and said to his servants, “This man is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead; that is why mighty powers are at work in him.” Matthew 14:2 NABRE
Matthew provides a flashback story about the execution of John the Baptist. Herod Antipas a ruler of the area of Galilee, where Jesus spends much of His time, has John the Baptist beheaded. John accused Herod publicly of stealing his brother’s wife and so Herod had John arrested, but he didn’t want to execute Him because He fears John’s mystical power as well as his influence with the people. However, at a celebration Herod promised the daughter of his wife she could have anything after she provides an entertaining dance. Her mother told her to ask for the head of John the Baptist, she two felt judged by John. Herod acquiescence’s to the girl’s request, giving her the head of John. Now at some later date Herod hears the impact of Jesus and concludes it must be John the Baptist resurrected. Herod’s old fear is returned, he still worries about executing John and sees things that are not there. Jesus of course is not John the Baptist but Matthew uses the story to make the parallel between John and Jesus, both put to death by vacillating rules.
It is interesting that even though Herod had John killed He still worries about what could happen to him through John. Often we might cancel or eliminate something that is challenging us but we do it without dealing with our internal conflict. For the most part it is not things from the outside that can do us real damage, but the attacks from within. If we have a doubt or something bothering our conscious we should deal with it directly, not avoid it. Keep your heart and mind clear and you will never have fear.
What conflict still bothers you? Do you avoid conflict or address it?
If we have a doubt or something bothering our conscious we should deal with it directly, not avoid it. Keep your heart and mind clear and you will never have fear. Click To Tweet#bible #godisgreat #jesus #christianity #dailybibleverse @youversion #BeAnEncourager #fear #conflict #Matthew #everybodyalways #god #jesuschrist #jesussaves #godisgood #dailydevotion #biblestudy #scripture #bibleverse #verseoftheday #cross #last #gospels #loveeachother #godisgreat #thisVineyard #youversion #everythingalways