Crumbs 102
Think before you speak
Scripture Mark 6:21-29N ew International Version 21 Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 22 When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.” 23 And he promised her with an oath, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.” 24 She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?”“The head of John the Baptist,” she answered. 25 At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” 26 The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her. 27 So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison, 28 and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother. 29 On hearing of this, John’s disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb. Crumbs It may seem strange that we should give our attention to this sordid history, but here it is in the Word of God. It is full of warnings. A rash word led to an undesired outcome. Herod did not want to execute John but was convinced he had to keep his word. Scripture abounds with warnings about what we say. (James 3)
How did he fall into this mess? The dance could have been erotic. Salome was his granddaughter. One sin could have led to another. Or it could be a little girl dancing for her grandad and misused by her mother who refrained from doing her own dirty work. So often what we blurt out has unexpected results
Was this defeat for John the Baptist? Historically we are tempted to say “ Yes!” but if we bring God into the picture, the verdict alters. With so much of life we must take God’s kingdom, eternity the unseen into account. Then we begin to understand. As the old hymn expresses it. He trod down the powers of darkness by being trodden down. Such is the way the Kingdom of God oprates. Calvary is the sublime example.
Questions
What do we learn from the sins recorded in this passage ?
What does the word victory mean to a Christian ?.
How does taking God’ kingdom into account affect our attitude to the News?
