They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them. 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. 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. 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." And he promised her with an oath, "Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom."She went out and said to her mother, "What shall I ask for?" "The head of John the Baptist," she answered. 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." The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her.So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John's head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison, and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother. On hearing of this, John's disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb. -Mark 6:13-29*
The Cost of Discipleship....
Following Jesus is a commitment of my life to his plans and purposes. It's doing his will and allowing him to live his life in me. By life or by death, I will follow Jesus. Our culture promises success and the good life, if I buy into the world of Materialism, and "politically correct" thinking. It is often difficult for the 21st Century Christian to accept Jesus' way of living and thinking.
We must not forget the heroes of our faith - the disciples, prophets, unnamed martyrs who followed Jesus at any cost. In life they experienced pain, suffering, ridicule, loneliness, hunger, imprisonment, and often a torturous death. Christians may not consider this as success or the good life. These heroes of the faith understood what it was to surrender to the will of the Father. They experienced a life of self-denial and true satisfaction in knowing an intimate relationship with God.
The question I ask today: are you willing to follow Jesus, even if it costs you your life? Matthew 10:39 says "Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."
Dr. Alex Ward serves as Headmaster of Carrollton Christian Academy, a position he has held for several years. He teaches the Roomseekers Sunday School class.
How has Jesus made a difference in your life? "God has helped me in sports with basketball better than soccer." -Carson Craft, 4th grade
*Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.