Mark 6:14-29
A man with a bad conscience lives in a state of fear (Proverbs 28:1). When Herod, who had John’s head cut off, hears people talking about the Lord Jesus, he is terrified at the thought that the prophet might be risen. This would mean that God Himself had taken John’s side. For the same reason, men will be struck with terror when the Lord Jesus, the crucified, appears on the clouds in the sky (Revelation 6:2; Revelation 6:15-17; Revelation 11:10-11).
How blessed is John’s portion, the greatest of the prophets, compared with the destiny of his miserable murderer! This Herod is cowardly rather than cruel like his father, Herod the great. Feeble in character, ruled by his lusts, "he did many things" when he had listened to John, except to live his life in accord with the will of God. Doing many things, even good things, is not sufficient to please God. But here "a convenient day" has come; yes, convenient for Satan and the two women whom he is going to use. A banquet, the seduction of a dance, a thoughtless promise kept because of pride – here is all that is needed to commit an abominable crime, later paid for by the most dreadful anguish of spirit.