Key Thought

Today's Prayer

Father, please use the events, rumors, movies, and speculations about your Son to your glory. Please especially use this time of the year to open doors of opportunity for your children, and especially me, to share the message of Jesus more effectively. 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).

Related Scripture Readings

Jesus is the only One who can save people. His name is the only power in the world that has been given to save people. We must be saved through Jesus!"

But I will stay at Ephesus until Pentecost. I will stay here, because a good opportunity for a great and growing work has been given to me now. And there are many people working against it.

Also pray for me. Pray that when I speak, God will give me words so that I can tell the secret truth about the Good News without fear. I have the work of speaking for that Good News. I am doing that now, here in prison. Pray that when I tell people that Good News I will speak without fear like I should.