47 The Dance that Leads to Death

Mark 6:14-29; Luke 9:7-9; Matthew 14:1-12, TBC Book Two, Chapter 47
John, the Baptist, had now been in prison for many months, even though he had broken no laws and done nothing illegal. In fact, the reason he sat in prison was because he had spoken up and told the truth to their ruler, a man named Herod.

Herod Antipas ruled over Galilee and the nearby region of Perea. He liked listening to John the Baptist, even though John would often confront him. John had told him it was wrong to take Herodias as his wife, for she had been married to his brother, Philip. In God’s eyes she was still Philip’s wife.

Herod chose to ignore John’s rebuke, but Herodias was furious. She wanted John killed. Yet Herod refused to do that. Though he tried to hide it, he was afraid of John. . . . But what he feared most were all the people who regarded John as a prophet. So he decided just to put John in prison.

Herodias, however, still nursed a grudge. One way or another, she vowed, she would have him killed. While planning Herod’s birthday celebration, an idea came to her. She called for her daughter, Salome. . . .

(See THE BIBLE CLICKS, Book Two, Chapter 47, for the rest of the story.)

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Today’s Takeaways
     A proverb to guide you: Speaking truth to power is costly, but terror haunts those who are pawns of evil.
     A promise to cling to: “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”
     A praise to fill you: Even If  MercyMe       [Can skip ad after first 5 seconds]

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