Mary’s Lent Diary (Day 32)

I think the disciples must be getting on well.  I have not seen them yet, as they are still out and about somewhere, but news of what they have been doing has even reached King Herod!  Herod thinks that Jesus must be John the Baptist risen from the dead, which reminds me: I have not written about John’s death.  It is quite a story, not to mention devastating that it happened to my nephew…

John never was the shy and retiring type.  Ever since I can remember, he always spoke his mind, regardless of the consequences.  Well, this time, he chose to speak his mind to Herod, of all people.

It was all because Herod had got married. Of course, John had nothing against marriage, but it was the fact that the woman he had married, Herodias, was Herod’s own brother’s wife, that caused the problem.  It was not right or lawful and John, being John, told Herod straight.

So Herod threw John in prison.

After a while, it was Herod’s birthday, and so he threw a party for all the officials and important people in Galilee.  On the day, Herodias’s daughter danced for all the guests.  I have never seen her dance but, by all accounts, she is pretty good at it.  She must have been good on this occasion, because Herod was absolutely thrilled with her performance.  He was so pleased, in fact, that he promised her that he would give her anything she wanted!

The girl went off to consult with her mum and, when she came back, what she asked for is unbelievable – she wanted the head of John the Baptist on a plate!  Obviously her mum had put her up to it.  I suppose Herodias was still angry with John for what he had said about her marriage.

This request posed a problem for Herod.  He did not want to kill John.  Despite the fact that Herod had thrown John in prison, he actually quite liked him.  Well, maybe ‘liked’ is going too far, but he certainly respected him. Even Herod recognised that John was righteous and holy, and he liked to listen to what John had to say.

But the dilemma now was whether or not he could bear to lose face in front of his guests.  He had promised Herodias’s daughter whatever she wanted.  She had made her request and, if Herod was going to save John, he would have to refuse it.  And that would definitely hurt his reputation.

So Herod did not refuse the request.  He gave orders that John was to be beheaded and, soon after, the executioner returned with John’s head on a plate.  He gave it to the girl but she gave it straight to her mother.  Poor girl, I feel sorry for her.  I am sure she would much rather have had a new dress.

Girl/woman dancing

 Herodias had a grudge against John.

And she passed that grudge on to her daughter.

What attitudes do we pass on to others,  by the way we live?

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Galatians 5:22,23

How will you live these qualities today?

John told Herod the truth, and Herod did not receive it well.

John probably knew it was risky to tell Herod the truth.

He probably knew that Herod would not receive it well.

It can be hard to receive truth, and hard to give truth.

Yet Jesus regards truth very highly.

And why?

So that we become more like Him.

Love should always make us tell the truth. Then we will grow in every way and be more like Christ

Ephesians 4:15 CEV

Speaking the truth in love takes courage.

Receiving the truth in love takes courage.

If we care about someone, we will want the best for them.

If someone cares about us, they will want the best for us.

Which means truth.

May we be truth-speakers and truth-receivers.

Sometimes, it’s hard to know what truth is.

Fake news is everywhere, changing all the time.

Let’s look to Jesus, who said, in John 14:6:

“I Am the way, and the truth, and the life.”

Do our thoughts and words and actions and attitudes reflect Him?

Or are we so concerned with how things look to other people that we, in word or action, deny the truth?

That we deny Jesus, who is the truth?

The story goes:

If you were on trial accused of living in a way that honours Jesus, would there be enough evidence to convict you?

Herod had a choice: save his own reputation, or save John.

He chose the former.

He chose his own reputation over the truth.

He was unable to say, ‘sorry, I was wrong’.

And so John was killed.

Herod was unable to apologise to John, with catastrophic consequences.

Is there anyone you need to apologise to?

Why not do it today.

God is a God of forgiveness.

It’s always safe to be honest with Him.

He loves us.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:1

Lord Jesus,

Thank You for modelling forgiveness.

Help me to receive Your forgiveness (I’m not always very good at that),

and model it to others.

Help me love people enough to be honest with them.

And help me receive honesty from them, too.

So that we become more like You.

Amen

Mary’s Memo Honour Truth

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