Herod’s steward gives us the whisper from the palace…

I’ve just come from the king’s chambers and, I tell you, he’s getting worse!

There’s a foul temper on him today. Already he’s cursing and throwing things.  He hardly slept a wink again; tossing and turning all night. His sleep was haunted by nightmares, and his daytime thoughts are much the same.  Guilt drives him to despair and fear grips his soul and no tonic or draught from the doctors has helped in any way.  The wine, of course (which he has started on already!) just exaggerates his feelings and leads to more mood swings and violence. I tell you, I was glad to get out of the room as soon as I could!

Herodias, the king’s wife, has given up on him for now (wisely keeping her distance). Not that she has much time for him at all these days. She looks at him with disdain whenever she sees him.

His favourite muse, little Salome, dare not go anywhere near him!   Normally, she would manage to calm Herod down, but her wiles and ways are what got him into this mess, he fumed when she came to see him. He got so riled up at the sight of her that she only just had time to duck out the door as he viciously threw his wine goblet at her. Outwardly Herod blames the girl and her mother for everything.  But, deep down, he knows the responsibility – and the stupidity – was his and his alone.  (But don’t tell anyone I said that, mind.  I really don’t want to lose my head too!)

Now, John always unsettled Herod.  Yes, he was fascinated by him; something about John holiness and his unbending integrity drew the King to him . These were qualities Herod recognised and respected, even if he had none of them himself.   What is more, the King saw that John was powerful.  Not only did he have an authority that seemed to come from God, John also had had a massive following. How a backwoods preacher could carry such authority really bewildered Herod. He was drawn to it and wanted to learn from it, while utterly rejecting it at the same time. So, ironically, he became his tormentor’s protector. That just made Herodias mad!

It may have just been that Herod was astute enough to know that, with John having such a large following, there was no way he could dispose of him without a backlash. But I honestly don’t think Herod actually wanted anything bad to happen to John.  Yes, he was angry at the blatant challenge to his morality that John persisted with, but the King could not really argue that case.  Whatever spin Herod might have liked to put on it, he had taken his brothers wife as his own. Others may have turn a blind eye, but you could not expect John to. Even Herod knew it was wrong, but he was in too deep and … he just could not help himself.

What he could do was keep Herod locked up.  In the mountain fortress of Macherus, John was out of the way and unable to cause any more trouble.  Holding him in his fortress palace, meant Herod could keep an eye on him.  And visit him too.  He was constantly drawn to John and went often to speak with him.  I’d say John puzzled him – Herod just could not understand the man’s way of thinking.   And clearly John got under his skin. Herod often came out of their meetings cursing and swearing that he’d never to listen to him again but, of course, he did. He returned time and again, as if pulled by a magnet, or drawn like a moth to the flame.  Why?  I do not know!  I wish he hadn’t let the man affect him so. It all seemed masochistic to me! Maybe, this was Herod’s way of doing penance?  Certainly, John never let up on challenging Herod, and Herod knew he never would.  Perhaps he found it easier to take John’s condemnation, than face his own inner tribunal instead?

Herodias thought Herod weak, for sure.  She had no qualms about wanting to see John dead.  And now Herod can no longer carry on the self-pretence that he is good – the protector of a Holy man.  That ended at the party, when in drunken revelry, he allowed Herodias to manoeuvre him into getting her way. 

The queen knew the effect her daughter had on Herod.  Perversely, she was entertained by his drooling over the girl. It thrilled and disgusted her at the same time.  But now she decided to use it to her advantage.

She’d trained Salome to dance so voluptuously, and this was the moment to see her efforts reap the desired fruit.  A potent mixture of way too much wine, the King’s foolish bravado and uncontrolled lust conspired to have their way; just as Herodias knew they would.  Without thinking, Herod declared he’d give his seductress anything she wanted.    He could not have known what she (at her mother’s bidding) would ask for.  But in that moment of supreme stupidity, he’d given his word and would have to stick with it.  No way would Herod allow himself to lose face.  So instead, John lost his head. 

And now Herod has to live with the consequences. He’s tried to put a brave face on it; tried to act with a dignity that he knows he lost that night.  Tried so hard to forget what he allowed to happen.  Tried to forget John and everything he stood for.  “But that wretch; he still torments me from beyond the grave!” he rants in mad despair. 

Reports had come in, and Herod was hearing about another Holy-man rising up in John’s wake.  This man was rapidly growing in fame and the people were flocking to him in numbers greater even than they had to John.  The reports said he was a miracle worker, who sent his followers out to heal and drive out demons… and apparently they did so effectively, too.  Worse of all, this man was said to be John’s cousin (he had to be, didn’t he?!)  Others were claiming he was much more; Elijah? A prophet? Or – wait for it – John the Baptist raised from the dead?!  

It was that last suggestion that did it for Herod.  He just could not shake the notion from his head.  His one-time mentor and tormentor, both, was back to haunt him!   Burning guilt mixed with superstitious nonsense to make up a potent concoction.  For, if John had been raised from the dead, where did that leave Herod?  Judged and condemned as John’s killer, with his tormentor still out there and coming to get him – that’s where!

So, no wonder Herod can’t sleep!  No wonder he spends his days trying to lose himself in drunken stupor.  You see, if someone does rise from the dead and you can’t kill him and his truth, then there is no escape is there?  Except, perhaps, though that one thing John was famous for calling people to: repentance. An admission of guilt, a turning from it, and a throwing of oneself on the mercy of God.  But no way would Herod ever do that. He would never allow himself to lose face. Never!

So, he’ll have to live with the constant torment, even if it eats him away inside. 

And I’ll have to live with his moods and the abuse he hurls at me when I go to wake him each morning. 

And this new guy they’re all talking about had better be very careful.  The first time Herod was tricked in to it, but now, I’m certain, he’ll most certainly want to see the man dead.