4 x 6 Plan | Read: Mark 6:14-29 & 1 Corinthians 12:12-20
So the disciples went out, telling everyone they met to repent of their sins and turn to God. And they cast out many demons and healed many sick people, anointing them with olive oil. (Mark 6:12-13)
Herodias left her first husband, Philip, to marry his half brother, Herod. These were no ordinary brothers. Philip and Herod were two of the four rulers of Palestine, making Herodias and Herod’s marriage a public affair.
When John the Baptist speaks out against their adultery, Herodias would rather kill John than deal with her sin. Matthew 14:5 says Herod was afraid to kill John, so he has John arrested instead. Herod likes listening to John, and the two strike up an odd relationship. It’s not hard to imagine Herodias’ betrayal turning to bitterness every time she saw the two talking. “Does Herod not know who he’s talking to?” she probably thought. “How could he do this to me? It’s humiliating.”
When given the opportunity to finally have John killed, Herodias takes it. We can look at Herodias and think, “I would never to do those things.” But we would be wrong. We are all sinners. 1 John 1:8 says, “If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth” (NLT).
We’ve all got sin, and like Herodias, we will only make things worse by trying to hide it. Herodias’ kill-the-messenger response led to her and Herod becoming murderers as well as adulterers. Not dealing with sin leads to guilt and shame. Guilt and shame lead to more guilt and shame. The good news is…in Christ, you are forgiven and don’t have to live with guilt or shame anymore! You are free!
Action Steps
Bible: What is God showing me? What am I going to do about it?
Bless: Serve one person through word, action, or gift today.
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