The Spirit of Herodias (Mk. 6:14-29)

Read Mark 6:14-29.

Initial thought:  the spirit of Herodias -- what does she want, how does she operate, and where do we see her influence today?

• The similarity of Herod and Herodias.  
• They were both adulterous sinners, used to getting whatever they wanted.
• The difference between Herod and Herodias.  
• While neither Herod nor Herodias enjoyed John's pounding proclamation of "Thou shalt not", Herod at least recognized that John was holy and righteous.  
• Herod would hear John and think on what he said.  That contemplation hadn't yet led to repentance. 
• Herodias was neither interested nor respectful.
• She was convicted and angry.
• She held a grudge against John. (Actually, her grudge was against truth.  John was only the voice.)
• What is the spirit of Herodias after?
• She is after the suppression and elimination of truth.
• She pursues this agenda by manipulating people and circumstances around her.
• She manipulated Herod.
• She manipulated her daughter.
• She manipulated the occasion (Herod's birthday).
• How does the spirit of Herodias operate today?
• She will do anything to confine, frustrate, silence or compromise the man of God.
• Herodias was the reason that John was both imprisoned and beheaded.
• She will manipulate key influences, including family members and trusted friends.
• She will flaunt her beauty and use it as a weapon.
• She let her own daughter dance lewdly before Herod.  Why?  She knew Herod's weakness.
• Undoubtedly, Herodias herself was stunning.  She used her figure to manipulate Herod into incarcerating John.  She knew that Herod was ensnared by her beauty and that, if he was forced to decide between her and John, he wouldn't give that up.
• She isn't concerned with ordinary men; she goes after leaders.
• When she is done with one (Philip), she moves onto the next (Herod).  Her ultimate goal is to rule.

Christmas Emotion (Mt. 1:18-2:23)

Read Matthew 1:18-2:23.

Christmas was an emotional event!

• The insecurity of Joseph (1:18-25) -- insecure, though righteous
• The joy of the magi (2:1-12) -- joyful, though pagan
• The anger of King Herod (2:16) - angry because threatened and bypassed
• The sadness of Jewish mothers (2:16-18)
• The sensitivity of Joseph (2:19-23) -- sensitive and obedient in spite of fear

Perhaps you're struggling with an emotion that wasn't listed.  Maybe it's loneliness, frustration or a sense being overwhelmed. Are you willing to surrender that emotion to God? You will find Him to be Wonderful Counselor.

The Four Kings of Christmas (Herod) (Part 4) (Mt. 2:1-8, 16-18)

Conclusion:

• Since the meaning of Christmas is significant, you must be careful not to miss it.
• Don't miss it through busyness, distraction or ritual.  Here are a few ideas to help you not miss Christmas. Each idea requires being intentional.
• Perhaps you would set aside one week and covenant with Jesus to listen to no Christmas music except carols.
• Perhaps you would set aside one week and covenant with Jesus to watch no Christmas movies or television shows that involve Santa, Rudolph, elves, snow, The Grinch or snowmen.
• Perhaps you would set aside a few evenings and determine that you will not go out except in an emergency.  Stay home and listen to carols.  Better yet, sing carols. Stay home and play games with your family.
• Perhaps you would set aside Christmas Eve and join us for a one-hour service that night.  Why not invite someone to attend with you?
• Don't miss it through rebellion, which is refusing to recognize King Jesus and submit to His authority.
• Are you threatened by Jesus?
• Is Jesus King in your life?
• You do have a king in your life.  It is impossible for you not to have one.  Either Jesus is King in your life or you are king.
• It is impossible to have two kings in your life (Mt. 6:24).  To enthrone Jesus as King in your life is to dethrone yourself.
• It is folly to think you can have Jesus as King in theory but not in practice. Calling yourself a royal subject of King Jesus doesn't make you one.  The question isn't whether you say you are a subject; the question is whether you are living in subjection to Him.

The Four Kings of Christmas (Herod) (Part 3) (Mt. 2:1-8, 16-18)

Transition: What is it about Herod that causes us to be concerned?

HEROD WANTED TO RETAIN CONTROL.

• Why did Herod issue an executive order to murder all boys in Bethlehem two years old and under?
• He wouldn't allow for any possibility that another king would reign.
• In other words, Herod was threatened.  He wanted to remain in control.  Murder was his vehicle for dealing with the threat.  It is estimated that between 6 and 20 boys were murdered in Bethlehem.¹
• Regardless of the actual number, you can imagine the grief this atrocity caused.
• The magi came to Herod and announced that a King had been born.
• Herod determined that there was no way he would surrender his domain by acknowledging the legitimacy of this King.
• Today, I remind us that a King was born.
• Not only was this King born, but He was crucified on a cross and He rose from the dead three days later.  Now that's a powerful King!
• Just as Herod viewed this King as a threat over 2,000 years ago, so also many people today view Him as a threat.
• They do not want to relinquish control of their lives to King Jesus.
• They do not want to repent of their sins.
• They do not want to embrace the lifestyle demands that King Jesus imposes.
• They rightfully understand that King Jesus is highly intrusive.
• When people surrender to Him, there is no area of their lives that can be considered “off limits.”
• Christmas didn't happen – King Jesus wasn't born – so that you could annually accumulate more stuff that you don't need to impress people who don't care.
• King Jesus was born for one purpose – to die.
• To rebel against King Jesus, by determining not to surrender control of your life to Him, means that you will once again miss Christmas.
• Oh, I don't mean that you won't have any gifts.
• What I mean is that there is no gift that can ever compare with the ultimate gift – salvation.
• In 2 Corinthians 9:15, Paul called it God's “indescribable gift.”
• In Romans 6:23, Paul defines this “indescribable gift” as “eternal life through Jesus Christ.”

1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massacre_of_the_Innocents (accessed 12.05.15)

The Four Kings of Christmas (Herod) (Part 2) (Mt. 2:1-8, 16-18)

Transition: What is it about Herod that causes us to be concerned?

HEROD WANTED TO ELIMINATE CHRISTMAS.

• Herod decreed that every boy two years old or less in Bethlehem be murdered.  By such drastic action, Herod sought to eliminate not only Jesus but also Christmas  
• What? You would never do that?  I'm glad to hear that, but you can eliminate Christmas in other, more socially acceptable ways.
• While you're rejoicing that you're not a murderer, that doesn't mean you can't kill Christmas. You can kill Christmas a lot of ways.
• You can kill Christmas through busyness.  Parties, shopping, baking, decorating, – go, go, go – Where will you find time for it all?  You can still have a holiday amid the busyness, but you might not have a holy day.  If you check everything off your holiday list but don't get to rest, reflect and rejoice, how is that worth it?
• You can kill Christmas through distraction.  
• Is anyone else tired of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”, “Frosty, The Snowman”, “Silver Bells”, “Jingle Bells”, “Santa Baby” – I mean, where is the “Joy To The World” and “O Come, All Ye Faithful”?  And what's up with this joy-sucking song: “Last Christmas I gave you my heart; the very next day you gave it away”?  You can be distracted by frivolity and dysfunction.  
• Don't be surprised to find an uptick in stories about violence as Christmas approaches.  While each story is sad and should be a call to prayer and compassion, be careful that you don't lose your joy along the way.  You can be distracted by negativity and evil.
• We've already discussed busyness. Busyness is distraction through motion.
• You can kill Christmas through ritual.  
• Ritual is preference, tradition, routine, custom, a way of doing things.  
• Ritual is usually harmless unless its realm is the spiritual.  Spiritual ritual is habit without heart, form without faith, movement without meaning, participation without profession, routine without repentance.  For instance, every year at Christmas Eve, there are those who take Communion who shouldn't. They take Communion not because they are in right relationship with Jesus and others but because they don't want to stand out.  
• When you're done with your household Christmas ritual, will there have been any mention of Jesus?
• Will there have been any joy?
• Will there have been any thankfulness?
• Will there have been any peace?
• Will there have been any hope?
• Will there have been any wonder or worship?
• You can kill Christmas through rebellion.

The Four Kings of Christmas (Herod) (Part 1) (Mt. 2:1-8, 16-18)

Introduction:

1. Illustration: Missing The Point

      “On Dec. 17, 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright made their first flight of an airplane at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. On their fifth attempt, the plane under the control of Orville, embarked on a 12-second flight.

      Wilbur rushed to the local telegraph office and sent the following message: WE HAVE FLOWN FOR 12 SECONDS—WE WILL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS!

      Upon receiving the telegram, their sister, Katherine, went to the newspaper office, told the editor of her brothers' new flying machine and informed him they would be home for Christmas if he would like to set up an interview. He told her that was nice, and he would be sure to put something in the paper regarding the boys.

      On Dec. 19, the local paper placed the following headline on the sixth page of the paper: "Wright Brothers Home for Christmas."

      The most important story of the year—man's first flight—and the editor missed it!¹

2. Today's Bible verses have to do with a king named Herod.  Just as the newspaper editor missed the point about the Wright brothers' flight, so Herod missed the point about Jesus' birth.

3. My concern today is that it's possible to have another Christmas pass quickly and without impact. When December 26 arrives, will you look back at the last 25 days and say, “I missed it”?

Bible Verses: Read Matthew 2:1-8, 16-18.  Have the sound technician softly play “Coventry Carol” (handbell version) while you read.

1 http://www.preaching.com/sermon-illustrations/11660821/ (accessed 12.02.15)

My Prayer (12/2/15)

Read Matthew 2:1-8, 16-18.

Father in Heaven, I come to You in the name of Your Son, Jesus.  Thank You for hearing me.  I'm asking that, during this time called Advent, I would not miss Christmas.  Herod missed it because his personal ambition was threatened.  While I would like to think that's not the case with me, I can miss Christmas other ways.  After all the parties, concerts, shopping and TV specials, I will have missed Christmas if I didn't seek Jesus for myself.  I will have missed Christmas if I didn't choose inconvenience over self-preservation.

Stir me to be in pursuit of You, King Jesus.  I want to seek You for myself and be amazed.  You are worth more than whatever effort I might expend or whatever status I might relinquish.

Unlike Herod, let me rejoice when I hear the news about You. Thank You for authentic Christmas joy.

Jesus Is Not An Entertainer (Lu. 23:8-9)

Herod wanted to see a sign, not salvation.  He was interested in Jesus for a secondary reason, while avoiding His ultimate purpose.

Has Jesus become mere religious entertainment?  Why do you seek Him?

• It should be to worship Him (wise men - Mt. 2:12) as Savior and King. 
• It should be to process hard questions and discern truth.  
• It should be to obtain salvation.