Herod's curiosity wasn't to be satisfied until after Jesus' arrest when Pilate sent Jesus to Herod for punishment. But, wouldn't we be curious about this Jesus, if we lived at that time?
This is not the same Herod who was king when Jesus was born, but I'm sure he had heard the stories about the astrologers from the East who had claimed to have seen a star that meant that a new king had been born.
John the Baptist had been a thorn in his side with his preaching about the coming of the Kingdom and a call for repentance. He was probably upset that so many were following him. And he was so upset by John's condemnation of his marriage that he had him beheaded.
Herod knew of the prophesies regarding the tradition that Elijah would return to make way for the Messiah. So, it's not surprising that he was curious.
Was Jesus Elijah? Was Jesus the Messiah? Did this mean that he might be overthrown by this stranger?
He must have been a little afraid as well as curious.
In the Gospel story regarding Herod's meeting with Jesus, it is said that he and Pilate became friends that very day. Before that, both Herod and Pilate were concerned about their own jobs and their power over Jerusalem.
What about us and what we think about Jesus?
I once had a student who said he was a good man. If that's all that Jesus is, then we are still mired in the effects of sin.
But, if, as we believe, Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ, our Lord and Savior, then we are saved and we have certain responsibilities based on that belief.
To Pilate and Herod he was a threat. To the apostles and the disciples he was the Messiah. To us he is the Son of God, our Savior and the one we are called to follow in order to join him in the Kingdom of Heaven.
