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John the Immerser – The Harbinger of Messiah (5 of 5)

Focus Text: Mark 6.16-20

“But when Herod heard, he said, ‘This is John, whom I beheaded; he has been raised from the dead!’ For Herod himself had sent and laid hold of John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife; for he had married her. For John had said to Herod, ‘It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.’ Therefore Herodias held it against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not; 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.” (Mark 6.16-20).

Whatever one may say about Herod, he was a good judge of character – at least in the case of John. Notice that he saw John as “…a just and holy man.” It was this estimate of John that caused him to respect and even protect him. Herodias was not so generous with her estimate. In fact, her view was quite the opposite; she wanted to kill John! Talk about opposites attracting, here is a case in point! Her desire to kill John was but a hint of her contempt for the man whom her live-in lover saw as “just and holy.”

Even though John explicitly and unmistakably condemned Herod’s actions, yet he respected him. Perhaps it was the case that it was John’s candor that added to Herod’s respect for the man! Whatever the case, Mark records that Herod was moved to protect him based upon this estimate of him. Respect for another person, such as Herod had for John, does not necessarily mean agreement, just that one’s character demands commendation. Even those who hold false or contrary views are due respect if they conduct themselves honorably in their error. Perhaps, this was the reason for Herod’s respect for John. Whatever the basis, Herod’s estimate of the man was right on target!

It was unfortunate that Herod was not of the same character as John. Even though his estimate of the man was on target, his own character was not strong enough to stand for what he believed. Herod was, in this respect, somewhat like Pilate in his view of and actions toward Jesus. Though he found no fault in him, Pilate bowed to the wishes of others and delivered Him to be crucified. In a similar vein, Herod bowed to the demented and evil designs of Herodias and consented to her desires to have him beheaded. This weakness of character, the weakness of Pilate and Herod, is the same weakness that is the moral undoing of so many in high places; when they bow at the feet of public opinion, they become monster in principle, if not in fact! As in the case of Herod, he was moved to murder the man whom he esteemed and protected! What a contradiction of thoughts and actions!

Herod and Herodias were opposites, so were John and Herod; John was his own man and Herod was any person’s man who could advance his ambitions! Were it not for this fatal character flaw in Herod, perhaps the story would have ended differently, but so much for what if’s! John, Messiah’s Harbinger, was a man of unexcelled character and his murderer was a man of unexcelled evil! It takes little discernment to know which of the two is worthy of our admiration.

Questions:

1. Why did Herod respect John?

2. Why did Herodias want to kill John? What did she have against him?

3. What was Herod’s fatal character flaw as revealed in his dealings with John?

4. How would you characterize John’s stand for truth before Herod and Herodias? What did it cost him? What did it gain him? Was it worth it? Why or why not?

"Voice of Inspiration" from Andy Castro

Treason