John the Baptist #3 His Courage and Boldness

John the Baptist #3 – His Courage and Boldness

“but Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother's wife, and for all the evil things which Herod had done,” Luk 3:19 

We often think that Herod’s only beef with John, was that John rebuked him for taking his brother Phillip’s wife; but note what Luke says here:  “and for all the evil things which Herod had done”.

John rebuked Herod for “all the evil” he had done.

John had the courage and boldness to rebuke Herod face to face, publicly, and verbally, for specific sins!

He was convicted by what John said to him, but would not repent; how many people are the same: they are convicted of sin, but never repent.  The bible speaks of people like this, who are convicted, but never repent.  They have a window of opportunity to be saved, but let it pass.  They see the door open, and hear the Lord calling, “Repent, believe, come in,” but don’t!

“For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.” Heb 6:4-8

“For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.” Mar 6:20 

It would seem that while John was in prison, Herod would call for him, and listen to what he said, talk with him about spiritual and religious things, but he never repented; he never forsook his sin.  He did many things, but he never sent Herodias away, that would have been true repentance (like Zacchaeus giving back over and above what he had stolen or extorted), and he never let John free from prison, and in the end, he bowed to a young girl, who he knew was being manipulated by her mother, and had a man whom he knew was “a just and holy man,” beheaded.  What false honor to claim he had made a promise, which he could not break. 

If it was sin to break a stupid promise, which sin was worse:  breaking that promise or killing a man?

This same Herod, later wanted to see Jesus, because people were saying Jesus was really John risen from the dead.

“Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him: and he was perplexed, because that it was said of some, that John was risen from the dead;” Luk 9:7 

And in the end, when he finally gets to see Jesus, he is only looking to be dazzled by a miracle, and ends up mocking him with his soldieries.

“And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him. And Herod with his men of war set him at naught, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.” Luk 23:8-11

Why so much about Herod, is this not about John the Baptist?

Herod is closely tied to John’s ministry.  Everyone knew about John, who he was, what he was doing, and what he was saying.

Herod’s solders were going to hear John preach, and were being baptized!

“And soldiers also asked him, saying, And we, what must we do? And he said unto them, Extort from no man by violence, neither accuse any one wrongfully; and be content with your wages.”

Luk 3:14 

Herod’s solders are repenting, but not Herod; he is fuming over the rebukes, and puts John in prison.

“but Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother's wife, and for all the evil things which Herod had done, added this also to them all, that he shut up John in prison.”

Luk 3:19-20

Here is the point:  How many of us fear to speak to friends, neighbors, family, work associated, out of fear of rejection, mocking, etc.

John was not ignorant of the consequences he potentially faced of a bold, direct, clear rebuke; “it is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”

Tell a co-worker, “it is not lawful for you to do XYZ!  It is sin!”

Tell a family member, “The church you go to does not teach the Truth!”

We shrink before just regular people; John was bold before a king!

William Burns, pioneer missionary to China said, (and I am paraphrasing), “If we are not bold to speak to those whose station in life is above ours, all our boldness to those below us is nothing.”

Those are pretty powerful words!

Are we faithful?  Are we bold?

John certainly was; may we be too, for I am convinced that people will listen to faithful, clear, rebuke, when it is accompanied with a sincere gospel offer of forgiveness upon faith in Christ.  People are looking for the Truth, for Life, for Light, not everyone, but some, and they will only hear it as we speak clearly and lovingly to them; our job is to promiscuously share the gospel, verbally; it is God’s job to save!

But we must speak, away with silent witnessing!

27 April 2024