07. Herod, Fascinated but Unchanged
The People Who Almost Followed Jesus · Part 07
Luke 23:8-11; Mark 6:20
Herod was interested in spiritual things.
He listened to John the Baptist.
He was intrigued by him.
He even recognized that John was a righteous and holy man.
And when Jesus finally stood before him, Herod was glad.
Why?
Because he had heard so much about Jesus and hoped to see Him perform a miracle.
Think about that.
Jesus Christ was standing directly in front of him, and Herod wanted a show.
He wanted to see something spectacular.
He wanted his curiosity satisfied.
But he did not want his life changed.
You Can Enjoy Hearing Truth Without Obeying It
Mark tells us something remarkable about Herod’s relationship with John the Baptist:
“Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man… When he heard him, he did many things, and he heard him gladly.”, Mark 6:20, WEB
He heard him gladly.
Herod actually enjoyed listening to the man who was confronting his sin.
But enjoying a sermon is not repentance.
Being moved by truth is not the same as surrendering to truth.
Knowing that a preacher is right is not the same as doing what God says.
Herod had a problem.
John had confronted him about his sinful relationship with Herodias.
Herod was willing to listen to John, as long as listening did not require surrendering what he wanted.
And there is the danger.
We Can Become Fascinated With God While Resisting God
It is possible to:
Read Christian books.
Listen to sermons.
Watch Bible videos.
Discuss theology.
Attend conferences.
Follow Christian leaders.
Talk about revival.
Study disciple-making.
Even feel deeply stirred by what we hear,
and remain unchanged.
Spiritual curiosity can become a substitute for spiritual obedience.
We can spend years learning what Jesus said without ever seriously asking:
“What am I going to do about it?”
That is especially dangerous because fascination can feel like faith.
Knowledge can feel like maturity.
Conviction can feel like repentance.
But Jesus did not say:
“Go and make people who are interested in Me.”
He said:
“Make disciples.”
Disciples obey.
Then Jesus Stood Before Herod
Years later, Herod finally got what he wanted.
Jesus stood directly in front of him.
Luke tells us:
“Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad, for he had wanted to see him for a long time…”, Luke 23:8, WEB
Imagine the opportunity.
The Son of God was standing before him.
But Herod was still looking for entertainment rather than transformation.
He wanted Jesus to perform.
When Jesus refused to satisfy his curiosity, Herod mocked Him, dressed Him in a magnificent robe, and sent Him back to Pilate.
The man who once gladly listened to God’s prophet eventually mocked God’s Son.
That is where continually resisting truth can lead.
Every time God speaks and we refuse to obey, our hearts can become a little harder.
The Question Is Not, “Are You Interested in Jesus?”
Many people are.
The question is:
Are you obeying Him?
What has Jesus already told you to do that you are still discussing?
Forgive someone?
Repent of a hidden sin?
Share the gospel?
Make disciples?
Give generously?
Reconcile a relationship?
Surrender something you have refused to release?
Stop merely attending and begin multiplying?
You may not need another sermon.
You may not need another conference.
You may not need another book.
You may simply need to obey the last thing Jesus already told you.
Herod reminds us of a frightening truth:
Being interested in God is not the same as obeying God.
Do not settle for fascination.
Do not confuse conviction with repentance.
Do not spend your life standing near the truth while refusing to surrender to it.
Jesus is not looking for spectators fascinated by Him.
He is calling disciples who will follow Him.
So ask yourself today:
What truth have I been listening to, but not obeying?
And perhaps the more important question:
What will I do about it today?
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