Devotionals

Herod Antipas

by Rick Gregory 
08/24/25
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Herod Antipas (Mark 6:14-29)

He was a mess, but so am I!

Herod wanted something—his brother’s wife—so he took her. He rationalized it by following the letter of the Roman law. He must have felt some shame over his sin because he protected John from Herodias (until he didn’t) because he recognized John’s true nature. But he denied his conscience, shutting it down completely.

At his birthday party, he was focused on his own pleasure. When his stepdaughter performed a beautiful dance, he wanted to flaunt his grandeur, opulence, and power. I can imagine him waving his arm and shouting that he’d give her anything she wanted—up to half his kingdom. (Though the kingdom wasn’t his to give; it was a Roman province!) The smart girl goes to her mother and asks, “What should I request?”

Here’s where the woman wins. She hated John for criticizing her marriage to Herod and wanted him dead. “Ask for the head of John the Baptist,” she says. What? Herod is now caught in his own web. If he reneges, he’ll be seen as a liar. If he complies, he’ll be murdering an innocent man—a man of God, no less. This is where Herod falls headlong into ultimate destruction.

Herod’s arrogance and need to be accepted and celebrated outweighed his desire to protect an innocent man. He capitulates to the pressure and orders John killed. His self-indulgence and pride just cost him his soul!

Today, Pastor Darren said, “The Kingdom of God is the primary message of Jesus.” In this Kingdom, there’s no rationalizing, no hiding, no shame, no regret, no tears, no brokenness, no sadness. Herod caught a whiff of it—and then threw it away.

Father, please keep me from being like Herod, from quenching the Spirit, and from silencing my conscience out of a simple desire to fulfill the lust of the flesh or to earn approval from people.

Rick is the well-loved husband of Sherry for over 53 years, dad to 6 children (including spouses), and Poppy to 8 spectacular grandkids.