7. JOHN THE BAPTIST'S BEHEADING
Read Read Matthew 14 :1-12
a) THE PATH OF EVIL
Herod was a leader, but not a very good one. He had committed adultery with his two brother's wives. When John the Baptist confronted him about it, he hoped he would see the error of his ways, but instead of a "guilty conscience", there was no "seeking repentance". Instead, he had John thrown into prison.
"For when Herod had John arrested, he bound him and put him into prison, because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. For John had been saying to him, "It is not lawful for you to have her". Matthew 14:3&4 (NASB)
Herod wanted "self gratification". He focused on his "own personal pleasure". He wanted to kill John but was afraid of the Jewish people and John's disciples. He feared "rejection".
"Beware, don't let pleasure matter more to you than the needs of others. Don't let what others think matter more than what is RIGHT. Let your FOLLOWING JESUS help you to behave courageosly like John the Baptist." Nicky Gumbel
Herod's family also had an evil spirit. His niece Herodias' daaghter plotted plotted with her mother to have John beheaded.
"On Herod's birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests and pleased Herod so much he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. Prompted by her mother, she asked for the head of John the Baptist on a platter." Matthew 14:6-8 (NIV)
b) THE PATH OF GOOD
Jesus was deeply shocked by the news of John's death. He knew that he he too would one day have to face "persecution and death", for our sins. But he continued on with his ministry. He continued with HIS LOVE, KINDNESS AND COMPASSION!
"John's disciples came and took his body to bury it. Then they went and told Jesus. When Jesus head what had happened He withdrew privately to a solitary place." Matthew 14:12 (NIV
This is is something we can always do, when we have to face with difficult times in our life. Like Jesus, we can know that His Father is always with us, and is ready to gives us strength to help us too continue with out ministry. The path of GOOD - LOVE AND KINDNESS is what helps us to keep going and remember that JESUS IS LOVE!!
"Lord, may the difficult times in our lives not lead us off the RIGHT PATHS, but lead us to GREATER COMPASSION and WISDOM." Nicky Gumbel
This is the final series of Jesus' teaching - his parables and healing. We will now move on to a series of our RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS and others, how we need to:
"So now I am giving you a new commandment: LOVE EACH OTHER. JUST AS I HAVE LOVE YOU, YOU SHOULD LOVE ONE ANOTHER. Your LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHE will prove to the world that you are my disciples." John 13:34& 35 (NLT)
For Christmas my husband surprised me by buying me a book that I hadn't even asked for: "Rose Book of Bible Charts Maps and Timelimes". - 10th Anniversary". I can't wait to start reading it and sharing it with you, as I move on to my studies. There is nothing I love most than learning, growing and sharing GOD'S WORD!
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