Mark 6:14-29
Read Mark 6:14-29
Here we have the story of John the Baptist’s killing by Herod. Herod was the son of Herod the great who had all the Jewish baby boys killed trying to kill Jesus. He was wicked and his son was just as wicked. He had married his brother’s wife who name was Herodias and she was even wicked than Herod. Not only was she Herod’s sister-in-law but she was also his niece. So there is wrong on all kind of levels going on here. John the Baptist had called Herod out on his sin and Herodias wanted John killed but Herod put him in jail. On Herod’s birthday he through a big drunken party for himself and his buddies. Herodias got her daughter to go in and do a dirty dance for them and Herod said oh baby you are looking good to me. I will give you anything you ask for up to half of my kingdom. So she ask mom “what should I ask for”, mom said the Head on John the Baptist. So that is what she asks for and that put Herod in a bad place. I do not want to kill John but all my buddies heard me tell her that I would give her whatever she wanted. Kill John and save face with my friends or do what is right and spare his life. Oh well I guess John will die I can’t look bad to my drunken friends. So John was beheaded and Herodias was finally happy because John was dead.
The question for you today is simple: are you a John or a Herod?
John did what was right even to the point of going to jail and having his head cut off. Herod did evil all the time because he was worried about what his friends would think. Matthew 5:11-12 reads Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Today write God a letter and be honest with Him, tell Him if you and a John and why. Or tell Him if you are a Herod and why. Then ask Him for help becoming a John.
