...Herod feared John and protected him,
knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John,
he was greatly puzzled;
yet he liked to listen to him.
Mark6:20 NIV
In the middle of the story of Herod, his wife, and the eventual murder of John the Baptist is this glimpse into Herod's mind.
Herod had all the power.
Yet he respected John because it was clear that his words and his life and actions matched.
He lived with integrity
And he spoke the truth.
Truth that intrigued and puzzled Herod.
Herod was well on the way to faith in Jesus.
For John, speaking the truth was more important than being in Herod's good books, being close to the powerful, saying what Herod wanted to hear.
And for John, the consequences were fatal in the end.
For John, his faith in Jesus, his calling to represent him, was worth living for in every context of his life
And, Jesus was worth dying for.
May my life and faith be more like John the Baptist today.
#gospelofmark
#faith