Who Has You?

Mark 6:24-27 She went out and said to her mother, Herodias, “What shall I ask for?” “The head of John the Baptist,” she answered. 25 At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” 26 The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her. 27 So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison.
 
WHEN people say, “Crime doesn’t pay.” They should add, “Crime destroys.”
   Think about Herodias. She harbored a great hatred for John the Baptist because he preached against her adulterous crime with Herod. Her evil heart wanted John silenced, so her sin would be “hidden” in the inner chambers of Herod’s court. And then consider her daughter. Herod had promised her half of his kingdom because we was so entranced with her dancing. Herodias and her daughter could have become quite wealthy. But what did they want? John’s head on a platter. All they received was a moment’s gratification of their hateful passions.
   Sin’s hold on Herodias and Herod remind us of God’s warning to Cain: Genesis 4:7a “But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.” Sin had mastered Herod’s court. And he, as Cain, was ultimately banished into shame.
   It’s easy to judge this completely corrupt trio. Jesus, though, warns we all may be guilty of murder: Matthew 5:21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.” The root meaning of raca is “to spit”. This is utter contempt for someone. To kill someone physically or even emotionally violates God’s law that commands, “Love God and love others as yourself.”  
   Jesus the Sermon on the Mount Jesus preached that what we think and say matters a great deal. Our words can “murder” a person’s value. A vengeful rebuke or a critical thought will perhaps satisfy your desire to hurt or even destroy someone emotionally. But then what? Will you remain satisfied? Or will a heart hungry for vengeance seek another victim?
   How different life could have been for Herod. He could have listened to John’s words he liked to hear (Mark 6:20). In response to Herodias’ murderous request, he could have said, “Enough! Free the man!” He could even had imprisoned Herodias and her daughter for their evil plot. If people objected, his absolute rule would have silenced them. But he abdicated his throne to sin. His passions possessed him as sin had possessed Cain.
   In Christ Jesus, you have the power to say, “Enough!” to sin. When you have Jesus as your Savior, the Holy Spirit is your power to banish evil from your door. Sin cannot have you when Jesus has you.