from the fact that, when he heard of
the preaching of Jesus, his first thought was that this was John the
Baptist risen from the dead. Indeed, from this point he seems to have
rapidly deteriorated. Feeling the aversion of the minds of his
subjects, he turned more and more to foreign customs. His court became
distinguished for Roman imitations and affectations. The purveyors of
pleasure, who in that age hawked their wares from one petty court to
another--singers, dancers, jugglers and the like--were welcome at
Tiberias. The fibre of his character was more and more relaxed, till
it became a mere mass of pulp, ready to receive every impression but
able to retain none. His annual visits to Jerusalem even, at Passover
time, were inspired less by devotion than by the hope of amusement. In
so large a concourse there would at any rate be acquaintances to see
and news to hear; and who could tell what excitement might turn up?

II.

His reception of Jesus was thoroughly characteristic. Had he had the
conscience even of a bad man, he might have been abashed to see the
Baptist's Friend. Once he had been moved with terror at the mere
rumour of Jesus; but that was all past; these emotions had been wiped
out by newer ones and forgotten. He was "exceeding glad" to see Him.
First, it was an excitement; and this was something for such a man.
Then, it was a compliment from the Roman; indeed, we are told that
Pilate and he had aforetime been at enmity, but by this attention were
made friends again. His delight, however, arose chiefly from the hope
that he might see Jesus working a miracle. For two or three years his
own dominions had been ringing with the fame of the Miracle-worker, but
Herod had never seen Him. Now was his chance; and no doubt entered his
mind that Jesus would gratify his curiosity, or could count it anything
but an honour to get the opportunity of displaying His skill.

Such was Herod's estimate of Christ. He put Him on the level of a new
dancer or singer; he looked on His miracles as a species of conjuring
or magic; and he expected from Him the same entertainment as he might
have obtained from any wandering professor of magical arts.

At once he addressed Him in the friendliest manner and questioned Him
in many words. Apparently he quite forgot the purpose for which Pilate
had sent Him. He did not even wait for any replies, but went rambling
on. He had thought much about religion, and he wished Jes