'Brutality and Grief' - Mark 6:25-29

So [Herod's daughter] hurried back to the king and told him, "I want the head of John the Baptist, right now, on a tray!"
Then the king deeply regretted what he had said; but because of the vows he had made in front of his guests, he couldn't refuse her. So he immediately sent an executioner to the prison to cut off John's head and bring it to him. The soldier beheaded John in the prison, brought his head on a tray, and gave it to the girl, who took it to her mother. When John's disciples heard what had happened, they came to get his body and buried it in a tomb.


—Mark 6:25-29 NLT

Key Thought


We often forget that we have brothers and sisters in Christ who have to face incredible inhumanity and brutality because of their faith, righteousness, and unwavering loyalty to Jesus. Let's use this gruesome reminder of John the Baptist's death to jar us into an acute awareness of our fellow believers world-wide who are suffering and dying for the cause of Christ.

Today's Prayer


O God, my Abba Father, it pains me deeply to think about your precious children who are having to face horribly brutal times because of their faith. Please work in the affairs of our world to bring an end to the regimes and conditions that lead to such inhumanity and brutality. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

• 1 Timothy 2:1-6
• Matthew 25:34-40
• Hebrews 10:32-34

Ⓒ 1996-2020 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware. Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Continue reading...