Herod’s concerns
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Big Idea: We are not saved by fear of God or interest in Jesus but in saving faith.
Big Idea: We are not saved by fear of God or interest in Jesus but in saving faith.
people can show a certain fear of God but not bow to him
Lightning: Luther had a close call and feared God, this led him to join a seminary
Yet others have had near missed with death and still mock God
If not with their words, they mock him with their way of living
Herod seems to have had a mixture of interest and concern, or fear when he heard about Jesus’ ministry and miracle work
Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead,
by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the prophets of old had risen.
Herod said, “John I beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things?” And he sought to see him.
In Mark’s gospel, he gives a little more information about Herod’s concern. Luke mentions that Herod had some concern about having beheaded John, and this played into his wonderment about who Jesus was.
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.”
But others said, “He is Elijah.” And others said, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.”
But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.”
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.
For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not,
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.
But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee.
For when Herodias’s daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.”
And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.”
And she went out and said to her mother, “For what should I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.”
And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”
And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her.
And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison
and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother.
When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.
So many of you know that story. Matthew records that story in his gospel also. Herod had John imprisoned, but he seems to have liked John the Baptist, or at least found him interesting. And he made a rash decision and you just heard what happened.
Now Herod starts to hear about Jesus. And people are saying that Jesus is John the Baptist raised from the dead. In fact, his own disciples told him this:
Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
So this is not just Herod hearing this, Jesus was the talk of the town, so to speak
People were trying to figure out who Jesus was:
John the Baptist
Elijah
Jeremiah
one of the prophets
And resurrection was on the table for all of these. Clearly people understood that God can raise the dead. Along with this understanding of resurrection, there were also added to it ideas of the dead avenging themselves. We know from other passages, such as in Acts, and also from extrabiblical writings, that Herod was superstitious. Could it be that Herod wondered if this really was John the Baptist come to life, and if so, it may be Herod who receives the revenge?
So Herod is perplexed. The word here can mean to be at a loss, to be in doubt, to be very confused. It is more than just a little perplexed, he is greatly perplexed. Why was he perplexed?
Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead,
by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the prophets of old had risen.
This is the same thing Jesus’ disciples told him about who people thought Jesus was.
Herod said, “John I beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things?” And he sought to see him.
Big Idea: We are not saved by fear of God or interest in Jesus but in saving faith.
Big Idea: We are not saved by fear of God or interest in Jesus but in saving faith.
Herod’s fear and interest in Jesus did not save him. We must have saving faith.
The Westminster shorter catechism is helpful to us in summarizing the biblical truths about how we can be saved. It is a series of questions and answers that were taught to help Christians to grasp the important tenets of the faith.
The first section speaks of the fall, when sin entered the world and all mankind fell with Adam in the sin, and are under the wrath of God. But after this bad news, there is some good news!
20. Did God leave all mankind to perish in the estate of sin and misery?
God having, out of His mere good pleasure, from all eternity, elected some to everlasting life, did enter into a covenant of grace, to deliver them out of the estate of sin and misery, and to bring them into an estate of salvation by a redeemer.
Indeed, this is good news to those who believe. Next we identify this redeemer:
21. Who is the redeemer of God’s elect?
The only redeemer of God’s elect is the Lord Jesus Christ, who, being the eternal Son of God, became man, and so was, and continueth to be, God and man in two distinct natures, and one person, forever.
22. How did Christ, being the Son of God, become man?
Christ, the Son of God, became man, by taking to Himself a true body and a reasonable soul, being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost, in the womb of the Virgin Mary, and born of her, yet without sin.
These words tell us something of Christ, the Redeemer. Next we learn how we can receive the redemption he offers.
29. How are we made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ?
We are made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ, by the effectual application of it to us by His Holy Spirit.
30. How doth the Spirit apply to us the redemption purchased by Christ?
The Spirit applieth to us the redemption purchased by Christ, by working faith in us, and thereby uniting us to Christ in our effectual calling.
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
31. What is effectual calling?
Effectual calling is the work of God’s Spirit, whereby convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, He doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel.
No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.
33. What is justification?
Justification is an act of God’s free grace, wherein He pardoneth all our sins, and accepteth us as righteous in His sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone.
This is the guilty being justified by Christ. We can then stand acquitted of all of our sins, and thereby be saved from the wrath of God.
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
34. What is adoption?
Adoption is an act of God’s free grace, whereby we are received into the number, and have a right to all the privileges, of the sons of God.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,
even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love
he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,
which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight
making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ
as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,
so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.
In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
35. What is sanctification?
Sanctification is the work of God’s free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness.
I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.
36. What are the benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification?
The benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification, are, assurance of God’s love, peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Ghost, increase of grace, and perseverance therein to the end.
37. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at death?
The souls of believers are at their death made perfect in holiness, and do immediately pass into glory; and their bodies, being still united to Christ, do rest in their graves until the resurrection.
38. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at the resurrection?
At the resurrection, believers, being raised up to glory, shall be openly acknowledged and acquitted in the day of judgment, and made perfectly blessed in the full enjoying of God to all eternity.
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb
through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him.
They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.
And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.
84. What doth every sin deserve?
Every sin deserveth God’s wrath and curse, both in this life, and that which is to come.
85. What doth God require of us, that we may escape His wrath and curse, due to us for sin?
To escape the wrath and curse of God, due to us for sin, God requireth of us faith in Jesus Christ, repentance unto life, with the diligent use of all the outward means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption.
and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
Paul preached repentance to Jews and Greeks.
And when they came to him, he said to them: “You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia,
serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews;
how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house,
testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
86. What is faith in Jesus Christ?
Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace, whereby we receive and rest upon Him alone for salvation, as He is offered to us in the gospel.
That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,
John said the whole point of his gospel was to bring people to saving faith:
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;
but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners;
yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—
though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more:
circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;
as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ
and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—
that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
87. What is repentance unto life?
Repentance unto life is a saving grace, whereby a sinner, out of a true sense of his sin, and apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ, doth, with grief and hatred of his sin, turn from it unto God, with full purpose of, and endeavor after, new obedience.
As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us.
For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.
Big Idea: We are not saved by fear of God or interest in Jesus but in saving faith.
Big Idea: We are not saved by fear of God or interest in Jesus but in saving faith.
Fear of God is good. But fear alone doesn’t save
Interest in Jesus is good. But interest alone doesn’t save.
You must take on Jesus like you would a parachute.
Put on Christ!
