SCRIPTURE: Matthew 14:13-21
OBSERVATIONS
Both Herod and Herodias desperately want to get rid of this voice of conviction, how John – who speaks as a voice of conscience – is silenced.
People do this all the time, ignoring God’s built in warning system (conscience) designed to keep us from harm.
The Holy Spirit speaks through the conscience, but as we saw with Jesus and His kingdom message, people who don’t want to hear it will resist, and more.
John is an anticipation of what will happen to Jesus, but also for what can happen to anyone who applies God’s kingdom message and lifestyle in their lives.
What do you notice in this passage?
APPLICATION
Ignore your conscience long enough, and eventually it will be silenced.
Someone described the conscience to a square peg twisting in the circle of your heart; it does hurt and would stop hurting if you stopped (whatever you’re doing), but eventually you will wear down it’s edges and the pain will end.
I need to pay attention to the voice of the Spirit, Who nudges and encourages and challenges me through life experiences, other people, the bible, an inward sense, this is God’s ‘warning light’ that there is something wrong in my engine.
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
God, thank You for speaking to me through this story, may I not become so closed that I refuse to listen, or worse, that I silence the messenger.
Jesus follower
trying to find His way
Following Jesus has a price. As much as we urge each other to live as the early church did, I wonder if we choose the easy way out. Choose Jesus, and maybe death, or ridicule, or torture, or alternatively, go with whatever is easy. I know that I usually chose the easy way. I do this in other areas of life as well. I know that exercise is good for me. On a cold morning, it is easier to skip the outdoor run, and sit in a comfortable chair instead. But for John the baptizer, for Jesus, for his disciples and many others, they challenged the status quo, and were martyred for it.
Do I stand up for what is right? John did, and even though he knew it was not a popular thing to say, he spoke his mind to the King regarding his relationship with his sister in law. I may have thought that this was improper, but what about the credo “live and let live”? Are someone else’s moral standards my issue? Are my values right and others wrong? What happens when two moral standards collide? Moral standards are a result of culture, and time in history, as well as a lot of other inputs. Who is to say that what was once considered acceptable (multiple wives, slavery for example) is now wrong. It has become culturally unacceptable. What is normal and acceptable in our society that may become abhorrent in the future? Most cultures believe that lying, cheating, killing, stealing is wrong, and most societies believe in caring, love, and family values. There seems to be an inner morality that is placed in each one of us with these values.
This story of John’s death brings a chill of fear to me. I imagine myself as a guest at this party, and maybe not even being fully clued in to what is happening. After all, as a guest, I may not be privy to the context of why the dancing daughter was asking for the death of a prophet. Why could she just not ask for a pony, or a camel? This gruesome scene of a decapitated head would be terrible, and would cause fear for anyone speaking to the king. I imagine that I would lie low for a while.
Herod feared that Jesus was John, who had come back to life. This would strike him with fear, as he would expect that eventually there would be a payback.
I pray that I can be bold in my faith, and that with whatever happens, that I am willing to stand up for justice, and for what is right.
Observations:
Fearful of what the people might do and yet it was his own self he needed to be true. Fearful of the people and not of the Word of the Lord.
Herod was know by his wife and she knew what she could have. The beheading was planned and he gave in to the whims of his wife.
History has it that later Herod was defeated in battle and exiled and committed suicide.
Application:
How far do I go to get what I desire? What drives my wants? My fears? My ambition?
My mission must be that of service to my King and not my selfish ambition. My ways must be aligned to His will for my life – heart head and hands doing the will of my Father.
Prayer:
Your will be done, Lord. Have Thine own way for You are the Potter. Lead me and guide me always to do Your will.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Thou art the Potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after Thy will,
While I am waiting, yielded and still.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Search me and try me, Master, today!
Whiter than snow, Lord, wash me just now,
As in Thy presence humbly I bow.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Wounded and weary, help me, I pray!
Power, all power, surely is Thine!
Touch me and heal me, Savior divine.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Hold o’er my being absolute sway!
Fill with Thy Spirit ’till all shall see
Christ only, always, living in me.