King Herod heard about this, for Jesus' name had become well known. Some were saying, "John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him."
Others said, "He is Elijah." And still others claimed, "He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago."
But when Herod heard this, he said, "John, the man I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!"
For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother, Philip's wife, whom he had married. For John had been saying to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to, because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him.
Blind to the ObviousI’ve searched for misplaced items, only to find them in obvious places! Every once and awhile I enjoy looking at a picture in which the artist has “hidden” several items by making them look like something else. The objects become obvious once they are found - right in front of my face.
Many first century Jews anticipated the appearance of the long hoped for Messiah anytime – a bit like many Christians anticipate Jesus’ second coming anytime today. Yet, when the Messiah appeared and began doing miracles that amazed people, and clearly set him apart from the ordinary person, a lot of people concluded he was everything but the Messiah.
If Herod could believe Jesus was the reincarnation of John the Baptist, how much more difficult would it have been to consider the possibility that he was the Messiah.
Intense hope, surrounded by deep blindness.
I wonder how many times I have been blind to obvious truth, all the while yearning to experience the benefits of the very thing. I seek peace, but the obvious keys to it elude me. I yearn for joy, but I cannot see the path to it, though it lay at my feet.
Many things blind me to the good truth I seek. Assumptions. Preconceived ideas. World view. Thought patterns. Lies I tell myself. No wonder Saint Paul wrote that transformation comes with mind renewal. Finding and experiencing the Truth that is Jesus Christ takes radically reordering the mind.
So my prayer today is a song.
Open my eyes, Lord. I want to see Jesus. To reach out and touch him, and say that I love him. Open my ears, Lord. And help me to listen. Open my eyes, Lord. I want to see Jesus. –Mike Leamon
Opposition ignored
John the Baptist was a real preacher. Jesus called him one of the greatest people ever to live, and I believe it. He defies the opposition with seemingly nothing more than a shrug. There are some people you don’t offend if you now what’s good for you, but John doesn’t seem to know.
I don’t imagine that too many of us will have the chance to offend the First lady, but there are people in our lives and churches who we do worry about offending. The church boss who doesn’t like the message can get a pastor voted out or make life miserable. I wish it was not the case, but the church has more politics than an Iowa caucus. As a pastor I am forced to deal with this because it is reality.
Beware, however, the pastor who concedes her authority to the church boss. There is something wrong with their understanding of authority. Certainly, many of the lay people in the church do not understand ecclesiastical authority, but that is no excuse for being a weak pastor. Tactful, patient, loving, caring, helping and listening are essential tools for every pastor, but not weakness or fear. Standing firm on the message of the Gospel is a must. There can be no backing down, regardless of who the message offends. Paul said, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel.” John clearly was not, and neither should I be.
American individualism does not belong in the church. There will be people who we need to confront with the truth of the Gospel regardless of what they can do to us. Confrontation of this kind is not easy, it cost John his head. It should not be sought out, but neither can it be avoided. We must not be afraid of people. Fear not the person who can kill the body, fear the one who can condemn the soul. I want to follow John’s example when it comes to courageously presenting the message of the cross. No matter what it costs.
Father, help me to have the courage to confront those in the church who oppose your plans and ways. Help me to love them, but to also be firm. Teach me the difference between stubbornness and standing firm. -Dan Jones
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