The Fear of Herod

Mar 29, 2026 • Rory Mosley

030 The Fear of Herod

Mark 6:14-29

March 29, 2026

Tonight we come to a text which in one sense

Verifies the point we have been making,

But which also gives us quite an interesting story.

We know that Jesus is on conquest.

We’ve made that point repeatedly.

We also know that Jesus has now started sending out the 12

To grow the kingdom at an exponential rate.

Mark was very specific in his account of Jesus sending the 12.

He sent them to overthrow the forces of evil.

Mark 6:7 “And He summoned the twelve and began to send them out in pairs, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits;”

Matthew mentioned authority to preach and heal and cleanse lepers as well,

But Mark was making the point that this conquest was against the spiritual forces of darkness in the heavenly places.

The disciples were sent out to overthrow Satan’s kingdom.

WHAT WE LEARN TONIGHT IS

How effective they were in their ministry.

We read to open the text:

(14-16) “And King Herod heard of it, for His name had become well known; and people were saying, “John the Baptist has risen from the dead, and that is why these miraculous powers are at work in Him.” But others were saying, “He is Elijah.” And others were saying, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” But when Herod heard of it, he kept saying, “John, whom I beheaded, has risen!”

· Calling him “King Herod” is a bit of a stretch

· He really only had as much power as Rome allowed him to have,

· But that was the title he chose.

Jesus conquest through His disciples had made such an impact

That it could no longer be overlooked by the political powers.

This Jesus and His conquest was making waves.

· Yes, the disciples were now out casting out demons and working miracles

· They were doing it all in the name of Jesus

· They gave credit to Him for the power they possessed.

Many people were being delivered and that word was spreading.

Now it had come to the ear of Herod.

But IT’S NOT simply that Herod heard of Jesus or His disciples,

It’s that the stories were so amazing

That Herod came to a remarkable conclusion

As to how Jesus was able to do these things.

Herod was convinced that Jesus

Was actually John the Baptist risen from the dead.

That is what we see in those first 3 verses.

People are trying to figure out how Jesus could have such power

The only explanation that makes sense to Herod is that John has risen.

· It must be that John has died,

· Received supernatural power from God,

· And been sent back to earth to wield this new supernatural power.

So at the very least just see that Jesus’ ministry is so powerful

It can only be explained as a supernatural work of God.

The kingdom of God is advancing just as Jesus said it would.

But there is certainly MORE TO SEE here than just that reality.

FOR ONE: Mark is closing the book on the ministry of John.

John’s ministry was first introduced to us at the very beginning of the book.

Mark 1:1-8 “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You, Who will prepare Your way; The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord, Make His paths straight.’ ” John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist, and his diet was locusts and wild honey. And he was preaching, and saying, “After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals. “I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

We then saw that it was the end of John’s public ministry

Which signaled the beginning of the public ministry of Jesus.

Mark 1:14 “Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God,”

And now we are shown the death of John.

The death of John serves as sort of a

Foreshadow for what is coming for the ministry of Jesus.

Just as John would be executed at the hands of a fearful puppet ruler,

So also would Jesus die at the hands of a fearful puppet named Pilate.

John’s ministry has always served as a sort of

Prophetic telling of where Jesus was headed

So here we get our first glimpse from Mark,

That the ministry of Jesus is headed for death.

But I also think there is a LARGER THEME in play here.

You see how this passage begins.

We see the public explanation for the power of Jesus.

“and people were saying, “John the Baptist has risen from the dead, and that is why these miraculous powers are at work in Him.” But others were saying, “He is Elijah.” And others were saying, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.”

It’s the public explanation of Jesus.

I find that interesting because Mark is going back to that a little later in his gospel account.

Mark 8:27-31 “Jesus went out, along with His disciples, to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way He questioned His disciples, saying to them, “Who do people say that I am?” They told Him, saying, “John the Baptist; and others say Elijah; but others, one of the prophets.” And He continued by questioning them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the Christ.” And He warned them to tell no one about Him. And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.”

That Mark 8 passage is the first time it would appear

That anyone gets it right regarding who Jesus is.

UNTIL THAT POINT, even the disciples can seem to be a little confused regarding who Jesus is.

We actually saw them after Jesus calmed the storm:

Mark 4:41 “They became very much afraid and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”

We recently saw what happened when He went to His hometown.

Mark 6:2-3 “When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue; and the many listeners were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things, and what is this wisdom given to Him, and such miracles as these performed by His hands? “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are not His sisters here with us?” And they took offense at Him.”

Clearly in our text tonight Herod doesn’t know who He is.

But even as we go forward through Mark’s gospel

PEOPLE JUST DON’T SEEM TO GET IT.

In fact, we actually begin to see a bit of a frustration mounting in Jesus

At their failure to recognize Him.

When He gets back to the Decapolis:

Mark 7:31-34 “Again He went out from the region of Tyre, and came through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, within the region of Decapolis. They brought to Him one who was deaf and spoke with difficulty, and they implored Him to lay His hand on him. Jesus took him aside from the crowd, by himself, and put His fingers into his ears, and after spitting, He touched his tongue with the saliva; and looking up to heaven with a deep sigh, He said to him, “Ephphatha!” that is, “Be opened!”

· All they wanted Him for was to fix their ailments.

· They are missing the point.

Again:

Mark 8:10-12 “And immediately He entered the boat with His disciples and came to the district of Dalmanutha. The Pharisees came out and began to argue with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, to test Him. Sighing deeply in His spirit, He said, “Why does this generation seek for a sign? Truly I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.”

And even when His disciples continue to miss the point:

Mark 8:15-18 “And He was giving orders to them, saying, “Watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” They began to discuss with one another the fact that they had no bread. And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you discuss the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet see or understand? Do you have a hardened heart? “Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear?”

So you see we are just about to entertain story after story after story

Of people who just can’t seem to see who Jesus is.

Nazareth couldn’t, Herod can’t, the Pharisees won’t be able to, the crowd certainly doesn’t, and even His own disciples fail to see it at times.

It is a frustrating saga of unbelief.

UNTIL FINALLY in Mark 8:29

Peter finally gets it right and confesses that He is the Messiah.

And it is at that point that Jesus reveals why He came.

Mark 8:31 “And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.”

But until that moment we will be stuck in a segment

Where time and time again people will fail

To see or hear or believe in Jesus.

And none are a greater example of this than this man Herod.

SO HAVING STUDIED FAITH, NOW LET’S LOOK AT UNBELIEF

Herod is a prototypical unbeliever.

Matthew Henry said it best about him:

“It seems by this, that the rising of a prophet from the dead, to do mighty works, was thought neither impossible nor improbable, and it was now readily suspected when it was not true; but afterward, when it was true concerning Christ, it was obstinately denied.”

(Henry, Matthew [Matthew Henry’s Commentary; Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1961] pg. 1377)

Herod is a pitiful example of unbelief.

· He seems to totally believe John is alive and working miracles.

· But later when Jesus actually stands before as the miracle worker, Herod won’t

believe.

So TONIGHT, let’s examine this flashback story,

Where not only does Mark conclude the ministry of John the Baptist,

But he also introduces us to a segment

Which reveals why men don’t believe.

For Herod, the diagnosis is easy: FEAR

It is no coincidence that the Bible so often tells us not to fear.

· Fear is a great tool of the enemy.

· Fear commonly drives the fleshly mind.

· Fear is actually an enemy of faith.

You can probably notice it in your own life that every time God asks you to walk by faith, the chief enemy that will try to crush that faith is fear.

· Your mind will hit you with a list of “what if’s” and bad scenarios.

· And if you follow those fears they will kill your faith.

That is what Jesus confronted the disciples for on the boat wasn’t it?

Mark 4:40 “And He said to them, “Why are you afraid? How is it that you have no faith?”

It was their fear that caused them to doubt.

Well you can clearly see this problem emerge in Herod.

We already know the backstory here.

· Herod heard about all the victories Jesus and His disciples were winning over the kingdom of darkness.

· Though Herod was given many explanations regarding who Jesus was, he was certain that he knew.

(16) “But when Herod heard of it, he kept saying, “John, whom I beheaded, has risen!”

Notice that “he kept saying” part.

It is written like a nervous man, like a fearful man,

Like his worst fears have suddenly come to light.

“It’s John, I just know it is!”

Mark will take a segment to explain to you

Why a resurrected John the Baptist was so terrifying to Herod.

In verse 17 we start our flashback.

· We remember when John was arrested back in chapter 1.

· Here Mark will give you the rest of the story.

It highlights the fear of Herod and how it continually crushed his faith.

Let’s look at three scenes where Herod’s fear toppled him.

#1 THE INCARCERATION OF JOHN

Mark 6:17-19

Mark wastes no time explaining

Why Herod is afraid at the thought of a resurrected John.

“For Herod himself had sent and had John arrested and bound in prison…”

Herod had reason to fear if John was alive

That he might now want to avenge a wrong against him.

It was Herod who arrested John back in Mark 1.

But here we find out why Herod arrested John.

“on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, because he had married her.”

There was a case of sexual immorality and adultery in the life of Herod.

Just a little explanation as to who this Herod was.

The first Herod you met was Herod the Great.

· That is the Herod who tried to kill the baby Jesus by executing all the babies in Bethlehem 18 months and younger.

· That is the Herod that Joseph and Mary and Jesus fled to Egypt from.

But when Herod the Great died,

His kingdom was divided up amongst his 4 sons.

One son was Archelaus over Judea

· Didn’t last long and was ultimately replaced by Roman governors, eventually Pontius Pilate.

Another was Philip the Tetrarch who was given the northern region.

· He would later be succeeded by his nephew Herod Agrippa

· Who was the man who exalted himself and was eaten by worms and died in the book of Acts.

But the region of Galilee was given to Herod Antipas

That is the Herod we see here.

· The same Herod Jesus will call a fox

· The same Herod Jesus will stand trial before

And here we find that Herod had married “the wife of his brother Philip”

This is not the Philip mentioned earlier.

1. Herod Antipas had a brother named Philip who was married to Herodias.

2. Herodias also happened to be the niece of Herod Antipas.

Neither of those things mattered to Herod

He wanted to marry her so he divorced his wife,

She divorced Philip and they married.

Such an arrangement gives us another Biblical example of how God views divorce and remarriage, this was adultery in the eyes of God.

And John had exposed it.

(18) “For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”

That’s another way of saying,

· What you are doing is outside the will of God.

· You have broken the Law of God.

We don’t know the setting in which John preached this to Herod,

But it is clear that Herod and Herodias both heard John’s message.

AND THIS IS WHY HEROD ENDED UP ARRESTING JOHN.

Verse 17 says that it was “on account of Herodias”

(19) “Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death and could not do so;”

Herodias was so angry at the preaching of John

That she wanted him murdered.

· She wanted her sin concealed or excused

· John refused to do it

· She wanted him dead.

In order to appease her Herod “had John arrested and bound in prison”

So we learn a little bit about Herod and his fear here.

He incarcerated a man of truth out of fear of his wife.

· He did it to make her happy.

· He did it to appease her anger.

It is a sad man who will alter his convictions or offend his conscience

In order to appease a godless woman.

And yet we see these types of things happen even in our world today.

· I’m not going to get all into the order of marriage tonight.

· It is certainly enough that you know that God has called husbands to love their

wives and for wives to submit to their husbands.

But what is also clear is that God has given headship to the man.

1 Corinthians 11:3 “But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ.”

No, we’re not calling for some sort of inconsiderate dominance.

As we said, the call is to love sacrificially.

But at the same time God calls for headship and leadership from the man.

And when men fail to do this, things go backward in a hurry.

Did we not hear God’s rebuke of Adam?

Genesis 3:17 “Then to Adam He said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat from it’; Cursed is the ground because of you; In toil you will eat of it All the days of your life.”

· But whether we want to talk about Adam who listened to Eve

· Or Samson who listened to Delilah

· Or Ahab who listened to Jezebel

We see that a man who fears his wife

And seeks to appease her more than God

Is in a great deal of trouble.

BUT THAT IS HEROD.

He never even gave thought to listening to John,

But out of fear of his wife he arrested him.

It is hard for a man of that much fear to have faith in anything.

That’s one strike against him.

The Incarceration of John

#2 THE CONFINEMENT OF JOHN

Mark 6:20

Here we find out how the fear of Herod hindered his plans yet again.

We saw a moment ago that

· Though Herod arrested John

· Herodias actually wanted him dead.

· We also saw that she “could not do so.”

She wanted him dead, but she had been able to get that accomplished.

And here we find out why.

(20) “for Herod was afraid of John…”

This guy has problems, he’s just afraid of everyone.

Here it’s John that he’s afraid of.

“knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. And when he heard him, he was very perplexed; but he used to enjoy listening to him.”

He clearly has been affected by the preaching of John.

The phrase “he used to enjoy listening to him” is quite telling.

I think we can all agree that

It is refreshing when you encounter people who will tell you the truth.

You may not always like what they have to say,

But it is refreshing to know that someone will tell you the truth

Even if you don’t like it.

It is clear that Herod had such a respect for John.

He never had to worry if John would lie to him.

WE ALSO LEARN THAT Herod was convinced of John’s righteousness.

· John never seemed to waiver about sin, even if it was Herod’s sin.

· He always cut straight on that topic.

While that may sound a little noble on Herod’s part,

It only makes him the equivalent of the rocky soil

Which also received the gospel with joy

But fell away when things became difficult.

There is nothing noble about Herod’s enjoyment of John’s preaching.

Many a lost man enjoy the preacher they never obey.

Perhaps such unyielding conviction is why Herod “was very perplexed”.

· Herod knew nothing of a man of such convictions.

· Herod was a wandering start.

· Herod was a cloud without water.

John epitomized that type of man that Herod knew nothing of.

But Herod knew “he was a righteous and holy man”

And thus we read that Herod “kept him safe.”

Don’t read that to assume that

John was in some fancy hotel room, eating the finest foods.

No, it only means that John was kept from execution.

Clearly the fear here is of God’s vengeance.

You don’t want to kill a man who is clearly one of God’s prophets,

That ran the possibility of bringing

Some severe consequences on your head.

HEROD IS A MAN OF FEAR.

1. He incarcerated a man of truth out of fear of his wife.

2. He confined a holy prisoner out of fear of vengeance.

It’s not a genuine fear of God which produces repentance,

It’s instead a superstitious fear of divine retribution.

It’s more on par with what you hear people talk about

When they speak of karma.

It’s the common fear men have of God.

They don’t fear Him enough to repent and run to His Son for salvation,

But they maintain a sort of superstitious fear

That causes them to do bizarre things.

· Think of the Roman Catholic church and all the nonsensical traditions they

uphold.

· Think of Judaism and all the traditional ordinances they continue in.

It’s not a love of God.

It’s not really even a true fear of God.

It’s superstitious behavior meant to try and stay square with the house.

It is men who reckon themselves even on the books

So they try not to do anything really dumb

That might tip the scales against them.

In addition to fear of his wife, Herod had this fear as well.

And then we hit a 3rd dilemma.

The Incarceration of John

The Confinement of John

#3 THE EXECUTION OF JOHN

Mark 6:21-29

So thus far we have a man too afraid to set John free,

But also too afraid to kill him.

But we know from earlier in the text that John is dead and Herod is afraid because of it.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Herod had a birthday party.

· On his party he threw a banquet for all his commanders and all the bigwigs if Galilee.

· And for the entertainment for the evening his stepdaughter came to dance.

Just trust men when I tell you that this was NOT

A ballet recital or even a line dance exhibition.

(THINK EPSTEIN ISLAND)

This is an exotic dance

Meant to captivate the mind and will of a sinful man

And it worked to perfection.

This grossly immoral man was so infatuated with what he was watching that he popped off in front of all his dinner guests.

(22) “Ask me for whatever you want and I will give it to you.”

Even said “I will give it to you; up to half my kingdom.”

That was a bit braggish since he had no kingdom.

· He was simply allowed rule by Rome.

· In reality apart from personal wealth there wasn’t much he could actually give her.

· But he was infatuated and wanted to impress his guests.

So the girl immediately goes to her mother for advice

Herodias knows exactly what she wants.

(25) “Immediately she came in a hurry to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”

Notice the rush.

This woman has thought of nothing else since John publicly exposed her sin.

She wants John dead and now she has her leverage.

AND THUS WE COME BACK TO HEROD.

· Thus far too afraid of Herodias to let John live.

· Too afraid of John to kill him.

But now a third fear enters the scenario.

This is a fear of losing his reputation and his respect.

And there are many who walk in this fear.

Remember the man who first wanted to go home and check with his family before he followed Jesus?

Luke 9:61-62 “Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home.” But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

· If you’re too worried about your reputation to come and follow Me then don’t bother.

· I don’t need men who are always concerned about what people might think.

John the Baptist was certainly not that type of man, but Herod was.

Herod could have repented of making such a foolish promise.

He could have told the girl that was too much to ask.

He clearly understood it ran the risk of offending God.

And yet, his pride and fear of what others might think

Caused him to again act foolishly.

(26-28) “And although the king was very sorry, yet because of his oaths and because of his dinner guests, he was unwilling to refuse her. Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded him to bring back his head. And he went and had him beheaded in the prison, and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother.”

NOW IF YOU ARE KEEPING SCORE.

· Herod has pleased himself

· Herod has pleased Herodias.

· Herod has pleased his dinner guests.

But when Herod was forced to irritate someone, he chose not to fear God.

His earthly fear outweighed his eternal fear.

And now you understand why Herod is overcome with fear.

He hears about Jesus working miracles

And Herod’s worst fear has come to light.

· John is back alive and now he is in trouble.

· Now John’s going to want revenge.

· Now I am going to pay for executing him.

And you clearly understand that when a man is governed by fear

He never escapes it.

There is always something to fear.

There is always something to be afraid of.

Herod would have been far better off

· To fear God and listen to John.

· To fear God and release John.

· To fear God and spare John.

But fear toppled his faith

And left him as a man with no faith and a guilty conscience.

1. Herod incarcerated a man of truth out of fear of his wife.

2. Herod confined a holy prisoner out of fear of vengeance.

3. Herod executed an innocent man out of fear of humiliation.

For us Herod serves as yet another example of

WHY PEOPLE REFUSE TO BELIEVE.

We saw Nazareth:

· Who didn’t like His message.

· Who didn’t believe His miracles.

· Who knew His momma (familiarity).

They refused to believe in spite of the truth and in spite of the miracles.

And we said that Jesus “wondered” at their unbelief.

Their unbelief was unfathomable from God’s perspective.

It was unwarranted.

And now we see Herod.

· Who respected John’s message but wouldn’t listen to it.

· Who knew the miracles were real, but wouldn’t repent as a result.

· Who ultimately chose to silence the truth in order to save his pride.

And again we marvel at such ridiculous unbelief.

This man chose fear and guilt over repentance and salvation.

This man actually did that which offended his conscience.

How many people today know Jesus is the Savior?

How many people today know Jesus is real?

And yet, out of pride continue to reject Him

Even though they feel guilt and fear and remorse as a result?

· They go about their days in fear of God’s judgment.

· They go about their days in fear of God’s vengeance.

· They go about their days in guilt for having rejected Jesus.

But they continually choose that guilt instead of parting with their pride.

Instead of owning their sin.

Instead of repenting of that sin.

They live in this sort of guilt ridden, fear stricken panic life.

HOW FOOLISH IS THAT!

All I can say is IF THAT IS YOU:

If you are one who lives in fear of judgment and in guilt for having rejected Jesus.

Then you should this very moment repent

And let go of your pride and run to Jesus.

· Jesus can actually cleanse the conscience.

· Jesus can actually give peace to the soul.

· Jesus can actually wipe away your fears.

Let me just leave you with this remarkable passage:

1 John 4:15-18 “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.”

Isn’t that a remarkable passage.

John alludes to a man there

Who lives in fear of Christ’s return and the judgment of His reign.

· That is a real fear.

· It is a real fear men have of Christ returning and reigning.

· It is a real fear men have of God’s vengeance.

HEROD CLEARLY HAD THAT FEAR.

But there was a sense in which Herod’s fear was irrational,

For John was not alive.

BUT FEARING THE RETURN OF CHRIST IS LEGITIMATE.

Men are going to run in fear and hide in the caves when that happens.

But John says there is a way to eradicate that fear.