Never make impossible promises!

Mark 6:17-29

Never make impossible promises!

For Herod had sent soldiers to arrest and imprison John because he kept saying it was wrong for the king to marry Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. Herodias wanted John killed in revenge, but without Herod’s approval she was powerless. And Herod respected John, knowing that he was a good and holy man, and so he kept him under his protection. Herod was disturbed whenever he talked with John, but even so he liked to listen to him. Herodias’s chance finally came. It was Herod’s birthday and he gave a stag party for his palace aides, army officers, and the leading citizens of Galilee. Then Herodias’s daughter came in and danced before them and greatly pleased them all. “Ask me for anything you like,” the king vowed, “even half of my kingdom, and I will give it to you!” She went out and consulted her mother, who told her, “Ask for John the Baptist’s head!” So she hurried back to the king and told him, “I want the head of John the Baptist—right now—on a tray!” Then the king was sorry, but he was embarrassed to break his oath in front of his guests. So he sent one of his bodyguards to the prison to cut off John’s head and bring it to him. The soldier killed John in the prison, and brought back his head on a tray, and gave it to the girl and she took it to her mother. When John’s disciples heard what had happened, they came for his body and buried it in a tomb.

Food for thought

This passage is one of the most difficult to understand in the entire Bible. It records the events surrounding the death of '' the best among those born of a woman'', John the Baptist. He was a special man, chosen for a special mission. He was the “forerunner” of the Messiah. He was the fulfilment of several Old Testament prophecies. He was the last of the Old Testament prophets. He was a powerful preacher. He was a fearless prophet. He was a true man of God. As Jesus Christ Himself testified, “Among them that are born of women there has not risen a greater than John the Baptist,” (Matt. 11:11).

All this said, John was imprisoned, then beheaded. Why do bad things happen to good people like John? The answer is in the question: Because bad things sometimes do happen to good people. Besides Jesus, John is the best example of bad things happening to good people.

Have you ever felt like being another John, who though serving the Lord and following his ways, that you find yourself imprisoned in overwhelming circumstances in life that seem to point to the idea that God just simply can’t be trusted?

At times, when we’re certain that we’ve been faithful to God, we can find ourselves feeling alone and abandoned by a God who promised us great things. In our times of suffering, God requires us to trust Him, against all human reason.

Didn’t John deserve better? With all that he had done for the Lord? Having prepared the way for Christ, shouldn’t he be rescued? No. Why? Because God wants to teach us that bad things do happen to good people.

Whatever your prison may be, whatever your Herod may be, you must accept that God has allowed every circumstance in your life to happen, and that he will use it all for good. He knows about the enemies surrounding you. He’s brought you to this very place, so that you can witness, first hand, what it’s like to have bad things happening to good people. Yesterday, it was John, then Jesus, then... you!