Handling God’s Plan with Bravery or Cowardice
[14] King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.” [15] But others said, “He is Elijah.” And others said, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” [16] But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.” [17] For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because he had married her. [18] For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” [19] And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, [20] for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.
Mark 6:14–18 ESV Read More
People are trying to explain Jesus in all kinds of ways. The Pharisees think that He is possessed by the king of all demons. He rules over demons as the lead demon, but all He does is good things – sometimes on the Sabbath. King Herod can’t believe what he hears and explains it by thinking of the most amazing person he has ever seen: John the Baptist.
John the Baptist preached out at the Jordan river and many people came out to him. At some point, John must have preached something about Herodias or Herod and their marriage. It’s likely that Herod went out to hear John the Baptist in the wilderness, just like everyone else. Think that through for a minute. All kinds of people are coming out to John in the wilderness and many are getting baptized. He tells tax collectors and Roman soldiers what to do to repent. He speaks boldly to the Pharisees about bearing the fruit of repentance. Then the King and his wife show up and he rebukes them for their marriage!
Herod was moved enough to ‘protect’ John by putting him in jail. He would go and listen to John and even let him have visitors while he was imprisoned. He was provoked by John’s teaching and interested in it enough to take care of John in his prison, safe from Herodias, his wife.
If you think about it, Herod was a gutless, yellow baby. He heard John the Baptist speak and was moved and provoked by what John taught. At the same time, Herod was afraid to act on what John said. He was afraid to change his life or to go against the evil influences all around him. God was pushing on Herod’s mind. Herod knew John was a holy man and was perplexed and moved by his teaching.
The cowardice to act on what the Lord was saying would lead to Herod’s downfall, and he would take John the Baptist down with him. John, in contrast, was brave and bold and did what God wanted him to do. His influence would spread all of the way to Ephesus, and Jesus called him the greatest person that ever lived.
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