize that you enjoy each other’s company and thus enjoy spending time together.

Last, you recognize that while you have much in common, you also are different and have some different interests. You may be a Republican and he may be a Democrat. You may belong to a mainline church while she prefers a nondenominational church. You may like modern art and she keeps asking: “This is art?!” He is a card-carrying member of the NRA and the last gun his friend owned was a cap pistol. You may diverse interests, but you can still be friends. You may have differences of opinions, but you can still be friends.

In our scripture lesson today, we learn that two men, Herod and Pilate were enemies. They became friends because they both enjoyed the sport of interrogating Jesus and then amusing themselves by humiliating and mocking Jesus. They became friends by exercising their authority and wielding power over Jesus. It is a sad commentary that those two men Herod and Pilate should become friends by taunting Jesus, who could have been their Friend too, if only they had listened to Him and used their authority and power for good.

Prayer

O Lord, we thank You for the wonderful friend we have in Jesus. We ask Your blessings on our friendships and we pray for those who feel that they do not have any friends. Help us to reach out to them. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.