LUKE 23:11: HEROD CLOTHES JESUS IN A BRIGHT SHINING GARMENT
Herod’s contempt and
ridicule of Jesus (23:11) falls short of the death sentence the Jewish leaders
seek. Their insidious attempt suffers further frustration as Herod sends Jesus
back to Pilate, who earlier refused to comply with their charges against Jesus
(23:1-5). But at the same time that Herod is thwarting the designs of the
Jewish authorities, the audience perceives the irony that, by “ridiculing”
Jesus and “treating him with contempt,” Herod is actually carrying forward
God’s hidden salvific design, as previously predicted by Jesus in his passion
prophecies (9:22, 44; 17:25; 18:31-33).
The intriguing motif of
Herod clothing Jesus with a “bright shining garment” contributes to the irony.
On the surface level of the narrative it continues to express the ridicule and
mockery of Jesus. But on the deeper level, that of Herod unconsciously
furthering God’s hidden plan, the audience realizes that Herod is dressing
Jesus in the clothing of heavenly beings, appropriate to his further exaltation
and glory as the Son of Man (22:69). In the scene of Jesus’ transfiguration the
disciples saw “his glory” (9:32) after his clothing (ιματισμος) became “dazzling white”
(, λευκος εξαστραπτων, 9:29), indicating his
temporary formation into a heavenly being. That Herod clothes Jesus in a
“bright shining garment” (εσθητα λαμπραν) fit for a heavenly being, then, further assures the audience that Jesus will
attain the heavenly glory signaled by the dazzling white clothing of his
transfiguration after he has accomplished this “exodus” of suffering, death and
resurrection on Jerusalem (9:31). (John Paul Heil, The Transfiguration of
Jesus: Narrative Meaning and Function of Mark 9:2-8, Matt 17:1-8 and Luke
9:28-36 [Analecta Biblica 144; Rome: Pontifical Biblical Institute, 2000],
302-3)
