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THE EFFECT OF THE PRESENCE OF JESUS

Introduction

The Gospel accounts give us a view of the Life of Christ from His conception and birth through His death, burial, resurrection and ascension. As we view the life of Christ there is something that we become keenly aware of:

Wherever Jesus was–whatever He was involved in–things were unusually different.

(i.e. Jesus had an impact on what was going on around him!)

            1.         Jesus’ Birth – In Luke 2:10-14, angels announced His birth to the shepherds.

            2.         Shortly After Jesus’ Birth – Matthew chapter two speaks of the unusual events surrounding the visit of the magi or wise men.

            3.         When Jesus was Twelve And Went To The Temple – Luke 2:47–“And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.”

            4.         At Jesus Baptism – Matthew 3:13-17.

            5.         When Jesus Went About Ministering – Matthew 4:23-25.

            6.         When Jesus Was In The Ship – Matthew 8:23-27

            7.         When Jesus Came Where Someone Had Died. (Several different accounts)

Wherever Jesus was, He had an impact and made a difference in what was going on around Him! That was true when He walked this earth. But could I tell you that is still true today!

Whatever Jesus is involved in, wherever His manifest presence is, He has an impact on what is going on, He makes a difference!

I thank God for the day when I came into contact with Jesus through salvation! My life has never been the same!

2 Corinthians 5:17–“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

I want us to look today at a story found in Matthew’s Gospel chapter fourteen.

Here we find the story of a sinner who was troubled at the presence of Jesus. His name was Herod. We know from history that this was Herod Antipas, who ruled over a fourth of Palestine from around 4 B.C. until 39 A.D. (That is why he is called a tetrarch). His father was Herod the Great, the one who had all the babies killed shortly after the time of the Birth of Jesus.

Let’s read the Scripture.

I.         WE SEE THAT HEROD HAD A SIN PROBLEM.

            A.        Herod Was Living In An Adulterous Relationship. (Vs 3)

He had taken His brother Philip’s wife, a woman by the name of Herodias, and was living with her in an immoral relationship.

He broke the law of God found in Exodus 20:14–“Thou shalt not commit adultery!”

                        Now it’s easy for us to look at someone like Herod and see that he was a sinner.

But we need to understand that Herod was just like any of us! He was a law breaker!

                        The Bible says that we are all sinners!

            B.        The Man Of God Confronted Herod With His Sin. (Vs 4)

                        John the Baptist didn’t pull any punches. He called it like he saw it.

                        Herod didn’t like that too much. In fact he didn’t like it at all!

Things are no different with most of us. We don’t like somebody pointing out our sin.

            C.        Herod Used What Was In His Power To Silence John The Baptist.

Did you know that folks still get mad today when their sin is preached against.

Its OK as long as the preaching is against those other sinners, but leave this one alone.

Sometimes folks find ways to retaliate against the ones who preach against their wickedness:

                                    They may stop coming to Church.

                                    They may change Churches.

                                    They may stop giving.

                                    They may start slandering and gossiping.

                                    They may attack verbally or physically.

                                    They may stir up trouble some other way.

            D.        Herod Feared Man Rather Than the LORD, And Thereby He Compounded His Sin Problem! 

                        1.         He Yielded To Peer Pressure. (Vs 3)

                                    Partly why He locked up John the Baptist was to please Herodias.

                                    Pride got in the way of Herod doing right.

                                    Be careful what you let your friends and acquaintances pressure you into!

                                    He Yielded To Peer Pressure.

                        2.         He Yielded To Popular Opinion. (Vs 5)

He didn’t immediately kill John the Baptist because he feared the multitude.

                                    Herod was not interested in what was best for the people.

                                    Herod was not interested in what was best for John the Baptist.

                                    Herod was only interested in what was good for Herod.

The easy thing to do is just go with the flow of what the majority thinks. (i.e. Don’t rock the boat!)

The only problem is that even though popular opinion may lead you to do the right thing sometimes, they can just as easily lead you to do the wrong thing.

Don’t live your life according to popular opinion polls! (That is a lot of what is wrong with our political system now!)

                                    He Yielded To Peer Pressure. He Yielded To Public Opinion.

                        3.         He Yielded To Personal Pleasure. (Vs 6-7)

His lusts wound up getting the best of him! His lusts caused him to “paint himself into a corner” so to speak.

In a moment of pleasure He foolishly swore with an oath and had to make good on his oath to save face with those under his authority. So, he added murder on top of the other sins he had committed.

            WE SEE THAT HEROD HAD A SIN PROBLEM.

II.      WE SEE THAT THERE WAS A TIME WHEN HEROD WAS CONVICTED OF THE SIN IN HIS LIFE BY THE PRESENCE OF JESUS. (Vs 1-2)

We know that John the Baptist was the forerunner of Jesus. John the Baptist came to prepare folks for the coming of Christ and to point folks to Christ.

            He came preaching that people should repent and prepare for the coming Messiah!

Then when Jesus was ready to begin His earthly ministry and was baptized by John the Baptist, John pointed to Him and said, John 1:29–“Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”

            He later told his own disciples in John 3:30–“He must increase, but I must decrease.”

And we know from reading the Gospels that that did begin to take place as Jesus began His earthly ministry. Some of John’s disciples began to follow Jesus.

            It was shortly thereafter that John the Baptist was imprisoned and beheaded by Herod.

            But we see here that when Herod heard of the fame of Jesus, he became troubled

            Why is that? Because what he heard of Jesus reminded him of John the Baptist!

            Look at John 1:6-10; 3:19-21. Note a couple of things mentioned here:

            A.        Light Is Come Into The World.

John the Baptist bore witness of that light! Jesus was that light!

                        Herod, who was in darkness, saw the light but did not comprehend the Light!

                        Herod thought that Jesus was John the Baptist risen from the dead.

That’s because what Herod heard about Jesus lined up with what he knew of John the Baptist.

But Herod is not alone in failing to comprehend who Jesus really was!

                        Many people today still miss who Jesus really is!!!

                        Light Is Come Into The World.

            B.        Men Love Darkness Rather Than Light. 

                        There are two reasons for this:

                        1.         Because their deeds are evil.

                                    (Exp–The Scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees.)

                        2.         Because they don’t want their deeds to be discovered.

III.      HEROD DISMISSED THE CONVICTION, HE CARRIED ON WITH HIS LIFE, AND EVENTUALLY MOCKED JESUS. (Luke 23:6-12)

What should Herod have done about the presence of Jesus?

He should have repented of His sin and followed Christ. And Christ would have saved him!

But Herod is like many people even today. He no doubt saw that it would have cost him too much!

                        He would have had to swallow his pride.

                        He would have had to admit his sin.

                        He would have had to give up his sin that he loved.

                        It may have cost him some friends, some power, some influence.

What Herod did was that he chose to judge Jesus for himself not realizing that Jesus would eventually judge him.

                        He liked the idea of a Jesus who had some miracle working value.

He liked the idea of a Jesus who was under his jurisdiction. (i.e. who he could control.)

                        When Jesus didn’t meet his expectations, he mocked the Saviour.

            But there is coming a time when the tables will turn and Christ will be his judge! 

Conclusion

What are you doing with the presence of Jesus? You know the Lord Jesus has manifested Himself to you in many ways.

            Does the mention of His name bring about a convicting of sin in your life?

            How are you responding to that conviction? Do you dismiss it?

Light has come into the world! But have you loved darkness rather than light?

Jesus wants to save you today. He can save you and He will save you if you will humbly come to Him for salvation today. Won’t you come and let us show you the way?

Dear Christian, listen to me! When we have the manifest presence of Jesus in our lives as a Christian, it is going to have an effect on those around us. We are to be salt and light!

What kind of influence are you for Christ?

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NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!