Herod Antipas

I've been on vacation . . . I didn't realize we wouldn't have internet access!!  Sorry for my absence from here, I'll spend the next couple of days catching up.

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 a sign of some sort. He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate. That day Herod and Pilate became friends—before this they had been enemies.  Luke 23:8-12

Herod Antipas was a wicked, evil man.  We know this from the wicked, evil fruits of his life.  His attitude toward Jesus should come as no surprise, therefore.  Take a look:

Herod Antipas was a son of Herod the Great.  He was apparently the youngest son, who should not have had a role in his father's kingdom.  In fact, he was not his father's first choice!  But as his other sons were eliminated through death and prison (what a family!), Antipas was basically the only choice.  Herod the Great ended up dividing his kingdom, and Antipas would rule over Galilee and Parea, as tetrarch instead of king.  He governed for 42 years.

Herod was married; however, early in his reign he fell in love with his half-brother's wife, Herodias.  He planned to divorce his wife and marry his sister-in-law.  This was the first step in Antipas' "war" with John the Baptist, and subsequently, Jesus of Nazareth. 

John openly criticized Herod for his actions.  By Jewish law, they were considered incestuous (in some way that I don't really understand, Herodias was also Herod's niece).  John's popularity with the people also made Herod fearful of rebellion.  In Herod's mind, John had to go.

The Gospel of Matthew tells the story of John's beheading, at the order of Herod, by the request of his step-daughter, who was goaded by her mother, Herodias.  Whew!  What a convoluted chain! 

Because Jesus had been baptized by John the Baptist, Herod was afraid of him, too!  In fact, I think Herod had it backwards - I think he considered Jesus a follower of John!  When Jesus was sent to him during his trial, Luke says that Herod was pleased - he had a lot of questions for Jesus.  But Jesus would not even dignify him with responses. 

Herod was a man driven by passions, not facts.  He worked - if you can call it that - to better his own position, never to represent his people.  His actions created war, and eventually led to his exile and death.

It's amazing to me how often as human beings we fail to consider long term consequences for short term gain.  We tend to settle for what we want now, as opposed to what we know will be best for us in the end. 

Sometimes we must hurt in the short term to win in the end.  It's kind of like dieting - we must deny ourselves the cookie or the chocolate in order to see loss. 

When we don't do this, we become complicit in our own downfall - in fact, we are down right responsible.  We must take guard that we do not become like Herod!  Sacrificing others so that we can have what we want.  Living for the moment instead of eternity.  Settling for passions of the flesh instead of spiritual passions.

Live like Herod, die like Herod.  Live like Christ - live eternally!