What Jesus Did : Mark 6:27-29 - Brutality and Grief
by Phil Ware
Brutality and Grief - Mark 6:27-29
So the king sent a soldier to cut off John's head and bring it. So the soldier went and cut off John's head in the prison. Then the soldier brought John's head back on a plate. He gave the head to the girl. Then the girl gave the head to her mother. John's followers heard about what happened. So they came and got John's body. They put it in a tomb (grave). (ERV) Full TextKey Thought
We often forget that we have brothers and sisters in Christ who have to face incredible inhumanity and brutality because of their faith, righteousness, and unwavering loyalty to Jesus. Let's use this gruesome reminder of John the Baptist's death to jar us into an acute awareness of our fellow believers world-wide who are suffering and dying for the cause of Christ.
Today's Prayer
O God, my Abba Father, it pains me deeply to think about your precious children who are having to face horribly brutal times because of their faith. Please work in the affairs of our world to bring an end to the regimes that support such inhumanity and brutality. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Today's Verses in Context
King Herod heard about Jesus, because Jesus was now famous. Some people said, "{He (Jesus) is} John the Baptizer. He is risen from death. That is why he can do these miracles. " Other people said, "He is Elijah. " Other people said, "Jesus is a prophet. He is like the prophets that lived long ago." Herod heard these things about Jesus. He said, "I killed John by cutting off his head. Now John has been raised from death!" Herod himself had ordered his soldiers to arrest John. So John was put into prison. Herod did this to please his wife, Herodias. Herodias was the wife of Philip, Herod's brother. But then Herod married Herodias. John told Herod that it was not right for him to be married to his brother's wife. So Herodias hated John. She wanted to kill him. But Herodias was not able to persuade Herod to kill John. Herod was afraid to kill John. Herod knew that all the people thought John was a good and holy man. So Herod protected John. Herod enjoyed listening to John preach. But John's message always bothered Herod. Then the right time came for Herodias to cause John's death. It happened on Herod's birthday. Herod gave a dinner party for the most important government leaders, the commanders of his army, and the most important people in Galilee. The daughter of Herodias came to the party and danced. When she danced, Herod and the people eating with him were very pleased. So King Herod said to the girl, "I will give you anything you want." Herod promised her, "Anything you ask for I will give to you. I will even give you half of my kingdom." The girl went to her mother and asked, "What should I ask King Herod to give me?" Her mother answered, "Ask for the head of John the Baptizer." Quickly the girl went back in to the king. The girl said to the king, "Please give me the head of John the Baptizer. Bring it to me now on a plate." King Herod was very sad. But he had promised to give the girl anything she wanted. And the people eating there with Herod heard his promise.So Herod did not want to refuse the thing she asked for. So the king sent a soldier to cut off John's head and bring it. So the soldier went and cut off John's head in the prison. Then the soldier brought John's head back on a plate. He gave the head to the girl. Then the girl gave the head to her mother. John's followers heard about what happened. So they came and got John's body. They put it in a tomb (grave).-- Mark 6:14-29 (ERV)
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