Feb 26 – Mark 6:14-34

 

Open Mouth, Insert Foot

Pastor Doug Riley

Quite a cast of characters:  King Herod, who put John into prison. Jewish law said you shouldn’t marry your brother’s wife (Leviticus 18:16). John reminded him of it more than once. That bothered Herodias, Herod’s wife (who was his brother’s wife). She wanted to have John killed. Then there’s Herod’s daughter (Roman history names her Salome), who was a good dancer. And let’s not forget the guests at the birthday party: nobles, military men, important government officials. Of course, there’s John the Baptist. 

 

But the important part of the picture is the words. The words John spoke intrigued Herod, and he heard John  gladly. The words Jesus spoke got to Herod also, and they sounded too much like John’s words. Herod’s words are the problem – he opened his mouth and inserted his foot. After the dance he promised his daughter anything she wanted. The girl asked her mother for what she should ask. John’s head on a platter was the answer.  Because of the words he spoke and the guests were present, he had to do what she asked. Herod’s words brought death. 

 

Jesus saw a crowd when they sailed across the Sea of Galilee and He taught them. Jesus’ words brought life. We speak; some words are good and some are not so good.  We’ve all put out foot in our mouth from time to time. Jesus has words of forgiveness for us. 

 

We pray:

Jesus, give me your Holy Spirit so that my words may be kind, gracious and loving towards others. Amen


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