Tag: beheaded

33.d.

Matthew 14:1  At that time Herod the tetrarch heard about the fame of Jesus, and he said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead; that is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.” For Herod had seized John and bound him and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because John had been saying to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” And though he wanted to put him to death, he feared the people, because they held him to be a prophet. But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company and pleased Herod, so that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.” And the king was sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he commanded it to be given. He sent and had John beheaded in the prison, and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. And his disciples came and took the body and buried it, and they went and told Jesus.

In these 12 verses, we have quite a few people who made choices.

Herod the subordinate ruler over Galilee, married to his brother’s wife, feared the people, imprisoned John the Baptist, celebrated his birthday with many guests, made a foolish promise, and though seemingly sorry he ordered the beheading of John the Baptist and had it brought on a platter and given to his wife’s daughter.

Herodias the illegitimate wife of Herod, a mother, gave instruction to her daughter to ask for the head of John the Baptist and was given John’s head on a platter by her daughter.

John the Baptist imprisoned by Herod, told Herod of the evil of marrying his brother’s wife, knew Herod wanted him dead and was beheaded.

Herodias’s daughter who seductively danced before Herod and all who were at his celebration was given an oath from Herod for whatever she might ask, asked her mother what she should ask for, asked for the head of John the Baptist on a platter, and gave this platter to her mother.

The guards who beheaded John and put his head on a platter

Those at the birthday celebration for Herod watched Herodias’s dance, heard Herod give the oath, heard the request for John the Baptist’s head, and gave approval for the request.

Disciples of John, took the body of John the baptist away, buried it, and told Jesus of his death.

Imagine you get invited to a birthday celebration of a prominent person and the next thing you know there is a seductive dancer, an oath, a request, and the head of a respected humble righteous person brought in on a platter. Each of these people made choices. All but John the Baptist and his disciples made very bad choices. 

For the most part, we do get to choose the actions we take, the places we go, who we spend time with, what we say, what we think, and what we allow ourselves to be taken in with. Every day we get to choose whom we will serve.  Will it be to deny and reject the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Will it be for the honor and glory of Jesus Christ, or will it be for selfish desires of our flesh? Think about how you spend your time and who you spend your time with. The best use of our time is in the continual presence of Jesus Christ and in His Word. And, yes it is possible to raise a family, work, do athletics, be at celebrations, shop, and be with others while being in the presence of Jesus Christ and having His Word residing in our minds. It is then that we will know what is right, pure, and honorable. It is then we will discern right vs wrong, good vs bad, truth vs false, love vs anger, peace vs fear, hope vs despair……. Stand firm in Jesus Christ and the things of this world will grow dimmer and dimmer in the light of His glory and grace.

8.m. Key to the bottomless pit

Revelation 20:1   Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

The accuser and slanderer, the one who deceives and leads people and nations on destructive God-denying, Jesus rejecting, self-centered, self-worthy, and self-satisfying paths straight to hell is bound and cast into a pit reserved for Satan and his followers.  There is no battle or prolonged fight where the victor is determined by will power and skill to overcome their opponent.  No there is Almighty and All-Powerful Jesus Christ who defeated death and holds the key to the bottomless pit, who by the word of His mouth sends an angel with the key to bind Satan and cast him in.  Satan has no power but what is allowed by God and at His word alone can be taken away in the blink of an eye.

So it is, Jesus is returning personally, visibly, and physically one day to set things right; He will raise the dead and judge them in righteousness; He will separate His own from those who have hung their stars on the prince of darkness; He will redeem our sinful and fallen world from the effects of the fall, resulting in new heavens and a new earth; and we will delight in His personal presence forever and ever.  All believers will stand before the judgment seat of Christ to give an account of our lives. This judgment does not determine our eternal destiny, for that is fixed on this side of death with the believer’s decision to trust in Christ. (Phillips, Rob)

There is a time fast approaching when the end times will come upon the earth.  It is important to know this prophetic ending but not near as important as knowing, surrendering, relying on upon, trusting in, following, believing in, and obeying Jesus Christ while you still have breath this side of eternity.  If you die without repenting of sin, trusting in and complete trust and humble service to Jesus Christ – Hell awaits you with deceitful, lying, open arms, welcoming you to eternal destruction.

Now is the time of salvation.  Now is the time of redemption.  Now is the time to repent and turn away from self-centered, self-satisfying, and self-reliant lies and deception of Satan.  Jesus awaits you, just as you are with wide open arms to welcome you into life with Him now and for eternity forever and ever.