John 5:32 & 35 – "There
is another who bears witness of Me…John… He was the burning
and shining lamp."
Historical setting:
Time: About 28 A.D.
Place: Antipas, Galilee
Persons: King
Herod, Salome, John the Baptist, Jesus
Scripture:
Matthew 14:1-12; Mark 6:14-27; Luke 9:7-9; John5:32-35
Note: In this, and other stories, Jesus' words are
always direct Bible quotes, and are in blue. Words of others
are not necessarily direct quotes, but any that are, will be
in blue.
Background on King Herod {Notes taken
from NKJV study Bible} … Herod Antipas was one of the sons of
Herod the Great, the king who had put out the order to have
all the babies killed, at the time of Christ's birth. After
his death in 4 B.C., his kingdom was divided amongst his sons,
Archelaus, Philip, and Antipas. Herod Antipas had gone to Rome
where he had met his half brother, Philip's wife, Herodias,
and seduced her. He then divorced his own wife and married
Herodias.
Jesus' popularity quickly spread around the
kingdom of Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee. When King
Herod heard about how this miracle Man, Jesus, had healed the
son of one of the noblemen who served at his palace, and how
He had caused a man at the Pool of Bethesda to walk, after he
had been an invalid for thirty-eight years, he was frozen with
fear. Who was this Man? "It is John the Baptist,
come back to life!" he exclaimed. "He has come back to haunt
me!"
He began to tremble. Ever since the night of his birthday
party he had been haunted by the memory of John the Baptist's
head on a platter. He couldn't close his eyes but he saw the
gruesome scene all over again. He had not meant it to turn out
like it had. Oh, if only he could turn the clock back . . .
John had condemned Herod for his immorality in marrying
Herodias, his half brother, Philip's wife, after divorcing his
own wife. John had said to Herod: "It is not
lawful for you to have your brother's wife."
Those silly Jewish laws that forbid a man to
take his brothers wife! At the time it had so angered
Herodias that she demanded that her husband have John killed.
But Herod feared him. And also, John was such an icon among
the people that Herod was afraid, had he had John killed, that
he would have an uprising on his hands. So instead of killing
him, Herod had thrown John into prison. And there he had
forgotten him, until…
It was the night of Herod's birthday. The palace put on a
big party for the king. Oh what a happy time that was. There
was music and dancing, wine, women and food. As a special
treat to him, the beautiful daughter of Herodias came out,
dressed in her most provocative attire. The music started up
and Salome began to dance. Oh, could that girl dance! She
writhed and she wiggled and she twisted her way up to Herod,
intoxicating him with her seductive moves. When she landed on
his lap as a finale, he was mesmerized. What a birthday
present his wife had given him, allowing her beautiful
daughter to present herself before him in this way!
"Oh, my gorgeous step daughter," Herod said, when he could
get his breath again. His head was foggy from too much wine
and his voice slurred. "That was unbelievable. How can I thank
you? What can I give you? You name it, to the half of my
kingdom, and I will give it to you. You have made an already
perfect birthday party absolutely superb. "
Herodias knew her weak, indulgent husband. And she
remembered how much he had been disturbed when John the
Baptist had said to him: "It is not lawful
for you to have her." She had hated John for that and
was glad when Herod had at least had him thrown in jail. But
she had scorned him at the time for not using his authority to
have him put to death. Who did he think he was anyway?
And what right did he have to rebuke the king? Oh, her
pathetic, wish-washy husband.... But now was the time for
revenge against that religious extremist, the prophet that
everyone called "John the Baptist." Oh to be rid of that man!
If he were out of the way her husband would not have this
feeling of intimidation of the people. After all, HE was the
ruler; yet he let the people rule HIM. Well! Now was her
chance. She called her daughter to her.
"Listen Salome," Herodias said. "You know that as the
daughter of the king you can have whatever you want anyway, so
I'll tell you what to request of your step dad." She bent down
close to her daughter and whispered something in her ear.
Salome went back out to Herod, who was by now sprawled over
the table, intoxicated beyond sensibility. She slithered up to
him, rumpling his hair and stroking the back of his neck. Then,
in a hoarse whisper she told him what she wanted him to give
her for her performance.
"What!" Herod was suddenly alert. "You want 'what'?"
* * * * * * *
Ever since the night of his birthday party he had been haunted by the memory of John the Baptist's head on a platter...
So when King Herod heard of this JESUS, who was so popular
with the people, he trembled. He could still see the head of
John the Baptist, his eyes, as though still alive, staring
straight at him, accusing him, condemning him. His wicked—yet
beautiful—wife had coerced her daughter into asking for John
the Baptist's head on a platter. And that is when the king's
nightmares had begun. Even though he had allowed John's
disciples to have his body so they could bury him, King Herod
could not erase the image. Every time he closed his eyes, the
Prophet's eyes pierced through him.
"Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that
was done by Him (Jesus); and he was perplexed, because it was
said by some that John had risen from the dead…Herod said,
'John I have beheaded, but who is this of whom I hear such
things?' So he sought to see Him. Luke 9:6-9
But he did not meet Jesus at this time. Actually, he was
afraid to meet Him, so for the time being he blotted out the
name of Jesus from his mind. He would meet with Him at a later
date. See: Jesus
Before Herod in "Study Six" of the "All Hail To The King"
series. (half way down the page)
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© Helen Dowd Continue
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