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Mark 6:14-29

King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known. Some were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.” Others said, “He is Elijah.” And still others claimed, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago.” But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!” For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, whom he had married. For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to, because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him. Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.” And he promised her with an oath, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.” She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” “The head of John the Baptist,” she answered. At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her. So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison, and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother. On hearing of this, John’s disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

By: The Rt. Rev. Julian M. Dobbs

When Jesus lived and ministered in Galilee, the region was governed by Rome under the rule of Herod
Antipas.

We are told that Herod listened to the preaching of John the Baptist, in fact Mark’s gospel says that when Herod heard John he was greatly perplexed, “and yet he heard him gladly”. Mark 16:20

I have wondered what might have happened in Galilee if Herod had listened and obeyed the preaching of John the Baptist. However, as the gospels make clear, instead of listening to the word of God, Herod was enticed by his wife and had John the Baptist executed and silenced his calls for repentance.

Three insights from this passage:

    1. God continues to call us to repent of our sins. Even if we turn away or try to silence his message, God’s word endures forever and Jesus still says ‘repent’ to each of us today.
    2. There will always be people, circumstances and spiritual forces that attempt to influence us to turn our backs on God and His ways. Isaiah says of God, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
    3. Our God is the God of second and third chances. Herod Antipas had heard the message of repentance as a result of the preaching of John the Baptist, however Herod chose to listen to other voices than listen to the message of repentance.

The great tragedy for many of us is that we delay our response to God too long. The message of the gospel is urgent, come now to Jesus before it is too late. God’s arms of love and forgiveness are open wide today.

Just as I am, thou wilt receive;
wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve,
because thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.