Today's Daily Lesson comes from Mark chapter 6 verses 17 through 24:
17 For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because Herod had married her. 18 For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19 And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, 20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him. 21 But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee. 22 When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it.” 23 And he solemnly swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.” 24 She went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” She replied, “The head of John the baptizer.”
"He liked to listen him."
That is about one of the most telling statements in all the Bible.
A person can come and listen to the preacher and enjoy his or her sermons; but when the preacher goes "from preachin' to meddlin'" then watch out.
That's why so many people like to visit churches and synagogues but hardly join them. It weighs too much on the conscience.
John talked about money. He talked about abuse of power. He talked about the poor and the dispossessed. He talked about adultery. And for Herod and his mistress Herodias it was all too much to bear.
They say a preacher's job is to comfort the the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. What John did was conflict the terrible.
And as we all know, they were terribly conflicted.
NOTE: We are reading the whole Bible through this year. Tomorrow's Lesson will come from John chapter 6.
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