The Haunting of Herod

Herod was a haunted man. But, like all haunted people, he was not haunted by ghosts, but by illusions in his mind.

Herod was a character.

He really loved his power and authority and thought a great deal of himself.

He shared a name with others who were addicted to power, position, and wealth.

Though his ego was over-sized, his heart was not cold enough to be frozen. He held a fascination with John the Baptist. He was able to recognize that something in him that was different from other people.

It confused him. His ignition switch for God-consciousness was shooting out some sparks, but the conflict within him always kept the engine from turning over.

He had fear and fascination and they could have led somewhere ... they could have led to faith and repentance, but it would have cost Herod more than he was willing to pay.

John merely lost his head from his shoulders. Herod lost everything.

" for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly."  -Mark 6:20 

Question - What is the fair market value of power, position, and wealth? What is the personal cost? What does it cost others for us to crave it?

Bigger Question - What is it really worth?

Question -What delusions must we cultivate to accumulate these fleeting commodities?

Bigger Question - When "all" is lost, what will you have gained?

It might depend on your definition of "all."

Herod held a fascination with John the Baptist. He was able to recognize that something in him that was different from other people.

It confused him.

His ignition switch for God-consciousness was shooting out some sparks, but the conflict within him always kept the engine from turning over. He had fear and fascination and they could have led somewhere ... they could have led to faith and repentance, but it would have cost Herod more than he was willing to pay.

John merely lost his head from his shoulders. Herod lost everything.

"...for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly." - Mark 6:20 

“For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” – Matthew 3:3

Every prophetic function with its fulfillment has its counterpart in our lives and it is up to us to seek it. What does it mean for us, as the people of God, to prepare the way for the Lord? How have those who have gone before us prepared a straight path for Him in our lives?

How have events and people shaped us so that we could be ready to receive His Word?

God’s ways always involve preparation. He does nothing haphazardly or without thought and planning. When He desires to speak, He prepares the message, the messenger, and the hearer. When He is about to act, He informs His servants the prophets. He is a God of precision and perfect order. He does all things well.

John the Baptist was God’s man in God’s timing. His life was his ministry and he learned to look beyond the obvious and to seek God deeply. He patiently awaited the coming of the messiah and faithfully proclaimed the message God had given him through the days of waiting.

God never wastes time or calls us to bide our time. Everything, all time, all preparation is meaningful and purposeful.

God is working His purpose out

As year succeeds to year;

God is working His purpose out,

And the time is drawing near.

Nearer and nearer draws the time,

The time that shall surely be,

When the earth is filled with the glory of God

As the waters cover the sea.

(Arthur C. Ainger, 1894)

Again ...

"But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead. "- Mark 6:16

Herod caught wind of the reports of Jesus' ministry, miracles, and message and it terrified him.

He thought he had solved his big problem with John the Baptist. As reluctant as he was to behead the prophet who kept pointing a finger at his chest, he must have assumed that the matter was settled once and for all.

Anyone who has tried to put a stop to cockroaches in their house knows that they breed quicker than we can kill them.

The God Movement that John had proclaimed, and that Jesus was propagating, would not die. No one could behead it. Nothing could stop it. They killed John, but there was Jesus. Jesus died, but he arose. He ascended, but he multiplied the movement r through his Spirit-filled people.

It certainly seemed that way to Herod.

John, whose indictment Herod had sought to silence, seemed to be back, haunting and taunting him.

We have had similar experiences when we have used our crude methods to silence the sound of our own consciences. We have felt haunted when we have exerted energy to avoid the still small voice in our souls urging us to take another direction in life.

We have been haunted by our guilt, our shame, our regrets, and our knowledge that our lives are not what either God or we ourselves want them to be.

Our response to that is more avoidance, terror, and greater haunting.

Herod cowered in his cold, dark, room,

Haunted by the rumors of a seer,

Trembling at approaching doom,

Overwhelmed with guilt and fear.

Herod could have responded the grace of God at any time. So can we. We can choose, to be haunted by the rumors of Jesus or drawn to his embrace. It is a choice.

What will you choose?

The old hymn says:

Jesus is tenderly calling thee home.