And in the middle of that time, when Jesus is moving toward Jerusalem even though others may not have realized it yet, some Pharisees came and warned him.

As a religious party, the Pharisees probably agreed with Herod about Jesus. He was disruptive to the way things were working. His preaching and healing and power were a threat.

However, these particular Pharisees seem to express actual concern for Jesus. “Protect yourself.”

It’s the way most of us would act if we saw someone being threatened. “Go, get away, run!”

But here’s what Jesus says. Or seems to.  

“Please pass on a message to Herod. Tell him that I think he’s a fox, deceiving and disruptive, eating the powerless, looking all wise.

Tell him that my agenda isn’t under his control. My to-do list doesn’t mention Herod for several more days.

I’m on my way to Jerusalem because I know that I’m going to die there. It’s what happens to people like me. But I also know that I’m not going to die until it’s time. I know that the attack won’t happen until I, God, give permission for the attack to happen.

In the meantime, my heart is all about the people he’s exploiting. The people of Jerusalem, the ordinary people living their lives at the mercy of the soldiers and the politicians and the religious leaders. The people caught up in the chaos.

I would hug them all. I would gather them up like a hen puts her wings around her chicks when they are in danger, when the fox is close. I would put my life on the line for them. In fact, I will.”

That’s what he says. Or seems to.

And what he knew then, what we know now, is that he was walking right into Jerusalem under his own power, on his own plan, to actually give his life up for them. And for us. Because he knew that our hope knows there is more to life than what we see.