Monday 29 August 2016

Psalm: Psalm 11
 

Background

Sex, religion and politics are a potent mix. Today's passage hasall three swirling around Jesus, John the Baptist and HerodAntipas. And not surprisingly it ends badly.

When Herod the Great died in 4BC, Judea was divided between hissons Archelaus, Herod Antipas and Philip. Herod Antipas wanted theJewish people to recognise him as their true king. He hoped thatrebuilding the temple in Jerusalem would help him to achieve thisambition. But he had broken the law by marrying his brother's wife,Herodias, and John the Baptist rebuked him for it.

It wasn't just that John knew Herod was behaving immorally. He wasalso showing the people a different way. By offering baptism forthe forgiveness of sins, John was providing an alternative to thetemple. Moreover, his message about Jesus (Matthew3:11-12) directs the people to someone very different fromHerod. John's popularity saves him for a time but eventuallyHerodias, the woman at the centre of the scandal, seizes anopportunity and John is beheaded.

This is the background for what Herod said about Jesus. Many peoplethought Jesus was one of the great prophets of the Hebrew Bible(the Old Testament), such as Elijah or Jeremiah, but Herod had adifferent theory. He said Jesus was John the Baptist back from thedead with miraculous powers. Jesus must have been doingextraordinary things for Herod to resort to such anexplanation.

Herod feared John's influence and his popularity, but Jesus waseven more of a threat since he was able to perform remarkablemiracles and he was the one John preached about. How far will Herodgo to protect his position?

To Ponder

• Have you ever been confronted with a difficult truth aboutyourself or your behaviour? What did you learn from thisexperience?

• John the Baptist challenged Herod Antipas. What do you think isthe right relationship between faith and politics?