Can you spot a “pretender?” A “poser?”  That person who maybe holds a high-level position and a high level of bravado but is low on actual follow-through? The one who issues threats but when confronted himself hides behind his staff? A sneaky, inept, degenerate, cowardly lowlife, who sounds menacing but doesn’t have it in him to stand face-to-face with his target?Who can hurl accusations and warnings but would turn and run if confronted by the object of his disdain? A loner, who needs the approval of his colleagues and peers?

That’s a description of the “fox” –Herod, Tetrarch of Galilee, in the time of Jesus.

While Jesus mentions false prophets as “wolves,” he reserves the branding of the “fox” especially for Herod.

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves (Matthew 7:15).[1]

Wolves were those who disguised themselves as “good” people but were inwardly wicked. They looked and acted much like a sheep, but their hearts were predatory. From Aesop to the early church fathers, the idea that a wolf could easily disguise as a sheep jived to the idea that they are of similar size and coloring. The clever wolf looks and acts like a sheep, but it’s a dangerous predator.

The fox however is a different story. Because the fox can’t very well disguise as a sheep, (the fox is clearly and overtly a fox), the fox must take different measures to attack his coveted prize: usually the chicken, although a fox can go after rabbits, rodents, and other small animals, including some pets.

The fox doesn’t try to look, act, or behave like a sheep. The fox instead pretends to be a vicious predator, but goes after the weak in a sneaky, sly way. When confronted, the fox runs away.

The wolf may be a master of disguise, clever, and stealthy. But in turn, a fox is sneaky, sly, and seen as a scoundrel. While the wolf is a family-oriented canine, a social animal that lives and hunts in packs and is loyal to his own kind, the fox is a solitary hunter, untrusted by even the wolf. The fox is ultimately untamable and a loner.

Put a wolf, coyote, dog, and fox together in a pen, and the fox would be the antagonistic one of the group and the opportunist of them all, claims wildlife veterinarian and animal trainer K.C. Lee.[3]

For Jesus, this describes Herod to a “tee.”

Jesus harbors great disdain for Herod, the one who killed his cousin, missionary, and prophet, John the Baptist. Not only did Herod have John beheaded, but he did so at the bequest of his illegitimate wife in order to keep face at a banquet of his peers. Jewish himself, Herod had looked up to John. In allowing for his brutal death, he not only betrayed himself and his own identity, but God’s covenantal vision.

Jesus also knows that Herod is essentially cowardly and weak, because ever since Jesus began his own ministry, Herod had been cowering in superstitious fear, suspecting that Jesus may be John come back to haunt him. So great was his guilt.

Herod likes to act powerful and threatening. Jesus sees him as pathetic and weak, a sneak and a scoundrel, a morally bankrupt man who has no idea who he is and therefore can’t stand in his own power.

So, in uncharacteristic sarcasm, anger, and distaste, we see Jesus, in our scripture for today, standing up to Herod, getting “in his face” so to speak, talking back to him without fear of retaliation, provoking him no doubt but not expecting reprisal.

Jesus knows who he is dealing with. In fact, later when Jesus is arrested, Herod wants nothing to do with it and passes him off immediately to Pontius Pilate. Herod is apparently indeed a mere cowardly scoundrel, who wishes others to do his dirty work for him, so he can evade responsibility. It doesn’t make him less a predator. But he’s a pathetic one. He can’t attack his prey face to face in the open with strength of resolve. When faced down, he simply slinks away.

By calling him a “fox,” Jesus says all that needs to be said about Herod of Galilee.

Meanwhile, Jesus’ message is mysterious and elusive. “In three days, I’m outta here.” I’ve got to get to Jerusalem, so God’s final plan can come to fruition. No prophet can be killed outside of Jerusalem.

Jesus knew what he would be walking into, something far more threatening than Herod. For Herod, he had no time. He had bigger fish to fry.

We can’t know whether Jesus’ three days were the literal number of days he spent traveling through Galilee, or whether he was also referring to the three days it would take before his resurrection. But we do know his eyes, mind, and heart were resting on Jerusalem.

Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those who were sent to you!   How often I have wanted to gather your people just as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. But you didn’t want that (Luke 13:34).

It seems no mistake (and perhaps a bit of a comedic turn of the pen) that Jesus’ metaphor for himself during this lament is a “chicken,” a hen in fact –the favorite and usual prey of the fox.

However, by the time Jesus gets to Jerusalem, he will become instead the Lamb, the sacrificial lamb, not the helpless, defenseless chicken, trying to protect her young, but the Temple sacrificial Lamb, the honored one, who will take upon himself the sins of all God’s people through his willing death.

For Jesus’ plan is God’s plan. He is not prey but volunteer, not victim but willing sacrifice.

While the way of the fox is cowardice, the way of the Lamb is victory –and the true strength that comes from sacrificial love, authenticity, and truth.

Within days, Jesus will stand face to face with his accusers and offer himself to be chosen for slaughter. He will not run and hide. He will not back down. He will stand before them in God’s holy strength because his power lies in who he is, his identity as Messiah and Son of God. His courage lies in what he knows comes ahead.

This is the way of the Lamb –God’s way, the way of truth, hope, and love, the way of courageous discipleship, the way of early Christians who would not deny their faith in Jesus despite threat of injury, torture, or death, the way of people around the world still today, who would give up their lives for the sake of the gospel.

Today, in this time of Lent, as Jesus slowly makes his way to face his accusers, and to bear the cross, may you feel the power of Jesus’ sacrificial love, and may you too follow the Way, Truth, and Life of God’s holy Lamb.

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