Instruction
Scripture: Mark6:14-29
Mark records the death of John the Baptist between the
mission work of the Disciples and the Feeding of the Five-Thousand. In this
section Mark introduces King Herod and records his perverse relationship with
his wife/sister-in-law and step-daughter/niece. This was the heart of Herod’s
conflict with John the Baptist, because John called Herod, too, to repentance.
It was Herodias, however, who made the bold move to get her daughter to have
John executed. This passage displays the conflict that Jesus and his followers
had with the secular powers of their time and functions as a foreshadowing of
what would happen to Jesus himself. It is often the case that Jesus’ followers
are met by the world with both animosity and violence.
Teaching
In this passage we see the uncomfortable relationship
between church and state on display. Herod was, indeed, a king, but John, as
God’s prophet and messenger, confronted him when he took his brother Philip’s
wife as his own. This was a violation of God’s laws regarding marriage, and
outside of his design for this blessed estate. In this we see that it is often
God’s people’s duty to speak out against evil and injustice in the world.
What is more, we get a glimpse of the wickedness of the
human condition. When the members of Herod’s family were confronted with the
truth of God’s word they sought to stop the messenger. Herod had him thrown in
prison. Herodias conspired to have him killed. Herodias’s daughter asked for
John’s head. Herod gave the order, though reluctantly. When sinners are
confronted with God’s truth, we do not want to hear it, and there is much that
people will do so they do not have to hear God’s word: violence, intimidation,
abuse their power, and even murder.
Life
Have you ever heard God’s word and not liked what it said?
What do you do when that happens? Sometimes when we are caught in our sin –
even if our sin is not actually known – we become defensive, we resist, argue, or
become angry with the one who delivered the word to us.
When we believe that Jesus died to win our forgiveness, we
will still be confronted by our sin. Indeed, the confrontation becomes keener
because of our love for him and our desire to be Christ-like. However, this
should not lead us resist the confrontation. Indeed, un-like Herod and his
family, we can confess our sins knowing that, by Jesus blood shed on the cross,
all of our sins are forgiven. We can even be thankful for the confrontation which
helps us see our sin and experience forgiveness for it.
Prayer
This prayer is written
with the theme of Confession.
Heavenly Father, we confess to you all our sins and
iniquities; those we know and those we don’t. We confess that we resist your
word, and live according to our own desires. We have become angry when caught
in sin. Sometimes we have even continued in sin, knowing that what we were doing,
saying, or thinking was wrong. Please forgive us. Cleanse us. We see the
depravity in our own hearts, and we need you to save us from it. Jesus shed his
blood that we might be saved by believing in him. We cling to his cross and
claim no merit or right of our own. Please grant us your forgiveness, for
Jesus’ sake. Amen.
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