Old Llantrisant Hill
Intro
- Sometimes terrible things happen to holy people
- There are certain decisions that change our lives (e.g. wedding day, birth of children, perhaps taking a job)
- There are some decisions that are made for us or are outside of our control can change our lives (e.g. illness, death)
- John the Baptist - decision outside of his control
- Herod the King - decision in his control
- An "opportune day" arose - it probably started the same as any other
- Herod had been listening to John the Baptist
- Herod had started responding to God's word
- Herod makes a rash statement
- Drastic consequences
- John was in Prison
- John's preaching whilst in prison influenced Herod
- Paul's preaching whilst in prison influenced King Agrippa
- Joseph had to get to the dungeon before he could get to Pharaoh
Herod was so near and yet so far
- Herod feared John (v20)
- He was a just and holy man (v20)
- He protected John by putting him in prison (v20)
- Herod took his brother's wife - imagine what that must have done to the family
- John challenged Herod on this - he didn't just preach to the Jews
- John was a gracious and loving man, why else would Herod have listened to him or protect him
- Herod had the opportunity to speak to John at any time - he "heard him gladly" (v20)
- There was a moral reformation occurring in Herod
- Herod was so near to becoming a child of God - he was hearing the word, he was responding to the word, he was receptive
- Herod was so far - he was still holding onto one sin (adultery), listening and obeying to a point, refusing to believe
- Are you like Herod - are you holding back, is there as secret sin, is there something you are holding onto and can't let go?
Herod's downfall
- Committed adultery - not just of another man, but his brother, moreover he married her
- Jezebel - a very wicked woman, Ahab just followed his wife
- Herod is being controlled by a woman
- Herod is not being controlled by God's word or the prophet
- Herodias - very wicked
- Couldn't stand the word of the prophet, couldn't stand the word of God, she hated John and hated God's word
- Wanted to kill John at any opportunity and immediately asked for John's head
- Jesus said of John 'Of all men born of woman, there was no-one more humble than him'
- Is there one sin that has mastery over you and is stopping you from coming to Jesus Christ?
- Herod was more concerned about not losing his reputation that being honourable
- Peer pressure is a real thing, not just for children, but for adults too
- Herod loved the praise of men more than the praise of God
- What are our priorities?
The disastrous consequences
- His mind was troubled
- 'There is no rest for the wicked'
- He thought John the Baptist had risen from the dead (v14 and v16)
- He was left with terrible guilt
- His friends must have thought that all was well
- Herod was a loser - he had to live with an evil conscience and hell bound
- John was a winner - he was in glory
- The disciples were sad
- Today is the day to respond to Jesus Christ
- Many who fell at Jesus feet were not concerned with their reputation