Dear Ol' Murderous Mum

He also swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”
So she went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask?”
And she said, “The head of John the Baptist!”
Immediately she came in with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” 
Mark 6:23-25

The young woman performed so well that she earned a great reward from the king, But, she didn't know what to ask. However, upon consultation with her mother, dear ol' murderous Mum, she knew just what to ask for - the head of John the Baptizer. She may have added a platter to avoid needing to handle the head when it was brought to her. A smart move, because the story tells us that Herod in his hasty magnanimity caught himself in a pickle. He didn't want to fulfill their request, but he had made that oath in front of everyone. So who will suffer the judgment for this murder of one of God's holy prophets? 

Jesus did not condemn any of them. So, does that mean they could receive the forgiveness Jesus earned on the cross? Certainly, even murder was not off the table for salvation. All they needed to do was believe in Jesus the Christ... and confess to the murder of His voice of one crying in the wilderness. Woof! And I once thought my sins were hard to confess. 

Rejoice in the Christ, we have His forgiveness available to us all!

Bucky

Held Against Him

Therefore Herodias held it against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not; for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he protected him. And when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly. Mark 6:19-20

An illegitimately married couple, and she wants to kill the messenger while he wants to keep the man around. That should cause a bit of tension in the household.

In between the recording of the miracles and teachings of Jesus, we get how things are in the world. A queen who saw the easier way out was to murder a man. A king who could be easily outmaneuvered by his lust. A daughter who was a willing tool to her mother's ends. And, a just and holy man who was such a refreshing change for the time that the king liked having him around. When the good news of Jesus meets the way of the world, there will be a resounding clash. Some will hear it gladly, but may never believe. Others want to kill the messenger.

To God be the glory!

Bucky

A More Tolerable Judgment

Also He said to them, “In whatever place you enter a house, stay there till you depart from that place. And whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!”  Mark 6:10-11

In Sunday School it was taught how Abraham did some dickering with the Lord and got Him down to ten righteous men found in Sodom could avoid the destruction coming upon it. Even ten did not work out as all the men of the wicked city demanded to know the two angels of the Lord in a carnal manner. That we would agree is some serious wickedness. So when a town in Israel rejected the two disciples and their message sent by Jesus, Sodom and Gomorrah would receive a more tolerable judgment? That places so wicked would have less to fear in judgment than a place that rejected the words of Jesus tells us of a surpassingly important message. 

Maybe it's good news! 

Bucky

The Not-So-Triumphant Return

But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.” Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.  Mark 6:4-6

A few people leave their town after graduating high school and their intention is to return triumphantly at some future date with fame, fortune, and family well-earned and in hand. Okay, maybe more than a few. However, if the intention included a career as a prophet, their triumphant return was doomed before it even began. Apparently no one offered to name any streets after local boys turned prophets.

Jesus had returned to His hometown and found not even honor amongst His fellow Nazarenes. Unbelief in Him ran to a marvelous amount in Nazareth, such that Jesus could only do a few healings, Mark tells us. But wait, the Son of God could do no mighty work? Yes, because it seems that faith in the Christ is not forced on anyone. So, only works of personal healing, no big signs, and no triumphant return. 

At least, not yet, on the triumphant return. We know one is coming!

Bucky

His Command

Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, “Talitha, cumi,” which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great amazement.  Mark 5:41-42

Without the translation someone would surely look at what Jesus said as magic words. Talitha, cumi! Didn't work, must have got the pronunciation wrong. But no, the words are the commanding words of the Christ, who comes with God's authority. The Roman centurion got it; he knew authority and that Jesus spoke it. The Pharisees refused His authority. The professional mourners for the girl laughed at His authority. The girl's parents saw that authority in action as their dearly departed daughter was returned to them. It's a miracle! And they were strictly commanded to keep silent about it.

I wonder what their startled expression for that was? 

Bucky

And They Ridiculed Him

Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly. When He came in, He said to them, “Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping.”
And they ridiculed Him.
-- Mark 5:38-40

The sincerity of the mourners fell apart with one reaction to a man they did not know. Sure, His statement was unusual, even extraordinary, but for ridicule to come so quickly shows a lack of engagement with the mourning. They were in it for the money, a show of mourning that did not touch their hearts. They were hired noise. And along comes Jesus answering a plea for help. And they ridiculed Him. Is it any wonder that the next time He comes will be in His full glory?

Love and joy to you in Christ our Lord,

Bucky

But Death Does Trouble Him

While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” John 5:35

Through several incidents such as this one, and that most famous one, Lazarus, Jesus served notice to all of us that death is not so final as we might think. Someone left watching over the young girl in Jairus' house, came to tell him not to trouble the Teacher further. But death does trouble our Teacher, and He was not willing to just stop and toss the girl's life away. Two powerful words of our Lord come from this, "Do not be afraid" and "only believe". The woman with the issue of blood had believed. Jairus had believed. That thing we greatly fear, death, was not the end of belief in Jesus. The command of our Lord still holds true for each of us.

When the time of dying comes: do not be afraid, only believe!

Bucky