Read Mark 6:14-28
The Pattern Of This World.
I mentioned yesterday how Jesus was becoming well known because of his miracles. I also mentioned how some people were thinking Jesus was some righteous person or prophet of the past who had come back to life. King Herod thought Jesus was John the Baptist, whom King Herod had beheaded and now has come back to life. King Herod felt guilty for beheading John the Baptist. Why did he feel guilty? What happened?
King Herod was confronted by John the Baptist because King Herod married his brother’s wife, Herodias. John the Baptist had been saying to King Herod that the marriage was unlawful. Well this made Herodias very angry and she held a grudge against John the Baptist and wanted him put to death. King Herod had John the Baptist arrested and bound in prison, but did not have him killed because he knew John the Baptist was a righteous and holy man. He even kept him safe. Herodias, definitely wanted him killed.
On King Herod’s birthday, he had a banquet for all the leaders, lords, and military commanders. During the party, he had his daughter dance for them and this pleased King Herod greatly. So he said to his daughter to ask whatever she wanted and he would give it to her. The daughter ran to her mom and asked “What should I ask for?”
Vs 24: the mom said, “Ask for the head of John the Baptist.”
Vs 25: The daughter immediately came in haste before the king saying, “I want you to give me right away the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”
King Herod regretted and was sorry for making the oath. He did not want to have John the Baptist killed but he made an oath before all the leaders of his kingdom and he couldn’t back down. So he gave his daughter John the Baptist’s head on a platter and she gave it to her mother.
It’s amazing how different people perceive and handle God’s truth. John the Baptist was God’s messenger sent to preach repentance of sins and prepare the way for Jesus. He spoke against the marriage of King Herod and Herodias. King Herod knew it was wrong and yet did it anyways. But he did not want to kill John the Baptist because he knew deep down inside he was right. I think he admired John the Baptist’s faith and commitment especially living in a world that neglects the word of God.
But Herodias hated John the Baptist and wanted him killed as if to be saying, “How dare you attack us for choosing to get married. We can do whatever we want. Everybody else in this world didn’t see a problem with it.”
The daughter of Herodias seems to be a spitting image of her mom. She was so happy to please her mom and probably felt a little arrogant because she got to be the one to have John the Baptist beheaded for her mom. She obviously looked up to her mom and wanted to please her and be just like her.
There are lessons we could learn here:
1. There are those who are making decisions in this world that conform to the pattern of our culture, but are very wrong. In fact there are those who know deep down inside that it is wrong but still do it. But when they see someone who does not conform to the pattern of this world, they actually admire and respect this person.
2. There are also those who hate, with a passion, anyone who doesn’t accept their way of living and will do anything to make that person’s life miserable. When I worked in the lumber yard, I lived for Jesus. Some men at work highly respected my faith. But there were two men who made sure they did anything possible to try and make my life miserable.
3. Parents are very influential on determining which direction their kids will go spiritually. If a parent’s faith is very non-committal, then one should not be shocked if their kids faith is just the same or worse.
Lord, help us all make a good look at our faith as it relates to the pattern of this world. Help us to be obedient to you and not conform to this world.
Lord help us all to be a powerful influence on helping others walk faithfully with you.
