Worship for the Week Beginning 11th July 2021

When I looked at today’s lectionary reading, the events which lead to the beheading of John the Baptist, I was initially at a loss to know what message to deliver. However, I then remembered the words which my friend and mentor, Norma Baxter, gave to me when I was training to be a local preacher, she advised – There will be times when you want to throw your books up in the air in despair, but instead leave them to one side, go and do something else, like dusting the skirting boards, or go into the garden, to clear your head and then come back to the task in hand. And it works. Eventually ideas, thoughts, prayers, hymns come to mind.  So let us look at that account in Mark’s gospel which led to John the Baptist’s death.

This Herod was not a King, the title given to him was merely a courtesy one. His father Herod the Great’s kingdom had been divided amongst his sons and this Herod became governor of Galilee. It would appear that like his father he did not like his authority to be challenged, but challenge and criticise his morals John the Baptist did, for marrying his brother’s wife. He had John imprisoned but it would appear that in spite of this he was in awe of him and respected him and what he had to say. Herodias, his wife, however hated and despised John, probably because she felt her authority over Herod threatened, and so she schemed to have John killed.

This was the same Herod who later questioned Jesus after his arrest, (Luke 23, verses 6-12) and although he did not authorise Jesus sentence neither did he prevent it. 

Many years before his father, Herod the Great, learnt from Three Wise Men that a new king had been born. It was reported that being unable to trace the baby Jesus, Herod’s answer was to murder any who could be a threat to his authority and kingdom. (This account can be found in detail in Matthew 2)

If there is someone or something in the way of authority, leadership, or kingship, then get rid of them, this was the solution of both of these two Herods – ruthless men. Kill John the Baptist that would solve the problem,
BUT Jesus followed, and when Jesus died many MANY others followed preaching the Good News they had learnt from both John the forerunner and their saviour Jesus.

Trying to kill the Christian faith has continued and is still continuing. Many are being persecuted because of their faith.

Many years ago I was privileged to be at a lecture given by Pastor Richard Wurmbrand.    The author of the book ‘Tortured for Christ’.
Not an easy read neither was listening to Pastor Wurmbrand’s account of what he had endured. Imprisoned from 1948 in communist Budapest for preaching the Christian faith, he was imprisoned and tortured for 16 years.  Released in 1964 he travelled, visiting, lecturing and preaching in many countries before settling down eventually in the USA, where he together with his wife, ministered to and for persecuted Christians until his death in 2001. Today his son, Michael, continues that work.

Why we ask do some seem threatened by the Christian faith? Maybe because they are intolerant, or because of a lack of understanding, are afraid of it? We can only hope and pray for a time when they will eventually learn that our faith is greater and more powerful than any threats or intimidations.

Herod the Great, his son Herod the Governor, the communist movement in Budapest, and many others have tried to kill the Christian faith and failed. Failed because of the strength and courage of John the Baptist, Pastor Richard Wurmbrand, and many other persecuted Christians. Failed because we have a faith in an almighty and powerful God, and His Son Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, the Light of the World that no amount of effort will ever be able to extinguish.