Herod’s Downfall
Luke 23:6–12
[Herod] questioned [Jesus] at some length, but he made no answer. Luke 23:9

These were the steps in Herod’s fall, beginning with his encounter with John the Baptist: First, there was conviction of sin (see Matt. 14:1–5). But Herod did not welcome this conviction, being unwilling to part from his sin. He wished to be religious and keep his sin too. Therefore, second, he attempted to still the voice of conscience which, in this case, meant stilling the voice of John the Baptist. At first he tried prison. But once launched upon this course, he soon came to the position of murdering John both to satisfy Salome and also to rescue his own imagined honor (vv. 6–12). Third, having silenced the voice of conscience, which always insists upon the indispensible place of morality in true religion, Herod’s religious instincts turned to superstition. He thought that Jesus was John the Baptist raised from the dead (v. 1). Fourth, superstition turned to raw unbelief, for when Herod finally did have Jesus before him, he looked upon him only as one who might be prevailed upon to do a trick for the amusement of himself and his court (v. 8). Fifth and finally, when Jesus declined to perform for this by now rank profligate and unbeliever, Herod’s interest turned to derision, and he and his soldiers viciously scoffed at Jesus (v. 11). Having silenced him who was the Voice, it was no marvel that Herod now failed to hear or appreciate the Word.

You cannot treat God lightly. You cannot mock him. If you would meet him, you must be serious about the encounter, more serious than you have ever been about anything in your life before, and you must be ready to be changed profoundly by him.

What is God anyway? An intellectual curiosity? Someone who exists to provide you with free entertainment or free blessings? Is he as idle as you? Is he as frivolous? He is the great, holy, omnipotent God of the universe who takes the business of being God seriously. “I am the Lord your God,” he says. “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exod. 20:2–3). “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matt. 5:48). “You shall be holy” (1 Peter 1:16; cf. Lev. 11:44). Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Matt. 16:24).

This is what God requires. If you will not do that, then your religious sensibilities will decline, as did Herod’s. And the time will come when Jesus will depart from your presence, never to return. On the other hand, if you will repent of your sin and turn to him, then you will find that he has already received you and is at work to lead you in the way of righteousness. Will you come? Will you not turn your back on that sin that holds you in its grip and follow Jesus?

Taken from Come to the Waters by James Boice ISBN 9798887790954 used with permission from P&R Publishing, Phillipsburg NJ 08865

Scripture quotations are from the ESV (the Holy Bible English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.