HEROD ANTIPAS

Herod the Great had four sons by multiple wives who took over portions of their father's kingdom. Of particular interest to us is Herod Antipas who ruled over Galilee and Peraea. This Herod is first mentioned in Luke 3:1-3: "Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, Herod being tetrarch of Galilee...the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness."

A second-generation confrontation was brewing between the Herod family and the cause of Christ. Both Matthew 14:5 and the Jewish historian Josephus testify that Herod Antipas was afraid that John the Baptist's influence over the people might lead to a rebellion.

Matt. 14:3,4 also states that Herod had imprisoned John on account of his declaring that his marriage with Herodias was unlawful. Herodias had been married to Herod Antipas' half-brother Philip, when Herod Antipas came to Jerusalem he desired Herodias. He told her he would repudiate his own wife and marry her. This he did and she became his ruin. If Herod had listened to John and put away this unlawful marriage, his career would likely have ended differently. Herodias was so demanding of power in behalf of her husband, that she cost him his job. Both were latter banished and disgraced.

Herodias wanted John put to death. Could it be that she feared the possibility that John's words might sink into Herod's conscience?  This is not as preposterous as it might seem. Herod had imprisoned John for his boldness, but there was something about his conviction that demanded even Herod Antipas' respect. Mark 6:20 says, "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."

In Matthew 14 we read that John lay in the darkness of a dungeon as Herod Antipas and prominent men celebrated Herod's birthday. Music and revelry and wine were everywhere. Herodias had a daughter who entered the room and danced before his guests. This dance pleased Herod, and he promised, "Whatever you ask of me, I will give it to you; up to half of my kingdom" -- surely he must have been drunk to make such an offer.

Prompted by her mother, said, "Give me John the Baptist's head here on a platter" (Matt. 14:8). "And the king was sorry; nevertheless, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him at the table, he commanded it to be given to her" (MAT 14:9). Unfaithful to God, unfaithful to his conscience, unfaithful to truth and righteousness, Herod stayed faithful to a half-drunken oath.

Into the dungeon the guards went. The door opens, the prisoner was grabbed and beheaded. The head is placed in a charger, and the gruesome present was sent to the girl and her mother.

And as black as that night was, there would be another even darker.

Not long after John was put to death, Herod began to hear rumors that stung his conscience and whipped up his superstitious imagination. When Jesus began His work, Luke 9:7-9 states, "Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by Him; and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead, and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the old prophets had risen again. And Herod said, "John I have beheaded, but who is this of whom I hear such things?" And he sought to see Him."

For times sake we jump to another scene when Jesus was on trial before Pilate. The Roman governor was trapped between thinking Jesus is innocent, and thinking he cannot further anger the Jews. At that moment another strange twist of fate or providence throws Jesus into the hands of Herod. Luke 23:7 says of Pilate, "As soon as he knew that He belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time."

Herod Antipas' father, Herod the Great, had sought to stamp out this rival king in infancy. Now this next generation of Herods would come face to face with Jesus. The first desire of this Herod was curiosity. "Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad; for he had desired for a long time to see Him, because he had heard many things about Him, and he hoped to see some miracle done by Him" (Luke 23:8)

Jesus, however, would not satisfy his coarse curiosity. Herod "questioned Him with many words, but He answered him nothing." Seeing that Jesus would not play his game, the interrogation turned ugly. Herod, with his men of war, treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him back to Pilate"

I cannot help but think of Jesus' statement a few hours before, "Do you think I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at my disposal more than 12 legions of angels." To know as Jesus did that Herod had beheaded John, and now stood there mocking Jesus, laughing at Him, toying with Him, treating Him with utter contempt, must have been an extreme exercise in true love. His love for us and for God was what drove Jesus to put up with Herod's blasphemy.