Luke 3:19-20 "John Rebukes Evil"

Let’s Pray!

Good Morning, Calvary Chapel Lake City!

As a follow up to the Heartline message… if you are not familiar with all the FREE services at Heartline… please visit their website… heartlinepregnancycenter.org

They’re a great resource for our community… so if you’re pregnant, or a new parent… at any income level… you may want to check them out.

Well, let’s now open our Bibles to Luke. Luke 3:19-20… just two verses today.

The last couple of weeks we’ve looked at the ministry and message of John the Baptist…

Jesus’ forerunner who announced His coming…

Who prepared hearts to receive their king… and extended a first century offering of the kingdom of heaven.

And John’s message was bold…

He called both the people and the religious leaders a “brood of vipers”… telling them to “bear fruits worthy of repentance”…

Challenging their national notions as sons of Abraham… this didn’t ‘grandfather them into’ the kingdom of heaven.

He warned of coming judgment… and the people plus tax collectors and soldiers… asked “What shall we do?”

So John counseled them to treat other people right… which was a simple fruit of the change of mind they already expressed.

And more… John spoke about Jesus… and Jesus’ superior ministry and authority.

John was so good about pointing people to Jesus. “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

Luke noted there were “many other exhortations he preached to the people”… some of which are captured John Gospel chapters 1 & 3… others you’ll have to ask the Baptist about in heaven.

And we pick up today… with John, for the most part exiting the scene until Luke 7… as “John Rebukes Evil”.… our message title for today.

John likely would have stayed on the ministry scene, but he could sit idly by with evil unchecked…

So he called it out… at great personal cost.

Let’s take a look at these two verses… and, in reverence for God’s word, if you are able, please stand as I read our passage.

Luke 3:19–20 “But Herod the tetrarch, being rebuked by him concerning Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done, 20 also added this, above all, that he shut John up in prison.”

Praise God for His word. Please be seated.

I think it is good practice that anytime you read about any of the ‘Herod’s’ in the Bible… that you should make sure your seat belt is fastened because you’re about to go on a wild ride.

I think the Bible put the ‘Herod’s’ in the Bible, so we all feel better about our families… NOT Really, but this was one messed up family.

And let’s pull up our slide of the Herod family tree.

Herod the Tetrarch in V19… is Herod Antipas… who would behead John eventually…

Who Jesus is warned about in Luke 13 that Antipas wants to kill Jesus… and Jesus said, “Go, tell that fox”… so Jesus surely didn’t think much of him.

And this is the same Herod that Jesus would briefly stand on trial before in Luke 23:6-12…

He hoped to see a miracle from Jesus… and questioned Jesus with many words…

But Jesus answered him nothing.

So, Herod and his men of war treated Jesus with contempt… mocked Him… arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe and sent Jesus back to Pilate.

He was the son of Herod the Great…

Herod the Great was the one who ordered all the babes in Bethlehem killed after the Wise Men visited Jerusalem.

He also killed at least three of his wives, his grandfather-in-law, his mother-in-law, his brother-in-law (he really disliked his in-laws)… killed three of his own sons, plus numerous other relatives… all out of out of paranoia, jealousy, and fear of rivals to his throne.

Caesar Augustus said, “It's better to be Herod's pig than his son”

Because as an Idumean who married a Jewess… they didn’t eat pork.

So, Herod’s pig would be more secure than his progeny.

SO… when that’s the patriarch of your family… you’re going to need some counseling…

To humor myself, I asked Grok if his sons had a chance to work through their feelings and trauma.

And Grok literally replied, “No, Herod’s sons were executed. They never had the chance to “work through” anything. They were dead.”

Thank you Captain obvious.

Of course I was thinking about the living sons, and Grok confirmed the obvious… that ‘first-century Herodian princes didn’t have access to trauma-informed counseling...”

So… the family paranoia… and cruelty… and political missteps continued.

Josephus best chronicled the life of this family… and at age 13… Antipas witnessed his family in a political war… great suspicions arose… and Antipas’ half brothers… again when Antipas was only 13… were put on trial… and ultimately strangled in prison.

Another of his brothers was beheaded when he was 18.

So within five years he saw three older brothers legally murdered by their own father.

This was the family environment in which “Herod the Tetrarch” came of age.

No doubt Antipas was a victim, and though he didn’t sink as low as his father… He succumbs to power, pride, and lust of the flesh.

For those of you who were raised in difficult environments and suffered trauma yourselves… you have a great advantage over Herod if you believe in Jesus Christ.

The Holy Spirit in-dwells you, and He’s doing a good work in you.

Philippians 1:6 “… being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;”

Be comforted that though you may not be where you want to be… confidently know God will complete His work in you… preparing you for glory… conforming you into the image of his Son.

Spurgeon once said, “Where is there an instance of God’s beginning any work and leaving it incomplete? Show me for once a world abandoned and thrown aside half formed; show me a universe cast off from the Great Potter’s wheel, with the design in outline, the clay half hardened, and the form unshapely from incompleteness.”

Antipas did not have the advantages we do… and when he came into power… he was in no way a ‘good guy’, but he wasn’t openly cruel like his father.

He tried not to make enemies… he surely liked luxury and his downfall was because of his lust for power… and the lust of the flesh.

In V19… John rebuked Antipas concerning Herodias and for other evils Herod had done.

Mark 6:17-18 tells us Herod imprisoned John “… for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife; for he had married her. 18 Because John had said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”

I’m not sure WHY this had to be said… though this type of disgrace is not unique to Herod throughout history…

God deemed it necessary to spell this out in Levitical Law… Leviticus 18:16, 20:21 states not to take your brother’s wife.

And it’s bad enough that a brother stole his brother’s wife, but Herodias was not just Antipas’ sister-in-law, but also his 1/2 niece… which just adds gross to wrong.

Lev 18:14 states you can’t marry your Aunt… which is relevant in reverse to Herodias… you can’t marry your Uncle… again… why does this even need to be said?!

She was the daughter of Aristobulus (Antipas’ half brother… the one who was strangled in prison)… making Herodias also a child of trauma.

Making her the 1/2 niece of both Philip and Antipas.

SO, she marries one 1/2 uncle… and then has one of the most destructive love affairs in ancient history… with her other 1/2 uncle.

The quick backstory to this illicit union was around 27-28 A.D., Antipas… on his way to Rome… stops at the house of his half-brother, Herod Philip I…

And Josephus records (in Antiquities 18) that Antipas and Herodias “fall in love” and secretly plot to divorce their spouses.

Philip quietly stayed in Rome with no political power… which seems to be what Herodias was after.

This betrayal though was an especially bad move for Antipas… as he was married to the daughter of a Nabataean king named Aretas… and when Antipas’ wife discovered the plot… she fled to her Dad in Petra… and more on that in a moment.

So, Antipas and Herodias get married sometime between 29-31 B.C.

And… MOST people… people who valued their life that is… wouldn’t dream to call Herod Antipas out.

But not John. John’s going to denounce the marriage.

And John, having grown up in Israel… surely would have known the reputation of the cruel Herods.

He may have lived in the desert, but he didn’t have his head in the sand.

He knew the risk… but for John… the word of God came to him… and it was more important for him to be faithful to the word of God… then the value of his own life.

And boy is that a challenge to us. What value is it to us to be faithful to the word of God?

What personal cost are we willing to pay?… what freedom are we willing to sacrifice?

Are we willing to speak bold truth even at the cost of our very life? John was… the greatest of prophets.

He was a bold and rugged man… not afraid to speak his mind.

And, Jesus would later praise John and ask some rhetorical questions to a multitude gathered to Jesus…

We read in Luke 7:24-28 “When the messengers of John departed [Because John was rotting in prison and He needed to know, “Are You the Coming One or do we look for another?” So after Jesus healed many… ], He began to speak to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? [Rhetorical question… NO] 25 But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed those who are gorgeously appareled and live in luxury are in kings’ courts. 26 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is he of whom it is written [fulfilling Mal 3:1]: ‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.’ 28 For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

John, still alive, was honored by Jesus with this powerful public coronation…

John was a prisoner who was about to die for truth, but was elevated as the greatest OT prophet…

… for he was the only one to see and point to the long awaited Messiah.

And even still… Jesus considers Church Age believers to be even greater… for Jesus’ redemptive work came to completion after John…

Jesus died on the cross for sin… rose again proving the sacrifice was accepted and becoming the first fruits of those who will rise again to eternal life…

He ascended… so the Holy Spirit would descend to in-dwell believers and baptize them with the Spirit…

So… knowing our advantages… we should live knowing we are greater than John.

Thus, if John wasn’t going to turn a blind eye to what was going down in his back yard.

Nor should we… and there very well may be a time may come when God leads you to call out evil…

This may be at your school… at your work… to a politician… to a family member or neighbor or someone at church…

And when you do… there may be personal cost…

A loss of friendship… strained relationships… you might get fired or passed up for promotion…

There may even come a day when Jesus’ words of persecution are true in our country and in our lifetime.

‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.” John 15:20

I hope not to see those days… but if Christians bury their heads in the sand… especially in the realm of politics…

… and tolerance and compromise to sin…

… and embracing false world religions… namely Islam…

What do you think will happen to our country?

And, this line of thought got me thinking… perhaps even as prompted by the Holy Spirit… about one of the greatest Kings of Judah… King Hezekiah. Next to King Josiah… Hezekiah was probably the 2nd greatest.

Hezekiah was known for his religious reforms… for restoring temple worship… for great faith during the Assyrian crisis…

But, I wasn’t thinking of all the good he did…

What came to mind was his major recorded failure… late in life, he entertain an envoy of visitors.

He was attentive to them… he proudly showed them all his treasures… and his armory… and all of his dominion. He revealed all.

And Isaiah the prophet asked King Hezekiah, “What did these men say, and from where did they come to you?”

So Hezekiah said, “They came from a far country, from Babylon.”

And we read in 2 Kings 20:16–17 “Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord: 17 ‘Behold, the days are coming when all that is in your house, and what your fathers have accumulated until this day, shall be carried to Babylon; nothing shall be left,’ says the Lord.”

And some 115-120 years later the word of the Lord was fulfilled… as king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon invaded Judah.

And I see this account as a caution to us. When we let our guard down… and let pagan envoys in… what do we expect will happen to our country?

When unbelievers are voted into politics… they will want to indoctrinate our sons into the ways of Babylon.

Isaiah prophesied to Hezekiah in 2 Kings 20:18 “‘And they shall take away some of your sons who will descend from you, whom you will beget; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.’ ””

How many of Judah did not stand strong like Daniel and his friends? How many changed their identities?

And after 70 years in Babylon only a minority of Jews chose to leave Babylon to return to Israel in Ezra and Nehemiah.

So… I am concerned… rather deeply troubled… when those of Islam and other anti-biblical philosophies gain a foothold in our land…

For they will seek to restrict Christian freedoms… and persecute those of faith.

They are not kingdom citizens… they are foreign envoys… and they seek to change this land.

I would love to see unbelieving envoys come to faith, but that doesn’t mean we should put them into trusted positions.

The Bible instructs separation from darkness.

Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 6:14 “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?”

So, how can we try to be unified with groups who deny the Lord Jesus Christ?

One big ex is Islam… they lower Jesus to a mere prophet… and deny that He is God.

Which is the common position for cults as well.

But He is God. Several verses attest of this.

Two of the strongest…

Father God Himself is quoted saying in Hebrews 1:8 “But to the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever...”

In John 8:58 Jesus said “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.””

Equating Himself to God… the I AM who appeared to Moses at the burning bush.

The Jews picked up stones to stone Him… they understood His divine proclamation.

We should not be tolerant of these foreign envoys… this was the biggest failure of King Hezekiah.

He let his guard down.

He wasn’t bold enough like John the Baptist to call evil out.

Hezekiah in his accomplishments, wealth, and being healed… he became proud… 2 Chronicles 32:25 confirms “But Hezekiah did not repay according to the favor shown him, for his heart was lifted up; therefore wrath was looming over him and over Judah and Jerusalem.”

God sparred Hezekiah’s life from illness and Hezekiah did not properly respond to the Lord’s favor… so wrath was looming…

Fortunately… the following verse testified Hezekiah did humble himself for his and Jerusalem’s pride… and the Lord’s wrath did not come in the days of Hezekiah.

How are you humbling your heart before the Lord Christian… how are you interceding on the behalf our our nation?

Monthly there are prayer gathering here in town… Kosciusko prays… Quarterly on the 5th Wednesday we as a church gather to pray…

Humble your heart and gather to intercede with us.

After the envoy of Babylon… and after Isaiah’s prophecy that Judah would be conquered sadly… Hezekiah responds to Isaiah as such in…

2 Kings 20:19 “The word of the Lord which you have spoken is good!” For he said, “Will there not be peace and truth at least in my days?””

Some take this as Hezekiah simply accepting the judgment, and being thankful Babylon would at least not come in his days.

Others see this as a smug and selfish response, as in… “well at least I get to live out my days in peace.”

Probably the first interpretation is true given Hezekiah’s historically good character.

But look… either way… I want to see peace and truth reign in our land…

But if we keep giving allowance for evil… if we keep allowing Babylonian envoys in… and don’t humble ourselves from pride…

Where will our nation go but down?

And, so… going back to John… John saw the evil ways of Herod… and he could have been silent…

He could have been like everyone else… afraid of the consequences and just tolerated Herod’s evil.

Consider… had John NOT called Herod out… John would have lived. He could have gone about his days and ministry.

But, he wouldn’t have been able to live with himself.

So… He chose to speak truth… and he rebuked a powerful and crazy man…

Over being quiet… and living out his days,

Better to die, than remain silent and let evil have it’s day unchecked.

And he spoke out not only against the unlawful union, but as Luke wrote in V19 “for all the evils Herod had done.”

And added to all his other evils in V20, Luke writes “above all”… the worst evil was he “shut John up in prison.”

Josephus tells us this was the fortress Machaerus which means sword in Gk.

I have a map which shows you the present day location of the ruins of Machaerus… they lie on the East side of the Dead Sea in modern day Jordan.

On the next slide, you see the archaeological evidence which proves this location was real.

Unlike with the Mormon cult… which still has no widely accepted archaeological evidence.

Though there are many claims in the Book of Mormon… of cities with millions of people… and wars… of chariots in central and South America…

Yet… they have found no coins… no swords… and they won’t because it’s a fiction.

But, John was in a real fortress prison… and on the last slide… we see an artist’s recreation of Machaerus… where Herod Antipas had John brought to… and bound…

Now… as irate at Herod must have been… why didn’t he just kill John immediately?

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

So, he didn’t kill John, but imprisoned him… which Mark 6:17 tells us Herod did “for the sake of Herodias.”

So, Herod seems to be a people pleaser… please the multitude… please his wife… doing what he can to keep the peace.

Mark 6:19–20… also tells us that after John called out the illegal union, “Herodias held it against him [a single Gk word meaning “to be entangled or ensnared in a hostile manner.” She held a hostile grudge] and wanted to kill him, but she could not; 20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he protected him. And when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.”

As rendered in the NASB: “when he heard him, he was very perplexed; but he used to enjoy listening to him.”

Herod’s quite the complex guy… a man with much power… but also much fear… surely afraid of what how one bad move may topple his appointed throne.

He had seen many before him in his family lose their lives… and be removed from power for one false slip.

So, Herod is allowing fear… and pleasing others… to dictate his direction.

Pro 29:25 states, “The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe.”

And Herod is ensnared by his fear of man.

When your mind becomes consumed with the fear of man and pleasing others… you become ensnared…

… and robbed of the present…and peace and joy.

And Herod was ensnared… for he lacked many of the spiritual resources that we have at our disposal… namely God’s Holy Spirit… and our trust in the One true God.

And as Herod fear the people… for they consider him a prophet… and feared John for he was just and holy… though Herod and Herodias wanted to kill John…

Herod only arrested John.… he didn’t want to incite a mob… plus Herod knew John was a “just and holy man.”

In his heart, Herod knows John was “just” meaning “correct or righteous, by implication innocent.”

And, Herod knew John was “holy” or “separated… set apart… consecrated to God”…

Mark wrote Herod protected him… meaning “to keep close or preserve...”

And, Herod spent time with his prisoner… he enjoyed talking with John even though what John had to say was perplexing to him.

As the truths of Scripture and our faith often are to unbelievers… but they are often drawn to truth… even if the truth is veiled to them.

Herod was a guy who liked to listen to a preacher… though he rejected the preacher’s master… and suppressed the truth in unrighteousness.

And, I think what Mark 6:20 is telling us is Herod knew John was right in calling him out… and he knew John shouldn’t be imprisoned…

And It would seem that Herod’s conscience was eating away at him. He was guilty… and he was haunted.

Instead of standing up for what was right… he imprisoned the voice of truth.... but then spent time with him and protected him… to ease his conscience.

And You get a sense that Herod’s conscience was haunted by the memory of John… in his words around 2 years later…

When Herod first heard about Jesus he said in Mark 6:16 “This is John, whom I beheaded; he has been raised from the dead!”

He seemed convinced that John had come back to haunt him from the dead.

A guilty conscience can wreak havoc on one’s peace. And Herod seemed weighed down by the death of John indeed.

It’s wildly foreboding that as John is imprisoned at Machaerus again meaning “the sword”… John’s head would be removed by a sword or some sharp object of the executioner…

If you’ll turn over to Mark 6… let’s just quickly read through the account of John’s death…

After John had openly rebuked Herod for marrying Herodias… his brother Phillip’s wife… we read in…

Mark 6:19-29 “Therefore Herodias held it against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not; 20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he protected him. And when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly. 21 Then an opportune day came when Herod on his birthday gave a feast for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee.

John had been in prison now for 1-2 years… but now an opportune day came. Opportune could be translated as “timely or strategic” and certainly it was for Herodias… who had been holding a grudge ever since John called her and Herod out some 1-2 years prior.

No doubt wine was flowing at this prestigious party… and how many poor decision have been made with decreased inhibitions under the influence of drink?

Herod should have heeded the advice of Pro 31:4-5 “It is not for kings, O Lemuel,It is not for kings to drink wine, Nor for princes intoxicating drink; 5 Lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the justice of all the afflicted.”

V22 And when Herodias’ daughter herself came in and danced, and pleased Herod and those who sat with him, the king said to the girl, “Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you.”

Her daughter was Salome… she was just a teen… and it’s thought she dances the seductive “Dance of the Seven Veils.”

Herodias was an immoral woman and a bad mom. She didn’t protect her daughter, but used her for her own vengeance… sending her out to dance in front of many powerful men.

And, coaches her daughter to request the murder of John… and continuing to perpetuate trauma to the next generation.

V23 He also swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”

Herod… surrounded by nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee… decides to flex his muscles… and throws out a foolish oath…

Offering something he couldn’t give… something only a legitimate King could offer.

In the Book of Esther… king Ahasuerus said this same proverbial saying “up to half my kingdom”, but unlike Ahasuerus … Herod had no kingdom to give.

Rome ruled. Herod was a mere Tetrarch… and a pawn of Rome.

Nevertheless… he made an oath in front of powerful people… and now he is backed into a corner… and Herodias recognizes the opportune moment to avenge her hurt pride.

Be careful not to set yourself up for failure like Herod did here. When you add alcohol + pride + peer pressure the result is poor choices.

How many of us have a story we wish we could take back?… where alcohol + pride + peer pressure resulted in a mistake in our own lives?

Praise God for His grace…

But, sometimes… life consequences will linger.

I’m fully confident there are many felons out there who have honestly changed… they’re not the same person they used to be… but that felony lingers in their record and makes life difficult.

You can read through the life of king David post Bathsheba and Urijah… so many consequences of David’s poor choices lingered in his life.

There is grace… there is forgiveness… but that may not erase hurt and harm caused… we may have to own and live with the poor decision of the past.

The wise person sees someone else’s mistake and doesn’t make the same mistake themselves.

Proverbs 24:32 states, “When I saw it, I considered it well; I looked on it and received instruction:”

Well Salome… now with this opportune moment…

V24 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.” 26 And the king was exceedingly sorry; yet, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he did not want to refuse her.

He was exceedingly sorry… meaning “deeply grieved”…

Because NOW… he realizes either John or his own pride must die.

Either he orders the death of John… or he lays down his pride in front of his peers… and take back the words of his oath… which he is unwilling to do as it may make him appear weak… and it was a matter of pride.

So he did not want to refuse her… not for her sake but for his own.

Pride is a dangerous emotion… in fact lethal as we see in this scene… Herod chooses to put to death John over his own pride.

We are well familiar with Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.”

And I want you to keep this in mind… for as I mentioned earlier… Herod and Herodias’ love affair was one of the most destructive love affairs in ancient history.

Which was no exaggeration… and scholars link Herod’s demise back to this prideful moment where he will not humble himself to take back his careless oath that he spouted… in front of nobles, high officers, and chief men.

And Pro 16:18 reigns true to this day… maybe it’s just my perception, but it seems that in the past decade or so… there have been an increased number of prideful people fall…

People who think they can get away with anything… thinking their power and influence and wealth will save them…

I personally knew and worked directly with two millionaires who were toppled… brought low… stripped of position and careers in insurance… due to pride.

And you’ll hear in a moment the downfall of Herod and Herodias… beginning with this… and one other major prideful moment.

Caution your heart against pride… humble yourself… or scripture says you will be humbled.

So, Herod… unwilling to put to death his pride… put to death John instead.

V27 Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded his head to be brought. And he went and beheaded him in prison, 28 brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother. 29 When his disciples heard of it, they came and took away his corpse and laid it in a tomb.”

Which was the only act of decency recorded in that entire account… And that would be the end of John’s story… as told in Mark 6.

A bold man who would call Pharisees, Sadducees, and even a multitude of Jews a “brood of vipers”… challenging their notions of self-righteousness… and telling them to look to the coming king.

Certainly a challenge on their pride.

John a humble man… who when the crowds start to flock to Jesus and John’s disciples are concerned…

John said he was not the Christ, but the friend of the bridegroom… rejoicing to hear His voice.

John said his joy was fulfilled… and “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

He fulfilled His role as the forerunner… and would be used speak bold truth to Herod…

First… in calling him out… and then having many conversation with Herod in prison… who as we read “heard him gladly.”

But… when a person hears truth… as Herod heard truth… and doesn’t allow it to sink into their heart… the wrath of God is revealed against their ungodliness and unrighteousness… as Rom 1:18 declares.

When men suppress the truth in unrighteousness… Rom 1:28 declares “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting...” and goes on to list a multitude of sins.

And indeed they experience God’s wrath… namely the wrath of God’s abandonment. As they shut God out continually and harden their hearts… God eventually gives them what they want… He gives them up…

And one of the next times we see Herod as vividly as we did in Mark 6… will be at the trial of Jesus in Luke 23…

And God’s wrath of abandonment is on full display as Jesus stood before Herod in silence…

Herod was already a dead man walking. His mind was debased… and he was on the broad road to destruction… a fall that came because of his pride.

Remember earlier I told you to keep Pro 16:18 “Pride goes before a fall” in mind… and twice I’ve mentioned how Herod and Herodias’ love affair was one of the most destructive in history…

Well here’s why…

Herod indeed put an end to John around the year 30 A.D.… delivering his head to Salome… who gave it to Herodias.

Herodias must have felt some twisted satisfaction in the moment, but within ten years… life as she knew it would come to an end.

There were two significant events leading to their end:

Remember that Nabataean king… Aretas? The Father of Antipas ex-wife who Herod left for Herodias?

Well… in 36 A.D., king Aretas declared war on Herod… and launched a full scale invasion annihilating Antipas’s army in a single battle… one of the worst Herodian defeats in history.

Interesting… regarding the defeat… Josephus (in Antiquities 18) wrote, “Now, some of the Jews thought that the destruction of Herod’s army came from God [as a mark of God’s displeasure against him], and that very justly, as a punishment of what he did against John, that was called the Baptist;”

So, the Jewish Historian Josephus records that in the minds of many Jews… there was a correlation between Herod’s staggering defeat… and divine justice for the murder of John.

And then… their final downfall would come three years later in 39A.D., again as recorded by Josephus.

After ruling Galilee and Perea peacefully and prosperously for some 42-43 years, Antipas lost everything in a single stroke.

Herodias’ full brother, and Antipas’ 1/2 nephew (Agrippa I), was awarded the title of “king” in 37 B.C. by Roman Emperor Caligula.

Herodias… who now had enormous influence over Antipas… Josephus repeatedly wrote how she “pushed” and “dominated” Antipas.

And she was furious that her brother had been awarded the royal title of king… now outranking her husband who remained a “tetrarch.”

So. in her ambition… she pushed Antipas to sail to Rome… even calling him a “coward” if he did not… to ask Emperor Caligula for the title of “king”… which he did… against his better judgment… in 39 A.D.

He had already ruled for over 4 decades… He was rich… He was in his late 50’s… this was just another move fueled by his wife’s ambition and protecting his pride.

But before Antipas arrived before Caesar, Agrippa betrayed him.

There was a long history of rivalry and resentment between Agrippa and Herodias.

Agrippa had spent most of his life broke, in debt, and dependent on handouts — including from Antipas and Herodias when he was at his lowest.

And Herodias was not shy to make it known that her brother was charming but irresponsible.

So now that her “worthless brother” outranked her husband… and Antipas was making a power grab move…

Agrippa decided to betray his sister and uncle…

Removing Antipas meant:

Agrippa’s territory would double… so he was motivated by personal ambition.

Agrippa could settle the old family score and silence his sister’s incessant and humiliating jabs.

And, Agrippa would protect himself from Herodias betraying him first… fully aware of her jealousy now that he was “king.”

And if Antipas became “king Antipas”… and roles reversed in the future… Antipas might retaliate.

And look… this is just one of many tales of Herodian family dramas and ruthless politics.

So… before he was outplayed, Agrippa outplayed Antipas and Herodias.

Agrippa sent letters to Emperor Caligula… before Antipas arrived… accusing Antipas of:

Stockpiling enough weapons to arm 70,000 men (which was true).

And, conducting secret negotiations with enemies of Rome.

And when Caligula was able to confirm that Antipas indeed had a stockpile of weapons… that was enough proof of potential rebellion…

And immediately, Antipas was stripped of his tetrarchy...

His personal fortune and property was confiscated and give to Agrippa.

And he was exiled (banished for life) to Gaul (modern day France). Surprisingly, Herodias voluntarily followed Antipas into exile…

So, for Antipas… the murder of John… this was his final act.

He had survived this Herodian family drama that had killed three of his brothers, and countless others… until he finally didn’t.

In short: Antipas fell in love with his own niece/sister-in-law, divorced a powerful Arab princess to marry her, executed the prophet who condemned the marriage, and then — ten years later — was destroyed politically because his new wife could not bear to be outranked by her own brother.

It was a story of the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes… and pride of life.

He stands in contrast to John… John feared God… Antipas feared man… and though both ended their lives probably not how they expected… only John would store up treasure in heaven.

And Antipas’ exile… some say they took their own lives… others say they simply disappeared into obscurity…

Whatever the case… Proverbs 16:18 stands true… “Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.”

Though he ruled for over 4 decades… a couple prideful and ambitious mistakes… and they lost all.

Agrippa I played the game better and destroyed him with a single well-timed betrayal.

And don’t think Agrippa just rode off into the sunset… pride was also his downfall.

This is the same Agrippa that would be eaten by worms in Acts 12 for accepting the praise of the people who shouted, “The voice of a god and not of a man!”

His epitaph is recorded in Acts 12:23 “Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died.”

And look… we can look at this end of John’s life as a tragic ending.

We could say… yeah… John spoke boldly against evil… and look what it got him…

He spent his final 1-2 years in prison… and then his life was cut short by the executioner’s blade.

We could say it was a tragic ending.

But I think the greater tragedy is to disappear into obscurity. To risk nothing for the Lord.

To say no to service unto the Lord. To be called and stall in complacency.

To be partially obedient or delayed in obedience.

Or to end like Demas… forsaking his brethren, having loved this present world.

There is a greater tragedy than being bold for God… and losing one’s life.

The proper way to view the end of John the Baptist’s life… is NOT that of tragedy, but of one of the most powerful and courageous testimonies in all of Scripture.

Remember John’s end… not as tragedy, but as victory:

John refused to compromise even when it would have saved his life.

John did not stay silent or soften his message…

He rebuked the many evils of Herod.

John obeyed God rather than men… even when facing a man in power… who had the authority of the sword.

John indeed died, but he lived on mission:

John joyfully fulfilled his purpose to point to Jesus and say, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

And even before John died, Jesus honored him stating, “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist.”

John “decreased so Jesus might increase”

John was joyful that people were flocking to Jesus…

… And John’s death did not end his mission, it sealed it… his disciples would become Jesus’ disciples…

John fell off the scene and all the multitudes had their eyes on Jesus.

And John got the death of a prophet—a high honor in Israel.

“From the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah”… God’s prophets often died violently at the hands of God’s own people.

John was the last of the OT Prophets who was at the end of that long bloodline.

John’s head being carried on a platter… was not John failing… it was him graduating into the company of the prophets… some of the greatest saints who ever lived.

So, yes… John’s final years were in a remote desert dungeon…

He knew each day could be his last. But he still carried on truthful conversations with the man who imprisoned him.

He still loved his enemy whom he called out in sin.

The same enemy who would order his death.

And the soldier would come. The blade would fall. His life would end.

But as a man of faith… his eyes would open again… though not in a dungeon, but in paradise.

John’s end was not a tragedy… but of the boldest, bravest, most triumphant ways a forerunner could ever finish the race…

… and his life and his end stand as a challenge to how we run our race as well.

Let’s pray!

If you need prayer for anything, there will be people to pray with you on the sides as we close in song.

I pray you enter this week ahead running your race well… being led by the Spirit… and should He call you to speak boldly that you would be faithful.

God bless you as you go.