July 15, 2018 Sunday

“14 ¶  Now King Herod heard of Him, for His name had become well known. And he said, “John the Baptist is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him.” 15  Others said, “It is Elijah.” And others said, “It is the Prophet, or like one of the prophets.” 16  But when Herod heard, he said, “This is John, whom I beheaded; he has been raised from the dead!” 17  For Herod himself had sent and laid hold of John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife; for he had married her. 18  For John had said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19  Therefore Herodias held it against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not; 20  for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he protected him. And when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly. 21  Then an opportune day came when Herod on his birthday gave a feast for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee. 22  And when Herodias’ daughter herself came in and danced, and pleased Herod and those who sat with him, the king said to the girl, “Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you.” 23  He also swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” 24  So she went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist!” 25  Immediately she came in with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” 26  And the king was exceedingly sorry; yet, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he did not want to refuse her. 27  Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded his head to be brought. And he went and beheaded him in prison, 28  brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother. 29  When his disciples heard of it, they came and took away his corpse and laid it in a tomb.” (Mark 6:14-29 NKJV)

            There is a saying “many of us are only 18 inches from being a true Christian.” Surprisingly Herod seems to be one of those! Herod arrests John the baptizer because of the statements against him and his wife but then John is imprisoned Herod listens to him and is somewhat changed by the message.

            The heart and the brain are approximately 18 inches from each other and that is the source of the saying. Some things we believe with our heart and they are more fleeting and tend to be of an emotional nature. Some things we believe with our brain and while they are calculated and possibly more secure they are lifeless.

            The fullness of being a Christian is when our heart and our mind fully believe in Jesus Christ and our knowledge and our emotions come together. In this way our knowledge and emotions strengthen each other and actually can balance each other. Without such a balance it is so easy for our faith in Jesus to either die or become perverted!

            Herod is as some would say “the proof of the puddin”! Herod arrests John because he does not like John’s public statements but then goes and listens to John who he has arrested! Here we see a true picture of a person who is divided heart and mind and Herod is 18 inches from being anything.

            Here we see the result of those 18 inches of difference. Herod throws a party and when his “daughter-in-law” dances his emotions overcome his knowledge and he makes a preposterous promise. For this one dance Herod offers her chest less than half of his kingdom! This would probably put her in the running for highest-paid actress.

            But the price she requests is more than he has offered for she does not get half of his kingdom but all of his soul! Herod literally sells his soul for a song and a dance. Some may say it was too late for Herod by this time but if Herod was going into the jail to listen to John’s message and enjoying it the door was still open for Herod.

            The price of those 18 inches between heart and mind usually will be an eternal price! For a while we may lose our head through our emotions knowledge that does not guide our emotions lets us lose our way.

            Do you have the balance in those 18 inches between heart and mind? Does God’s message sound good to but does not change who you are? Do your emotions override God’s truth?