1 Courage to Match Convictions 11/12/2011 What will you do when it is time to pay the dancers?

Mat 14:3 For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife. Mat 14:4 For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her. Mat 14:5 And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet. Mat 14:6 But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod. Mat 14:7 Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask. Mat 14:8 And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger. Mat 14:9 And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her. Mat 14:10 And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison. Mat 14:11 And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother. "In 1883, a youthful clergyman, the Rev. Joe Roberts, arrived by stagecoach in a blizzard to minister to the Indians of Wyoming. This great, wild area had been assigned to the Protestant Episcopal Church by President Grant. Soon after Joe Roberts arrived, the son of the chief was shot by a soldier in a brawl, and Chief Washakie vowed to kill the first white man he met. Since this might mean the start of a long, bloody feud, young Roberts decided to take action. Seeking out the tepee, fifteen miles away in the mountains, he stood outside and called the chiefs name. When Washakie appeared, Roberts opened his shirt. "I have heard of your vow," he said, "I know that the other white men have families, but I am alone. Kill me instead." The chief was amazed and motioned him into his tent. "How do you have so much courage?" he asked. Joe Roberts told him about Christ, His death, His teachings. They talked for hours. When Joe left, the chief of the Shoshones had renounced his vow to kill and resolved to become a Christian.

2 Courage to Match Convictions 11/12/2011 What will you do when it is time to pay the dancers?

The Gospel presents John as fulfilling the roles: of "prophet" and "forerunner". The prophetic portrayal of John the Baptist is that of one who came out of the desert to proclaim the advent of the Kingdom of God and issue a call of repentance. He wore a camel's hair cloak and a leather belt. He ate locust and wild honey. The second role is that of a "forerunner. A forerunner was a military term that was used for soldiers who ran ahead of the regular army, either to announce or to prepare for its arrival. The forerunner is a herald or a scout. The passage this morning is about that resistance; it is a report of John's heralding and scouting activity. Mark is stating that John's ministry designated the beginning of the story of Jesus Christ; John's death signals the beginning of the end for Jesus. John is presented as a man with a mission, a man with convictions, a man who did the right thing regardless of the consequences. And yet, I want to identify with John, the honorable one, the convicting one, the one who does the right thing regardless of the consequences, a man who trusts so much in his God that he risked his life and lost it. While some can identify with John many can also identify with Herod. The one without honor. The one whose convictions are changed by whatever pleases him. The one who does the wrong thing. The one who trusts in his own power and his own promises. The one who is concerned with his image. Herods biggest liability is his own sense of power; it's his own sense of self-importance; it's his own misguided attempt to be revered, to look good, to be the "golden boy." Herod had arrested John because John challenged the validity of his marriage to Herodias. This may seem like an over-reaction on Herod's part, but a popular prophetic figure who used Scripture to denounce the legitimacy of a ruling family was a serious political threat. Herod knew that his legitimacy was weak in the minds of the populace. John's

3 Courage to Match Convictions 11/12/2011 What will you do when it is time to pay the dancers?

accusations that Herod's marriage was an offense to God had the very real possibility of removing what little loyalty the people had for Herod. So Herod shut John up in a very literal sense. He arrested and imprisoned him, getting John out of the public arena and reducing his political threat This arrangement also allowed for Herod to offer some protection of this troublesome prophet, whom, Mark tells, he loved to hear preach. Herod had a birthday party. It was an occasion to demonstrate pomp and power. It was basically an opportunity to show himself off to the important people and the military leaders and the first families of Galilee, all of his supporters and potential supporters, all of the backs that he had to scratch. Then, Herod's step-daughter danced. Commentators suggest this to have been a lewd dance extremely improper for royalty. Herod was so pleased that he promised her anything, up to half of his kingdom. And she took the opportunity that was given to her in an empty, selfimportant promise. She asked for the head of John the Baptist on a platter. Herod conceded. The man who was allegedly protecting John conceded. And John, the honorable one, the convicting one, the one who did the right thing, who took the road less traveled and did the right thing, died. I guess I should stop here and mention a presupposition which I hold when I approach Scripture and the individuals described therein. I believe that these people are pretty much just like me. From Moses to Judas, I know that within me I have the possibility of being either one. I believe that the Bible is not something to be used so that I can point my finger at others. I think that the Bible is to be used so I can point my finger at myself, seeing myself as I truly am, reminding myself of whom I am capable of being if I am not careful. When I am not careful, I behave just like Herod I believe that Herod became Herod by default and not be decision. I believe that if some of us had the power that Herod had over life and death, our palace would be decorated with the severed heads of those who stepped on our toes. our

4 Courage to Match Convictions 11/12/2011 What will you do when it is time to pay the dancers?

palace would be adorned with the heads of those who just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time when we were attempting to look good in front of our peers. Who among us has not intentionally given in to easier of the two choices, (the road most traveled), did the wrong thing simply because it was easier, simply because the right thing was too terrifying. Who among us has not given into our pride, our fear, our own sense of superiority. Who among us would not have cut of John's head if we were in Herod's position? The problem with life is that so much of it seems to be trial and error. Some of us have made so many errors that we are afraid to try. Some of us have made so many errors that we no longer feel worthy to try. I. He listened to the message The Herod story is one of the great soap opera stories of the Bible. With so many Herods in the Bible we are discussing herod antipas On a trip to Rome, Herod Antipas met Herodias. Supposedly they fell in love and both promptly divorced their spouses in favor of pursuing this new interest. So in this story, we have a niece marrying her uncle, only to divorce him in favor of another uncle. It was because of this adulterous relationship that John had strong words to say against Herod Antipas and Herodias. John fearlessly preached against their relationship. First, they were closely related and that was forbidden. Second, they were both married to someone else. they were both living in adultery. With these strong words, John preached the message that we see him preaching in the opening chapters of the gospel. His message was one of repentance and turning away from sin. John was calling on people to lives of righteousness in expectation of the coming Messiah. And John expected Herod Antipas and his lover Herodias to do the same. Now Herodias response was one of anger. The Word tells us clearly that she wanted to kill John. Herod was a little different though. Herod actually enjoyed listening to John. Its really a strange little statement in the middle

5 Courage to Match Convictions 11/12/2011 What will you do when it is time to pay the dancers?

of the story. John is basically preaching hellfire and brimstone, and Herod enjoys every minute of it. It is this way with many people and many Christians in this world. The word of God is exciting. They enjoy hearing about it. Again and again articles about the Bible and different aspects of it appear on the covers of major newsmagazines. The Left Behind series which even though it is fiction, is basically teaching about the end times has sold over 63 million copies. and consistently made it on the best sellers list when eact. Conferences with big name Bible teachers are almost always sold out. People enjoy hearing about the word of God. Some will even take it a step farther. Instead of just listening, they will actually begin to think about what they are hearing. II. He thought about the message Thats the next thing we see about Herod. He enjoyed listening to John preach even though it puzzled him at times. To be puzzled means to think about something without ever fully grasping what it means. As Herod went about his business, Johns words kept ringing in his ears. He pondered it, turned it over in his mind, yet he could never quite figure out what John was saying. Stranger still, Johns words surely convicted him of the sin that he was living in. Herod lived in guilt. The Bible tells us that Herod viewed John as being a holy and righteous man. Everyday Johns holiness and message were conviction upon Herods life. I like the way another version translates verse 20. Herod was in awe of John. Convinced that he was a holy man, he gave him special treatment. Whenever he listened to him he was miserable with guiltand yet he couldnt stay away. Something in John kept pulling him back. (The Message) Even though Johns message brought conviction and puzzled him greatly, Herod seemed to be constantly drawn back to the message. He kept listening. Many people have this in common with Herod. They love hearing Biblical things. Some people even enjoy it being preached straight. Herod

6 Courage to Match Convictions 11/12/2011 What will you do when it is time to pay the dancers?

had all these opportunities to respond to Gods word, and I believe Johns message was Gods word for Herod, yet he never responded. Transition: When one doesnt respond to the Word, accept its truth, and obey it, they leave themselves open to the influences of the sinful world and their own sinful desires. For Herod, this exactly what happened. Jas 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving (misbelieve) your own selves. III. His pride was more important Lets begin reading again from verse 21. 21 Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 22 When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the girl, Ask me for anything you want, and Ill give it to you. 23 And he promised her with an oath, Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom. 24 She went out and said to her mother, What shall I ask for? The head of John the Baptist, she answered. 25 At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter. 26 The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her. 27 So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring Johns head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison, 28 and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother. 29 On hearing of this, Johns disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb. If he would have responded to the Word, things could have been different, but he didnt and wicked plans were set in motion. While Herod enjoyed listening to John, Herodias bristled under his rebuke. When Herods birthday came, she set in motion the events to kill John. Knowing her

7 Courage to Match Convictions 11/12/2011 What will you do when it is time to pay the dancers?

husbands lust (proven by the fact that he had pursued her), she sent in her daughter by her first husband to dance provocatively for Herod and his guests. Dancing of this sort was degrading. Yet we see how far Herodias was willing to go to kill John, and how wicked Herod was that he allowed a royal daughter to display herself in such a way. As the dance ended, Herods pride and lust got the best of him. He wanted to impress those that were celebrating with him. He made the bold offer that the daughter can have anything she wants, even up to half his kingdom. It was a foolish offer. Herod was in a bind. This wasnt a request he could put aside. By asking for it on a platter, this daughter was declaring that she wanted Johns head now, it was to be part of the celebration. Herod had one more chance. He had one more chance to listen and obey the word. He should have humbled himself in front of his guests and refused to honor his rash promise. Instead, he had an innocent man murdered just so he could save face. IV. His pride killed This was the defining moment of Herod, when he ignored the word. Im constantly drawn back to the fact that he enjoyed listening to the truth that John preached, yet he was never willing to accept it and obey it. Because of that, I see two dead people as that party ends. John, the forerunner of our Lord Jesus, has been executed, and Herod has committed spiritual suicide. The last time we see Herod in the Scriptures comes in Luke 23:6-12. As I close, I want to read it. This takes place as Jesus is being tried. 6 On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean. 7 When he learned that Jesus was under Herods jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time. 8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform some miracle. 9 He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10 The chief priests and the

8 Courage to Match Convictions 11/12/2011 What will you do when it is time to pay the dancers?

teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. 11 Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate. 12 That day Herod and Pilate became friendsbefore this they had been enemies. Conclusion: The word had been preached to Herod. He had even felt the conviction it brought and thought deeply about it. In the end though, he refused to obey it. May we not be like Herod. May we not just listen to the word without ever acting upon it. But in every way possible may we take Gods Word and apply it to our lives and obey it. Lets pray.