Guilt is an interesting emotion. It occurs, or at least should occur, when we do something we know is wrong. We call those who do not feel guilt psychopaths or sociopaths, and such people are terribly dangerous to those around them because guilt does not regulate their behavior.
When Herod Antipas heard that Jesus and his disciples were healing sick people and casting out demons, he immediately assumed that John the Baptist had come back to life to haunt or destroy him (Mark 6:16). John the Baptist had been arrested by Herod, but Herod did not kill him because he enjoyed hearing John preach and he admired him.
On one occasion, John the Baptist told Herod that it had been wrong for him to marry his brother’s wife, Herodias. Herodias had likely agreed to swapping husbands because her first husband, Philip, had been governor of one area (Iturea, north and east of the Sea of Galilee), and his halfbrother, Herod Antipas, was governor of two areas (Galilee, west of the Sea of Galilee, and Perea, southeast of the Sea of Galilee).
Herodias viewed Herod Antipas as more powerful than Philip, so the new marriage was a step up for her. When John the Baptist condemned the new marriage, Herodias did not appreciate it (perhaps because she felt guilty), and at an opportune moment, had her daughter ask for the head of John the Baptist on a silver platter.
It occurred when Herod offered the daughter a gift of up to half his kingdom because he was so pleased with her dance at his birthday party. Herod did not want to fulfill the request, but felt he had to do it in order not to lose face with his party guests before whom he had made the boastful offer.
Herod’s conscience troubled him so much with guilt over the beheading that he assumed Jesus was John the Baptist brought back to life by God and that Jesus was out to repay him for the crime. Jesus referred to Herod Antipas as “that fox” (Luke 13:32) because Herod was always chasing him, trying to arrest him and eliminate this perceived threat to his throne.
Jesus frequently retreated to the wilderness not just for prayer, but to escape the fox who was hunting him. The wilderness was on the east shore of the Sea of Galilee in the territory of Herod’s half-brother, Philip.
Philip, as you might imagine, granted no access to his territory to Herod Antipas because he did not appreciate Herod stealing his wife.
Guilt makes us do crazy things. It can make us imagine strange threats to our welfare, like Herod did when he heard about the miracles Jesus was performing. It can make us aggressive, as Herod was towards Jesus.
It can make us defensive, bitter, and angry. It can turn us into paranoid porcupines whose needles are always out. It can make us become roaring tigers, threatening aggressive harm toward others. It can make us depressed, dark, and moody. It can make us vengeful and hateful. It can lead us to turn one wrong that we have done into a thousand other wrongs that we impose upon others and even society at large. It can lead us to put up barriers that isolate us from others and poison the healthy relationships we should have. It can lead to criminal behavior and the consequences of such behavior.
There is a better way to handle our feelings of guilt. The Bible says, “if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from everything we’ve done wrong.” (I John 1:9).
God can cleanse our souls, wipe the slate clean, and give us a new start. We should feel guilty for the things we have done wrong, but guilt should not lead us to worse behavior, it should lead us to repentance. Repentance is feeling regret and turning from our misdeeds to righteous behavior. It is acknowledging our misdeeds before God, and, when appropriate, to other people. It is coming out of our denial and having the courage to be honest with ourselves, with God, and with others about our sins. It is asking God and others for forgiveness and choosing to walk a new path with new behaviors and attitudes.
Repentance puts us in right relationship with God and often leads to mended relationships with others. It is the first step of the healing of the soul from the ravages of guilt.
Dr. Dan Darby is a retired United Methodist pastor.
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