Enjoying the Word While Rejecting Christ
Mark 6:14 King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some said,“John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.” 15 But others said, “He is Elijah.” And others said, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” 16 But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.” 17 For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because he had married her. 18 For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19 And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, 20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.
21 But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 22 For when Herodias’s daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.”23 And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” 24 And she went out and said to her mother, “For what should I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” 25 And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” 26 And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her.27 And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison 28 and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. 29 When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.
The end of v.20 of Mark 6 states that Herod gladly listened to John. Remember, John was not preaching cotton candy messages: “Repent and flee from the wrath to come!” Herod: “Hmmm, that’s a little puzzling, but it’s kind of exciting at the same time!”
I introduced this category of listener last week. There are some who have an appreciation for the Bible and the clear teaching of the Bible, yet they have no spiritual life within them. There’s something compelling about hearing someone speak with absolute conviction, especially someone as eccentric as John the Baptist, who wore camel’s skin and ate locusts and honey. This category carries over to Jesus’ teaching as well. The crowds who enjoyed listening to the Son of God in Mark 12 is the same crowd who calls for his crucifixion in Mark 15. To enjoy the Bible or enjoy church or sermons is worthless in and of itself if that enjoyment is apart from faith and repentance. Herod was simply entertained by the likes of John and even Jesus. When Pilate sends Christ over to Herod in Luke 23, Luke records–8 “When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him.”
Herod then mocks him and treats him with contempt, which is exactly what the person who listens to the word merely for enjoyment’s sake, does to Christ as well. Not only that but James says that those who merely hear the word delude themselves. That why Jesus has already taught in Mark 4 to pay attention to what you hear, since the word of God can harden just as easily as it can transform! Listening to the word had become a sport to Herod and consequently, it proved to be of no benefit to him.