The Last Prophet

Matthew 13:58-14:12

Today we meet another player in the trial and crucifixion of Jesus. Herod Antipas

There is so much intrigue and political wrangling tied to family to bring too much up, and its terrible what they did to the people of Jerusalem. But first, we begin with what Jesus revealed and Matthew writes in…

Matthew 13:58 “ Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.”

There is a natural connection between faith and miracles/healings/etc.

its not about your faith being a super power - because you can have faith in almost anything.

Its about who you have faith in. Jesus had shown over and over, that He was capable of completely restoring the most broken. But it required a belief that He was capable, everywhere Jesus went, they flocked to Him but He never forced Himself on others. When Jesus first comes on the scene, there is no “Gospel” because Jesus Himself is the “Good News”, Jesus literally is the Gospel. Matt 3:2; 4:17. (WTL)

The Intro

Matthew 14:1–2 “ At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the report about Jesus 2 and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him.””

This is Herod Antipas. And he was an admirer and scared/ suspicious/ fearful of John & Jesus. (14:5, 9; Mark 6:19–20; Luke 23:8)

Tetrach is Rule of 4th. He was over a 1/4 of the kingdom of Herod the Great.

Jesus’ reputation is double edged. Miracle worker, blasphemer, possibly even KING. Not that Herod cares about biblical accuracy unless it serves him (His Dad killed infants from paranoia and influence of Satan). But the messiah thing made him nervous.

The Event

Matthew 14:3–4 “ For Herod had laid hold of John and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. 4 Because John had said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.””

Extra-biblical accounts relate to us that Herod had gone to Rome, where he met Herodias, the wife of his half-brother Philip. John warned Herod that his adulterous relationship with his brother’s wife was “unlawful” (Lev. 18:6, 16; 20:21). (Comm>) “Both Herod and Herodias had divorced their spouses to marry each other. To silence John, Herod arrested him. In spite of his superstitious respect for John, Herod’s grudge was strong enough that he would have preferred to execute John immediately, but he knew John was popular with the Jewish people. They saw John as a prophet from God. Herod suspected this was true, but his primary motivation for not killing John sooner was fear of the people.”

Notice to, how Matthew describes this relationship - not, Herods wife, but His brother Philip’s wife. (3) I don’t want to spend too much time on this History but it does setup for us why Herod did what did.

Herod is taken in by Herodias, and according to the historian Josephus, her daughter Salome. Mostly we see he did all these things to cover enable and justify their sin as much as possible.

Matthew 14:5 “ And although he wanted to put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.”

The one thing even powerful politicians, kings & Queens and the wealthy fear. The gossip of the populace.

As Herodias, Salome manipulate the lust and flesh of Herod the 4th, combined with the fear of the public - Herod is a tool of Satan. God doesn't give us a spirit of fear. But to rest on his power, love and soundness of soul. (2Ti 1:7)

Matthew 14:6–7 “ But when Herod’s birthday was celebrated, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod. 7 Therefore he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask.

Dance - orchesato - where we get chorus from, except this is the simple compound greek for for Dance. Where one or more people synchronize (chorus) their bodies to music for either religious reasons or otherwise.

Matthew 14:8 “ So she, having been prompted by her mother, said, “Give me John the Baptist’s head here on a platter.””

So Salome, raised in violence, intrigue and the feeding of the flesh, is a child of her time. As are we. We react and respond many times, no different than who are not in-dwelt by the Holy Spirit. Salome, adds to her mothers request - Mark Records in 6:24–25 “ So she went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist!” 25 Immediately she came in 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.””

We forget sometimes the violence done on those who walk in the power and truth of the Word of God. We lose faith when we can’t pay a bill or get sick. John was in prison, but never capitulated.

we think that we wont be set upon by this fallen world because we are so close to God. JTB baptized Jesus. Can’t get much closer than that. That we have died to this world and now live in Christ - we are bound to Christ in His death and raised in His life. Paul said in Galatians 2:19 “ For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God.”

Where is John? Prison. What did Herodias ask for? What does Salome ask for? Truly a child of violence and murder.

Matthew 14:9–11 “ And the king was sorry; nevertheless, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he commanded it to be given to her. 10 So he sent and had John beheaded in prison. 11 And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother.”

Again, Herod might be king, but Fear, is the true ruler here. Pride, hubris, and murderous lust drive this whole family.

This is John. The prophet. whom Jesus bragged on that folks went into the desert to see him and: Matthew 11:11 “ “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” and a worldly, carnal, dancing girl, just took his head.

Its not an undignified death though. It is recorded here for us in the Word, it begins a series of events that will lead us to the Cross. The cross is more than just Christ being crucified, it is that, dying for our sins, and rising from the dead - it is the whole thing.

Matthew 14:12 “ Then his disciples came and took away the body and buried it, and went and told Jesus.”

Its a foreshadowing of what would similarly happen with Christ, as Joseph and others would take Jesus down from the Cross to place in His own tomb.

Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:31 “ I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.” Everyday, the possibility (especially during the life of Paul) of death loomed in every town.

We read in Acts 12:1–3 “ Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. 2 Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 3 And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread.”

We must not think that dying is losing. Natural death is a path to a new life in Christ

In Closing: Thats why we worship Jesus. As he said, even before the cross, it was trusting in Him and what he taught implicitly. Wholly, totally. John, the last of the old testament prophets, held true to Jesus and the Word of God.

Why? John knows that there is nothing greater, nothing better, than worshipping serving and following Jesus Christ. John had died already through faith, and even as they took his head, He entered into eternal life.

John, the last of the Old Testament prophets, followed Christ. Testified of the Holy Spirits mantle on Yeshua. Who do you follow?