The answer is: Herod

Luke 23:7

In the drama of Jesus's final hours, an interesting twist occurs when Pilate, in a bit of a bureaucratic shuffle, sends Jesus to Herod. This moment is rich with irony and significance. Luke 23:7 reveals Gaius Caesar’s representative, Pilate, deferring to another authority figure, Herod Antipas, who at that time ruled over Galilee. It’s curious to think about why Pilate chose to send Jesus to Herod. Could it be that they were both searching for an escape from responsibility? This needle in the political haystack led to a mingling of diverse authorities: a Roman governor and a regional king.

Did you know this wasn’t the first meeting between Herod and Jesus? Prior to this, Herod had longed to see Jesus, having heard about the miracles. In fact, it seems Herod was quite captivated by the legend surrounding Jesus's works (gaiety and wonder draped around miracles can be contagious!). Yet when they finally meet, the account emphasizes not a stirring exhibition of miracles, but a rather disappointing encounter where Herod expected some kind of spectacular performance—only to see Jesus silent and unyielding.

Herod eventually views Jesus as nothing more than an object of entertainment, a pawn in a political game. This chain of events sets the emphasis firmly on the tragedy of misunderstanding and missed opportunities. This moment in the narrative also serves as a profound reminder of the wider indifference and complex interplay among political and religious leadership that defines the narrative surrounding resurrection and redemption.