The Death of John the Baptist

Meditations of the Gospel of Mark

August 26, 2020

The Death of John the Baptist

“. . . for Herod respected John;

and knowing that he was a good and holy man . . .”

Mark 6:20

Read: Mark 6:17-29

The doctrine of original sin in the reformed tradition is named, Total Depravity. That is certainly an apt description of King Herod. The same man who knew John was a good and holy man had no hesitation in having John beheaded at the whim of the King’s daughter. But this isn’t just a story out of antiquity, there are ample examples of such depravity in today’s world. (The Chinese Communist Party as they torture and enslave Uighurs is but one example.)

Of course, there are many other contemporary examples of total depravity. The capacity for evil within the human heart, whether actively or passively, is astonishing. One of the things I have missed the most through this season of coronavirus is sharing in a Service of Holy Communion where the congregation prays a prayer of confession:

“Merciful God, we confess that we have not loved you with our whole heart. We have failed to be an obedient church. We have not done your will, we have broken your law, we have rebelled against your love, we have not loved our neighbors, and we have not heard the cry of the needy. Forgive us, we pray. Free us for joyful obedience, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

My Takeaway:

“Cousin?”

“Yes, John.”

“Jesus?”

“Yes, John. It is I.”

“My Lord and my God . . .

but I had so many questions as I faced death.”

“So did I when I faced death.

Just as I did not answer you, neither did my Father answer me.

We died in quite similar ways.”

“You died? You died as ignominiously, as I did?”

“Yes, John. But I rose from the dead.”

“You rose from the dead” But how?”

“Come, brother John . . . take my hand.

The moment has come.

I will take you to that place where you know . . .

even as you are known.”

I encourage you to read, The Prisoner in the Third Cell by Gene Edwards.

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com. The BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by subscription.

Copyright © 2020 by Alex M. Knight

Publications by Alex M. Knight:

• Seeking the Life in Christ, Meditations on the New Testament and Psalms has been published and is now available at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle.

• The second edition of  First Think – Then Pray is available on Amazon Kindle.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.