Close your eyes and finish the following sentences:
My life would be perfect if ...
I want people to see me as ...
I am afraid God might ask me to ...
'An idol is anything or anyone that captures our hearts, minds and affections more than God' (Bigney, Gospel Treason). How you finished the above sentences may have highlighted some idols for you. Common idols include the demand for a comfortable life, the desire to be in control, and the pursuit of applause and self-justification. Behind idols lie the root sins of self-centredness and pride.
In this passage we see that Herod was a man who would not follow God because he would not let go of his idols.
The Gospel calls us to forsake our idols
Jesus had sent out the disciples two by two. As a result of Jesus' work and their mission, 'the reputation of Jesus spread everywhere' (14). Notice that it was Jesus' reputation, not theirs, that was exalted through their missionary activity. I love the mission statement of a number of organisations that reads, 'to know Christ and make Him known.' That should be the central goal of our lives!
Now, the central question of Mark's Gospel is 'who is Jesus?' But Mark is no Agatha Christie keeping the answer in suspense. He tells us straight away that Jesus is the Son of God (1:1). In our reading people still don't know this, and Herod fears that this Jesus might be John the Baptist, 'who I had beheaded, and now He has come back from the dead' (16). Surely these are the words of a troubled conscience.
So, Mark takes us back in time to the events surrounding John the Baptist's death.
Herod had married the daughter of the King of Nabetea (a neighbouring province). After twenty years of marriage, he had taken a family trip to visit his brother, Philip, in Rome. He became infatuated with Philip's wife, Herodias. He would have said, 'my life would be perfect if I could have her.' So, Herod sends his wife away and takes his brother's wife.
John the Baptist speaks truth to power in this situation. 'It is not right for you to be married to your brother's wife' (18). Herod has made an idol of this woman. He wants her so much that he has destroyed his family for her. The thought of obeying God and leaving her is not worth it in his eyes. His idol keeps him from embracing the goodness and grace of God.
The gospel faces us with a choice
There is a strange difference between Herod and Herodias. Herod still has a conscience, whereas Herodias's conscience seems to be seared. He wants to listen to John the Baptist, whereas she just wants him dead. Herod locks up John the Baptist 'for his own safety', and he recognises that John is a 'good and holy man' (20). John the Baptist is someone who can be seen to be living out their faith in God.
Herod liked to listen to John the Baptist, 'even though it greatly disturbed him every time he heard him' (20). Apparently, the word translated 'disturbed/puzzled' is not referring to an intellectual puzzle, but a moral one. Herod knows that John the Baptist speaks the truth. He hears John the Baptist talk of the kingdom of the Messiah. He listens to John's call to repentance. He sees that John is speaking about life in its fullness. But he does not want to let go of Herodias. What is he going to do? He faces a moral dilemma.
We face such moral dilemmas too. Jesus says that you cannot live for both God and money. You will either serve one or the other. Yes, the gospel offers us a free gift, but it calls for us to place everything at Christ's disposal. Some people tell us that we need to tithe ten percent of our income, but that is too little. Jesus calls for everything. Every financial decision should be made with Jesus' honour in mind. That might leave us with Herod's dilemma: 'is it worth it?'
The Gospel calls us to lose face
Herod was an 'approval junkie'. The applause of the elite was an idol to him. Their approval mattered more to him than the approval of God.
It's his birthday. He invites the chief government officials, the military commanders and the leading citizens (22). Herod's daughter dances before them. They are drunk, and her dancing probably stirred their lust. Herod is delighted. She has fed his idol by winning him applause. You will see what idols control you by what either delights you or irritates you. We get elated when people feed our idols, and we get resentful when people threaten our idols.
Herod makes a stupid promise. He offers Herodias's daughter up to half his kingdom' (26). Herodias sees her opportunity. She tells her daughter to ask for John the Baptist's head on a plate. 'He could not refuse her because of the vows he had made in front of the guests' (26). His idols are dictating his actions again! He cannot save John the Baptist without backing down and loosing face. He wants the applause and approval of the elite, so John the Baptist dies.
Coming to Jesus may cost us the approval of people. Following him may disappoint those we love. Standing for Jesus may make us look odd or foolish. Indeed, the Christian life is one of humbling our pride. No longer can I claim to be a good person. Jesus has not come for the self-righteous, but to call those who know they are sinners to repentance. As we looked at theme of idols in some of our small groups, it became obvious that self-justification is a major idol to be wary of.
Conclusion
Remember the opening sentences:
My life would be perfect if ... Herod believed his life would be perfect if he could get that woman.
I want people to see me as ... Herod wanted to impress the elites of his day.
I fear God might ask me to ... Herod could not think of a world without Herodias and without applause. He feared losing his lusts and his face.
Things actually went sour for Herod. Remember that his first wife was a Nabatean. Well, the Nabeteans later humiliated him is battle, and the Jews felt that it was punishment for what he did to John the Baptist. Even if your idols don't cost you now, they will cost you eternally!
Idols are pesky things. We have to battle them all our Christian life. We get our attitude towards money in order and then we find that we are wanting to boast to people how good we are. We need to identify our many idols and battle them. But it is worth it, because the Bible promises that as we draw near to God, he draws near to us (James 4:6). If our thirst for control, comfort or approval dictates our lives then we will only ever know a shallow relationship with God.
My friend Betsy gives the following advice for dealing with idols: ask God to help you identify them and then visualise yourself handing them over to God. Replace your thirst for idols by developing a thankful heart that meditates on God's goodness. Live a life of serving God, even in ways that seem small. For such a life will centre us back on where we should be as worshipers of God rather than self.
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