On that very day some Pharisees came, saying to Him, "Get out and depart from here, for Herod wants to kill You." And He said to them, "Go, tell that fox, 'Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.' Nevertheless I must journey today, tomorrow, and the day following; for it cannot be that a prophet should perish outside of Jerusalem." (Luke 13:31-33)
Why do people not believe on Christ? A central reason for unbelief is that sinful men will not have Jesus as their Lord. In Luke 13, the character of Jesus as Lord is on display. When told by the Pharisees that Herod is out to kill Him, Christ says, "Go, tell that fox, 'Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.' "
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains the political undercurrents beneath such an interaction. The Pharisees and Herod did not care for Jesus' safety, but rather wanted Him out of their territory. Herod could not kill Jesus, for surely there would be an uproar in the kingdom. Both the Pharisees and Herod tried repeatedly to tempt Christ out of His redeeming purpose, but God the Son cannot be distracted or led astray. Nothing can derail the plan God has put forth.
Like the Pharisees and Herod, no person can simply make Jesus go away. All must come face to face with Him and choose to reject or believe. In closing, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones encourages those who have not believed to see the Son for who He is, and accept His providential and tremendous love.