There are many who profess to be evangelicals, but do they know Jesus Christ personally, intimately, and devotionally? According to Scripture, there are sure ways to fail to know Jesus intimately. One of many examples seen in the Bible, Herod the tetrarch from today’s text exemplifies those who had ample opportunity to know Jesus personally. But what caused Herod to only know Jesus Christ superficially? Pastor Paul will show that Herod had a different motive in knowing Christ, knowing Christ via secondhand knowledge, and possessed morbid curiosity about self-love more than anything.
After hearing about all that was happening, Herod, the tetrarch was greatly perplexed and kept trying to see him (v 7-9). Even though he was curious about this Jesus regarding what he was doing, he failed to focus on Jesus’ words and message. Herod’s mistake was to seek Jesus in a shallow manner. In order to know Jesus intimately and come to salvation, Herod needed to shift his attention to Jesus’ words rather than his signs and wonders.
Why wasn’t Herod interested in the words of Christ? The Word of God always demands some sort of response and obedience. Jesus had the same message that John the Baptist preached prior to his ministry; that is, “preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sin” (Lk. 3:3). Herod had also heard the message of John the Baptist, but he did not respond to it in repentance and eventually took his life (v 9). Herod was not the only one that did not repent and walked away when obedience was required. There was a myriad of people that followed Jesus when he was performing signs and wonders, but the result was that “many of his disciples withdrew and were not walking with him anymore (Jn. 6:60, 66). Jesus’ miracles in and of themselves were not a bad thing. Rather, they were means to bring sinners to understand the gospel message. In other words, witnessing Jesus’ ability to perform miracles demonstrated his ability to save sinners, which is a greater miracle.
Only through the word of God can a sinner come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Therefore, those that are saved by the word are true Christians who have a personal and intimate relationship with Christ. “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh provides no benefit; the words that [Jesus] has spoken to you are spirit, and are life (Jn. 6:63). In the same manner, Christians can measure how near Christ is to them from their relation to the word of God.
Herod’s information on what was happening about Jesus was heard from secondhand witnesses, which caused him to be greatly perplexed. The text describes his sources as all coming from others: “because it was said by some that John was risen from the dead, and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the prophets of old had risen (7b-8). Firsthand knowledge of any person cannot be downplayed, especially when it comes to the Lord Jesus Christ. Even today, there are so many means to know who Jesus Christ is, but they are all secondhand knowledge. This sort of knowledge creates only a shallow understanding and relationship with Christ. Secondhand knowledge in and of itself is not a bad thing, but they must build on a firsthand saving knowledge of Christ through the word of God. Herod failed to do just that although he had an abundant opportunity.
Herod’s interest and passion were based on wrong motives and driven by self-interest to see whether Jesus was able to perform the miracles he had heard about (v. 9). Even following his meeting with Jesus, “Herod with his soldiers, after treating [Jesus] with contempt and mocking him, dressed him in a gorgeous robe and sent him back to Pilate (Lk. 23:8-9, 11). Ultimately, Herod loved only himself and thereby failed to know and love Jesus personally.
“Do we love Christ? That is the great question! Without this there is no vitality about our Christianity. We are no better than… painted wax figures, lifeless stuffed beasts in the museum, sounding brass and tinkling cymbals. There is no life where there is no love to Jesus. Knowledge, orthodoxy, correct views, regular use of forms, a respectable moral life; all these do not make up a true Christian” (J.C. Ryle).
May Herod’s example be a warning to all as he was hellbound and ended there by loving himself rather than loving Christ. Only through the word of God and the gospel sinners are able to know Jesus personally, intimately, and devotionally.
BIBLE COMMUNITY CHURCH 
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