IT IS A RARE THING FOR THE LORD TO REJECT A MAN, TAKE AWAY HIS PART OUT OF THE BOOK OF LIFE

1. The Herodian Family- Intrigue, vice, corruption, power mad, pleasure chasing rich, - Idumeans
2. Pilate and Herod were rivals- but all were in Jerusalem for Passover/Caesarea & Tiberias
3. But this man- Herod Antipas had no rival in cunning, treachery, political ambition- unless it was in his own heart- where this was rivaled by his lust, adultery & incest

1.- HEROD WAS GLAD TO SEE JESUS Luke 23:6

We could almost wish every man glad to hear about and meet Jesus- but there are different motives

A.- HEROD'S FATHER HEROD THE GREAT HAD BEEN THE KING WHO TRIED TO KILL JESUS Matt 2:16

1. He is the one who built the great temple in Jerusalem (Jesus accused of destroying & rebuilding)
2. When the wise men came to him about a King being born- he killed baby boys of Bethlehem-
3. He was very cruel- many savage murders within his own household- & died around 4 AD- horribly

B.- HEROD ANTIPAS BECAME RULER OF PART OF PALESTINE GALILEE AND PEREA, ALSO TREACHEROUS

1. He was the one who heard John the Baptist Mark 6:14, Matt 14:1- heard him gladly Bible Says
2. But because of an adulterous relationship, Herodias Hated John, -used Salome to trap Herod
3. The religious nature of Herod toyed with John- the Lustful part had John hideously killed

C.- NOW THIS SAME HEROD THE BIBLE TELLS US WAS EXCEEDING GLAD TO SEE JESUS v.8 TRAGIC

1. Luke 9:7 when Herod heard of Jesus- he thought it was John risen from the Dead -
2. His rivalry with Pilate was broken by Pilate sending Jesus to Him- favor for favor?-
3. This gave him the chance to see Jesus perform- a novel statement, wonderous miracle?

It takes a good man to be glad to see Jesus- or a very wicked one- different motives

II. JESUS HAD NOTHING TO SAY! Luke 23:9

This is one of the most unusual verses in the scripture -the One who came to save- refused to speak

A.- JESUS KNEW OF HEROD, AND HE HAD BEEN WARNED THAT HEROD WANTED TO KILL HIM Luke 13:31-2

1. On the road to Jerusalem certain friendly Pharisees warned Him- Herod will Kill You.-
2. He told them to "tell that Fox" - what miracles accomplished, what taught- & I'm coming-
3. What a strange thing that the humble & mild Jesus would call a man a Fox- only time

B.- THERE ARE TIMES WHEN GOD DOES NOT SPEAK TO MAN IN ANY WAY BUT JUDGEMENT WITH LONGSUFFERING

1. Herod may have sought through religion some entertainment, diversion, -God is not mocked
2. Sometimes the surroundings- the wickedness of hearts, wild fun, dulls man's senses toward God
3. Jesus had said-Matt 7:6-"Give, not... holy to... dogs, pearls... swine" Strange language- But there!

C.- THERE ARE SOME HEARTS SO HARDENED AGAINST GOD THAT THEY ARE BEYOND HEARING OF JESUS- Gen 6:3

1. I have warned you about grieving, vexing, quenching the Holy Spirit- & I worry about some- Me
2. I have not believed Gen 6:3 applied to today- but I see results- "Sinned away day of redemption"
3. When God bothers you- beware!  But when He stops- Bewail!  Some sins particularly deadening

Herod was a murderer living in open incest,; God's only word to him would be- JUDGEMENT

III.- DID HEROD UNDERSTAND ? DO YOU ?

Herod was used to mocking religious ideas- built Tiberias (his capital) in cemetery- Jews refused to come

A.- HEROD MOCKED JESUS, AND LED HIS MEN IN MOCKING HIM -v. 11b - YOU DON'T MOCK GOD AND LIVE

1. When the Lord refused to give recognition to the wicked Herod- he set Him up for mockery-
2. The Jews cried out against Jesus- accusations, lies, wicked tales-
3. The men of war set Him at naught- what does this mean? They buffeted Him, beat Him, mocked Him

B.- HEROD SENT JESUS BACK TO PILATE, WITH A SPECIAL GORGEOUS ROBE, & THEY BECAME FRIENDS v.11b,12

1. The robe, that of a candidate for public office!  A play on his being called King- humor
2. These two- Herod & Pilate- became friends- their mutual hatred for Jews, private joke
3. The ungodly world has a brotherhood -unholy honor to mock & hurt Christians-

C.- HEROD SEALED HIS OWN DOOM IN SIN, AND HE DIED IN EXILE, BROKEN AND DEFEATED, FAR FROM HOME

1. He wanted the title of King - went to Rome to appeal to Caesar to give him the degree - but
2. Agrippa heard of his going- sent faster men to accuse him of a secret army- treachery
3. Herod was banished to Lyons, slipped away into Spain and died a fugitive & a nobody

If you do not want to destroy yourself as he did- listen when Jesus does deal with you!

WILL YOU LET GOD SPEAK TO YOU, AND TAKE ACTION, LEST YOUR DAY OF REDEMPTION BE WASTED AWAY?

1. Fear and flee the sins that dull your Spiritual nature- Flee to Jesus- Confess Him-
2. Fill your life with that which blesses the soul- leads to life and happiness- OBEY JESUS
3. Choose your friends- to help you on the right way!- A Church where the Lord can bless!