Matthew 14:1-12, Don’t MISunderestimate Christ (2)

Here is an illustration of someone who did what we warned against in our previous post.  Herod concluded that Jesus was a resurrected John the Baptist (v2).  Why did he do this?  Because Herod had a conscience problem.  He had a certain liking for John and fear of John but put him to death simply to save face.  He knew John to be a great man, loved by the people.  And now, here was Jesus!  Herod concluded Jesus was also great and must be John reincarnated.  Here is a more detailed story about Herod and John and why Herod came up short in his evaluation of Herod.

Herod Antipas (4bc–ad39). Antipas, another of Herod the Great’s sons, began as tetrarch over Galilee and Perea. He was the ruling Herod during Jesus’ life and ministry. Herod Antipas was first married to the daughter of Aretas, a Nabatean king. But he became infatuated with Herodias, the wife of his half-brother, Philip I. The two eloped, although both were married at the time. This scandalous affair was condemned severely by John the Baptist (Matt. 14:4; Mark 6:17–18; Luke 3:19).

Although Antipas apparently had some respect for John the Baptist, he had John arrested and imprisoned for his outspokenness. Later, at a royal birthday party, Antipas granted Salome, the daughter of Herod Philip, a wish. Probably at the prodding of Herodias (Mark 6:19), Salome requested the head of John the Baptist (Matt. 14:6–12; Mark 6:21–29). Since he was under oath and did not want to lose face before his guests, Herod ordered John’s execution.

Antipas’ contacts with Jesus occurred at the same time as the ministry of John the Baptist. Because of Jesus’ popularity and miraculous powers, Antipas may have been haunted by the possibility that Jesus was John the Baptist come back to life.

The New Testament record shows that the relationship between Jesus and Antipas must have been strained. Jesus’ popularity and teachings may have threatened Antipas who, according to the Pharisees, sought to kill Him (Luke 13:31). By calling Herod a fox “Go, tell that fox,” (Luke 13:32), Jesus showed His disapproval of his cunning and deceitful ways.

The next encounter between Antipas and Jesus occurred at the trial of Jesus (Luke 23:6–12). Luke indicated that Herod could not find anything in the charges against Jesus that deserved death; so he sent Jesus back to Pilate for a final decision.

During this time of his rule, Antipas was experiencing political problems of his own. Aretas, the Nabatean king whose daughter had been Antipas’ wife before he became involved with Herodias, returned to avenge this insult. Antipas’ troops were defeated. This, together with some other problems, led to his political downfall. Antipas was finally banished by the Roman emperor to an obscure section of France.

Let us note that Herod did not even ask the right questions.  He was not driven in any sense about seriously considering who Jesus was in truth.  He was only concerned about selfishly saving face.  Furthermore, we see that Herod is consumed with being entertained.  This is the same one Jesus would stand before on trial, who only wanted to see Jesus perform some miracles for his amazement.  He is a big man with small thoughts.  And this is another great recipe for unbelief.  He will not face up to his sin, his spiritual ugliness, his weaknesses, and thus will never see Christ right.

How often people do this.  They “peg” (estimate) Jesus according to their own selfish desires.  He is my healer, my marriage-fixer-upper, my child-problem-solder, my financial advisor, my problem solver.  Jesus is the Savior; that implies our lost condition.  Jesus is King/Lord; this implies we come to Him in humble faith, bowing the knee, confessing Him as Lord!  It’s a fact: any under-estimation of Jesus is an over-estimation of ourselves.