0290. Herod's Conscience Is Stirred

Herod’s Conscience Is Stirred

"And King Herod heard of Him: (for His name was spread abroad;) and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in Him" (Mar_6:14).

Following the death of John, Jesus Christ, of Whom John had so faithfully preached, came more and more prominently upon the scene. The Scripture was being fulfilled which John had spoken: "He must increase, but I must decrease."

Jesus was performing great miracles. He was traversing the land, teaching with great authority; He was doing deeds that only God could do.

The fame of Christ and the story of His marvelous ministry, had swept beyond the populace, beyond the upper classes, and had come to the palace where Herod was housed with his official advisers.

The affairs of state, which were usually the subject of their conversation, were set aside. Their one consuming topic was the Miracle-Worker, and His mighty deeds.

They were discussing His identity–who He was, and from whence He came. Some, perhaps, were saying He was Elijah, and some said He was Jeremias or one of the Prophets; but Herod, with evident palor in his face, replied, "I know who He is, it is John the Baptist whom I beheaded, he is risen from the dead."

Herod’s conscience was fully aroused. The memory of his sin startled him. He felt that the one whom he had slain, had come back and that he must meet him face to face.

And this will some day be true. Those who pursue wickedness must face their wicked deeds, throughout all eternity. The damned in hell, will surely hear the words: "Son remember."

Herod’s conscience, which had been dormant for some time, was now awakened and stared him in the face. Let not the men of the world who reject Christ, think that the memory of their sins will never trouble them.

1. When Joseph reproached his brethren concerning their brother, whom they had sold into Egypt, they said one to another: "We are verily guilty concerning our brother." The memory of their deed swept over them and crushed them.

2. When Judas saw what he had done, the money he held in his hand burned him to the quick, and with a conscience eating at his very vitals, he took the money and threw it down in the Temple, and went and hanged himself.

3. Some one has described Pilate in hell. He is seen stooping over some running stream, and washing his hands. To each one who approached, Pilate is described as showing his hands and saying: "Can’t you see the blood upon my hands? It is the Blood of Christ, Whom I delivered to be crucified. I tried to wash it off in a basin on the day of the crucifixion, and I have tried to wash it off during the long centuries, here in hell, but I cannot remove the stain; it stares me in the face and mocks me."

And Herod, too, was faced by the memory of his deed. Of memory it has well been written–

"Which way shall I fly,

Infinite wrath and infinite despair?

Which way I fly is hell,

For I, myself, am hell."

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR