Living in the Spirit
July 15, 2018
Scripture Reading: Mark 6:14-29
And Herodias had a grudge against [John the Baptist], and wanted to kill him. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him. But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee. When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, ‘Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it.’ And he solemnly swore to her, ‘Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.’ She went out and said to her mother, ‘What should I ask for?’ She replied, ‘The head of John the baptizer.’ Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, ‘I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.’ The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. –Mark 6:19-26
How important is our keeping an oath we have made? How much does what we do depend on the opinion of others? How much does our keeping an oath make, if no one else knows we made it? Who are we really? And are we more concerned about what others think than how God assesses our actions?
According to the scripture above Herod knew that John was a righteous and holy man, not guilty of anything deserving jail time much less execution. Herod jailed John for criticizing Herod for marrying his brother’s wife and executed John because Herod’s wife used his daughter to extract that punishment out of a boisterous promise made before a crowd of witnesses.
None of us want to embarrass ourselves or our families by making a public spectacle of ourselves, but we are all called to do justice in all aspects of our lives. Sometimes doing what is righteous requires us to step outside our comfort zones and perhaps face doing what might seem to others as being foolish in the process. In many instances, it is easier to go along to get along rather than breach wrong-natured cultural norms. Standing up to a bully in the schoolyard in defense of someone one may not even know is an example. Adult bullies are even more challenging. Racism, misogyny, and other disrespect toward people for whatever reason can and have resulted in the injury or deaths of innocent people.
As followers of Christ, we must project our love of others, wanting the best for others, openly and with intentionality if justice is to prevail.
Prayer: Lord, give us the courage to do what is right and what is just in a loving and Christlike manner. Amen.