Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.
Our Gospel reading for this week is found in Mark chapter 6, beginning at verse 14. Immediately before, Jesus had sent out his disciples to preach, teach, and heal.
King Herod heard of the miracles. He wanted to explain them somehow. The most likely explanation he can come up with is a resurrection. If, for instance, Jesus were a prophet who had been raised from the dead, maybe he could do these miracles. Herod decided he must be a resurrected John the Baptist.
This idea gives Mark an excuse to tell the story of the way John had been killed. We notice that Herod didn’t want to have John killed. However, because John had been speaking out against Herod’s sin, he couldn’t simply release John.
In a moment of passion, at a birthday party, Herod promised to do whatever his neice/stepdaughter asked. She demanded the execution of John. Herod really had no choice but to comply.
John never rose from the dead, though he will in the last day. But Jesus still had God’s power working in Him. He had no need for anyone else’s resurrection. Jesus alone makes a valid claim to be the resurrection and the life. We can take the risk of trusting Jesus and the power of His resurrection. He acts as the power of God. It’s really no risk at all.
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