SCRIPTURE
Time After Pentecost - Lectionary 15
Mark 6:14-29 (NRSV)
The death of John the Baptist
King Herod heard of it, for Jesus' name had become known. Some were saying, "John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; and for this reason these powers are at work in him." But others said, "It is Elijah." And others said, "It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old." But when Herod heard of it, he said, "John, whom I beheaded, has been raised."
For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because Herod had married her. For John had been telling Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him. But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee. When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, "Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it." And he solemnly swore to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom." She went out and said to her mother, "What should I ask for?" She replied, "The head of John the baptizer." Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, "I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter." The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John's head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.
MEDITATION
Wow! Today’s scripture gives us a vivid warning about how easy it is to fall into temptation and then into sin.
Whenever we allow our pride or vanity to go ahead of us, it prepares a great fall! In Herod’s case, he allowed his pride in his daughter to cause him to promise her more than he actually wanted to give. When she asked for the head of John, “a righteous and holy man” whom Herod liked to listen to, Herod relented, most likely because he was afraid of being punked in front of the friends and family assembled for his birthday party!
Oh my! Isn’t it easy to fall into temptation? Sometimes we don’t even see it coming…But, sin will always wiggle into our lives when we leave the door open. Herod opened the door by taking his brother’s wife. Herod opened the door by allowing his vanity to trump his good sense. And Herod opened the door when he allowed his pride to keep him from doing that which he knew was right and just.
My Lord, please help us! As human beings we are so prone to falling into sin. When we are not on our guard ever praying, “lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,” lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, or pride always find a way into our lives by hook or by crook!
Friends, let me tell you something I recently told a student. Sin is not just what you do; it is also what you leave undone! So many of us think that we are living holy and righteous lives following the commandments of God, but in actuality we are sinning—not by what we do—but by what we fail to do.
We fail to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, house the homeless, visit the sick and imprisoned, and/or care for the widows and orphans. We fail to love God with all of our hearts, minds, souls, and strength, and we fail to love our neighbors as ourselves.
All we can rightly say is, “Help us Jesus!”
Indeed, Jesus is the only one who can remove the sin-sickness that plagues our souls. Jesus is the only one who can remove the stain that sin has left on our hearts and souls.
God loves the world so much that God gave Jesus to die on the cross to save us from our sin and gift us with eternal life! When Jesus went to the cross he took the burden of our sin upon his shoulders and when he was resurrected from the grave he emerged triumphant over sin, death, and the grave!
When we put all of our hope in Jesus, our sin is washed away in the floodtide of God’s love, forgiveness, and salvation. As we believe with all our heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, our sin-sickness is cured by the Blood of the Lamb!
Sin does not get to have the final word in our lives! No matter what kind of trouble we have gotten ourselves into, Jesus is able to rescue us!
Now, you may be thinking God can never forgive me. I’m too bad, rotten, and awful for God to care about me!
You are wrong, my friend! You can’t out sin, out fox, or out run the love of God which has been revealed to you in Christ Jesus! No matter what you have done, God stands with arms wide open ready to welcome you home. You need only run into those arms and be saved!
Will you come home today? If so, please pray with me:
Holy God, I have allowed my sin to mess up my life. I’ve tried to fix it; but I only made it worse! I can’t save myself; I need you to help me. Please forgive me of my sin and fill me with the Holy Spirit. I believe, by faith, that you love me and proved it when Jesus went to the cross for me. Please help me to share Your love with others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
If you would like to put all of your hope in Jesus today, please visit my blog entitled, “Putting All Your Hope In Jesus” located at
http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com/2009/04/putting-all-your-hope-in-jesus.html
If you have additional questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, "Come to Jesus"
http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com/2009/03/come-to-jesus.html
Pastor Yolanda is now publishing another blog entitled, “A Spoken WORD” in celebration of Holy Hip Hop, Gospel/Christian Rap and Spoken Word. Please check it out @ http://aspokenword.blogspot.com/
You are invited to follow Pastor Yolanda on Twitter www.twitter.com/PastorYolanda
Good News has now added a Prayer Ministry. http://www.kindlejoy.com/groups/goodnews
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From Pastor Yolanda's blog http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com
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