1 00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:05,800 Speaker 1: Let us pray. Others said that it is Elias, and 2 00:00:05,920 --> 00:00:08,960 Speaker 1: others said that it is a prophet or one of 3 00:00:08,960 --> 00:00:14,880 Speaker 1: the prophets Mark six fifteen. Through the life of John 4 00:00:14,880 --> 00:00:18,880 Speaker 1: the Baptist, I see that the ultimate sign of life 5 00:00:18,920 --> 00:00:22,360 Speaker 1: well lived is to say that, no matter where I 6 00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:26,920 Speaker 1: end up, I can with full confidence say that I 7 00:00:27,000 --> 00:00:32,519 Speaker 1: lived and represented Christ in everything I did. In the 8 00:00:32,560 --> 00:00:36,920 Speaker 1: face of persecution, I will praise you. In the face 9 00:00:36,920 --> 00:00:42,160 Speaker 1: of ridicule, I will praise you. Even when my head 10 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:45,280 Speaker 1: is on the chopping block and I could lose everything. 11 00:00:46,600 --> 00:00:50,000 Speaker 1: I know that in Jesus he'll restore what the enemy 12 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:54,040 Speaker 1: has stolen from me. My strength comes from the fact 13 00:00:54,120 --> 00:00:58,480 Speaker 1: that Jesus conquered sin and death, and because he did, 14 00:00:58,960 --> 00:01:01,800 Speaker 1: conquering the trial and obstacles on the journey to my 15 00:01:01,960 --> 00:01:06,480 Speaker 1: destiny is a given, for greater is he who is 16 00:01:06,520 --> 00:01:13,360 Speaker 1: in me than he that is in the world. In Jesus' name, Amen, 17 00:01:15,640 --> 00:01:18,959 Speaker 1: thank you for praying with us today. Continue your time 18 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:22,800 Speaker 1: with God by listening to today's Bible story, brought to 19 00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:25,000 Speaker 1: you by Bible in a year dot. 20 00:01:24,800 --> 00:01:39,560 Speaker 2: Com John the Baptist. In our last story, Jesus healed. 21 00:01:39,319 --> 00:01:41,759 Speaker 3: A man who had been lame and sick for over 22 00:01:41,840 --> 00:01:44,959 Speaker 3: thirty eight years. The man had been sick for so 23 00:01:45,160 --> 00:01:49,240 Speaker 3: long that he lost all hope of being healed. More so, 24 00:01:49,520 --> 00:01:54,080 Speaker 3: he fell into a cycle of bitterness. He felt helpless, alone, 25 00:01:54,320 --> 00:01:57,960 Speaker 3: and angry at the world. Yet one moment with Jesus 26 00:01:58,160 --> 00:02:02,080 Speaker 3: changed his life forever, and the Pharisees continued to hate 27 00:02:02,160 --> 00:02:05,760 Speaker 3: him for his mighty works. Now we learn about the 28 00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:08,640 Speaker 3: fate of John the Baptist, the man who prepared the 29 00:02:08,680 --> 00:02:12,840 Speaker 3: way of Jesus, meets a bitter end. However, John's story 30 00:02:12,880 --> 00:02:16,400 Speaker 3: does not end without hope. It ends with a promise 31 00:02:17,360 --> 00:02:19,240 Speaker 3: inspired by the Gospels. 32 00:02:21,919 --> 00:02:24,640 Speaker 4: Hello, this is Jack Graham with today's episode of the 33 00:02:24,680 --> 00:02:27,920 Speaker 4: Bible in a Year. Thank you for joining us. In 34 00:02:28,040 --> 00:02:31,720 Speaker 4: yesterday's episode, we heard how Jesus healed a man who 35 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:36,160 Speaker 4: was crippled and helpless, even hopeless. Years of being overlooked 36 00:02:36,160 --> 00:02:39,400 Speaker 4: by society and left alone to finn for himself had 37 00:02:39,480 --> 00:02:43,240 Speaker 4: let this man stuck and bitter, plagued with a sense 38 00:02:43,240 --> 00:02:47,040 Speaker 4: of scarcity and hopelessness. But Jesus changed it all with 39 00:02:47,120 --> 00:02:51,600 Speaker 4: his words of healing and comfort. Still, the religious crowd, 40 00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:56,280 Speaker 4: led by the Pharisees, hated Jesus for challenging their typefisted 41 00:02:56,400 --> 00:03:00,680 Speaker 4: rule over the people's hearts. Today we'll discuss how John 42 00:03:00,720 --> 00:03:04,720 Speaker 4: the Baptist earthly story ends. This man who heralded the 43 00:03:04,720 --> 00:03:07,080 Speaker 4: coming of the Messiah will die at the hands of 44 00:03:07,120 --> 00:03:11,320 Speaker 4: an evil, hateful king and his wife. Let's listen to 45 00:03:11,360 --> 00:03:12,080 Speaker 4: the word of God. 46 00:03:12,160 --> 00:03:18,200 Speaker 3: Now, blood sprayed across the stone walls of John's jail cell. 47 00:03:18,840 --> 00:03:22,720 Speaker 3: Herod's guards drove their fists into his stomach, then across 48 00:03:22,760 --> 00:03:26,360 Speaker 3: his head. John's grunts echoed through the prison halls as 49 00:03:26,360 --> 00:03:29,760 Speaker 3: they relentlessly beat him. He fell to the floor, unable 50 00:03:29,840 --> 00:03:32,720 Speaker 3: to prop himself up. Before he could take a breath, 51 00:03:32,919 --> 00:03:35,320 Speaker 3: a guard's foot went upward and cracked a few of 52 00:03:35,360 --> 00:03:38,920 Speaker 3: his ribs. He screamed in agony and closed his eyes. 53 00:03:39,720 --> 00:03:42,480 Speaker 3: All he could hear were the guards leaving his jail cell. 54 00:03:43,320 --> 00:03:48,400 Speaker 3: Then all went black. John had been captured by Herod. 55 00:03:48,920 --> 00:03:51,960 Speaker 3: He was taken because he called out against Herod, who 56 00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:56,600 Speaker 3: stole his brother's wife Herodius out of anger. Herod captured 57 00:03:56,680 --> 00:04:00,320 Speaker 3: John to silence him, so he wrought in his cell 58 00:04:00,440 --> 00:04:03,600 Speaker 3: until Herod decided what to do with him. Even though 59 00:04:03,680 --> 00:04:07,440 Speaker 3: John was captured, Herod still feared him. He knew that 60 00:04:07,480 --> 00:04:10,280 Speaker 3: he was a righteous man, and John held the quiet 61 00:04:10,360 --> 00:04:15,920 Speaker 3: strength of a prophet. However, Herodias, Herod's stolen wife, teemed 62 00:04:16,000 --> 00:04:19,240 Speaker 3: with hatred against him. She wanted his head rolling off 63 00:04:19,279 --> 00:04:22,640 Speaker 3: his shoulders. She wanted him hung from his own entrails. 64 00:04:23,240 --> 00:04:27,000 Speaker 3: Her contempt for him ran deep. It was Herod's birthday, 65 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:30,000 Speaker 3: and a large party was held in his honor. Drinks 66 00:04:30,040 --> 00:04:35,240 Speaker 3: flowed endlessly, and Herod grew loud and boisterous. Herodias watched 67 00:04:35,279 --> 00:04:38,520 Speaker 3: Herod laugh among his friends. She knew that he was 68 00:04:38,560 --> 00:04:43,719 Speaker 3: in prime condition to manipulate. Herodias sent out her daughter, 69 00:04:44,400 --> 00:04:47,640 Speaker 3: a beautiful young woman, to dance before Herod and his guests. 70 00:04:48,240 --> 00:04:52,200 Speaker 3: She moved sensually to the erotic music. Herod locked his 71 00:04:52,320 --> 00:04:56,240 Speaker 3: gaze onto her young hips. He was mesmerized and aroused. 72 00:04:57,000 --> 00:05:02,200 Speaker 3: Dull of thinking, Herod blurted out, ask me anything. His 73 00:05:02,320 --> 00:05:06,640 Speaker 3: words slurred and his cheeks blushed. Ask me anything, and 74 00:05:06,680 --> 00:05:09,159 Speaker 3: I will do it. I will give you up to 75 00:05:09,240 --> 00:05:12,919 Speaker 3: half my kingdom. The room was hot, and the daughter 76 00:05:13,000 --> 00:05:16,760 Speaker 3: moved sensually towards Herod. Her fingers wrapped around a few 77 00:05:16,760 --> 00:05:20,200 Speaker 3: strands of his hair. She leaned her lips closely towards 78 00:05:20,200 --> 00:05:23,159 Speaker 3: Herod's ear and whispered, give me the head of John 79 00:05:23,240 --> 00:05:27,880 Speaker 3: the Baptist. Herod's eyes widened at the request. Her words 80 00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:31,680 Speaker 3: sobered him. He looked at his friends. They were expecting 81 00:05:31,760 --> 00:05:35,120 Speaker 3: him to keep his word. Additionally, he thought there may 82 00:05:35,160 --> 00:05:37,360 Speaker 3: be a chance for him to sleep with his stepdaughter. 83 00:05:38,120 --> 00:05:42,200 Speaker 3: Out of embarrassment, drunkenness, and foolishness, Herod sent for his 84 00:05:42,320 --> 00:05:47,320 Speaker 3: men to execute John. John's cell doors opened abruptly. He 85 00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:50,560 Speaker 3: saw the silhouette of two guards holding chains in an axe. 86 00:05:51,160 --> 00:05:55,080 Speaker 3: John sighed deeply. He knew it was time. He stood 87 00:05:55,120 --> 00:05:58,120 Speaker 3: to his feet and walked towards them. They bound him 88 00:05:58,160 --> 00:06:00,000 Speaker 3: and drug him out to the back of the palace. 89 00:06:00,960 --> 00:06:04,520 Speaker 3: John thought about his life and purpose. He had proclaimed 90 00:06:04,520 --> 00:06:08,160 Speaker 3: and prepared the way of Jesus. Thousands had followed him 91 00:06:08,200 --> 00:06:11,480 Speaker 3: and then left him to follow the Messiah. As John 92 00:06:11,600 --> 00:06:13,919 Speaker 3: was shoved to his knees, he remembered the words he 93 00:06:13,960 --> 00:06:17,640 Speaker 3: once spoke on the Jordan River, he must increase, and 94 00:06:17,800 --> 00:06:22,120 Speaker 3: I must decrease. The words held much more weight now. 95 00:06:22,640 --> 00:06:25,520 Speaker 3: As John's head was shoved under the cold stone table, 96 00:06:25,960 --> 00:06:29,159 Speaker 3: he thought about the Christ. His joy was complete and 97 00:06:29,240 --> 00:06:33,000 Speaker 3: his purpose was fulfilled. Death would be a welcomed friend 98 00:06:33,560 --> 00:06:35,920 Speaker 3: for the one who came after him would prove death 99 00:06:35,960 --> 00:06:38,880 Speaker 3: to be powerless. He would strip away its sting, and 100 00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:43,599 Speaker 3: life everlasting would follow. John smiled, closed his eyes and 101 00:06:43,640 --> 00:06:47,080 Speaker 3: allowed the axe to fall on his neck. John's head 102 00:06:47,120 --> 00:06:50,560 Speaker 3: was handed to Herodia on a silver platter. Her pupils 103 00:06:50,600 --> 00:06:53,880 Speaker 3: widened at the sight of it. However, the momentary pleasure 104 00:06:54,000 --> 00:06:57,520 Speaker 3: was replaced with sickness. She thought John the Baptist was 105 00:06:57,560 --> 00:07:01,120 Speaker 3: the source of her embarrassment and shame. However, looking at 106 00:07:01,120 --> 00:07:04,800 Speaker 3: his lifeless head laying on a platter offered her no solace. 107 00:07:06,160 --> 00:07:10,640 Speaker 3: She still felt empty. Her revenge fell flat, as all 108 00:07:10,720 --> 00:07:14,560 Speaker 3: revenge does. Her soul would not be satisfied, and her 109 00:07:14,600 --> 00:07:18,120 Speaker 3: sins would eventually find her out. The next day, John's 110 00:07:18,160 --> 00:07:20,640 Speaker 3: friends gathered his body and laid it in a tomb. 111 00:07:21,480 --> 00:07:24,440 Speaker 3: Months had passed and Jesus's name had become so well 112 00:07:24,520 --> 00:07:28,120 Speaker 3: known that even Herod's servants were talking about him. He 113 00:07:28,160 --> 00:07:31,960 Speaker 3: heard of his miracles and words of power. Herod's heart raced, 114 00:07:32,120 --> 00:07:34,640 Speaker 3: for he had a feeling that Jesus was John himself, 115 00:07:34,760 --> 00:07:38,559 Speaker 3: risen from the dead. It was wrong, of course, John 116 00:07:38,680 --> 00:07:42,239 Speaker 3: was buried and de dirt and would not raise again. However, 117 00:07:42,360 --> 00:07:45,920 Speaker 3: Jesus would one day die, and unlike John, he would 118 00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:49,320 Speaker 3: rise again. He would rise above the sting of death. 119 00:07:49,920 --> 00:07:52,800 Speaker 3: He would rise above the power of sin and darkness. 120 00:07:53,560 --> 00:07:56,880 Speaker 3: He would rise where all men fell, and those who 121 00:07:56,920 --> 00:08:03,120 Speaker 3: believed in him would rise with him. 122 00:08:03,320 --> 00:08:07,280 Speaker 4: Today's reading begins in a prison cell. John the Baptist, 123 00:08:07,360 --> 00:08:10,480 Speaker 4: the prophet who foretold the coming Messiah, had angered the 124 00:08:10,560 --> 00:08:14,120 Speaker 4: Jewish ruler, King Herod. This was the son of the 125 00:08:14,160 --> 00:08:16,880 Speaker 4: maniacal Herod the Great, who tried to have an infant 126 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:20,760 Speaker 4: Jesus killed. And like his father, this Herod was not 127 00:08:20,800 --> 00:08:23,480 Speaker 4: opposed to spilling the blood of those who challenged him 128 00:08:23,880 --> 00:08:27,520 Speaker 4: or spoke out against him. And that's precisely what John 129 00:08:27,560 --> 00:08:31,080 Speaker 4: the Baptist had done. He'd called out Herod for stealing 130 00:08:31,120 --> 00:08:35,360 Speaker 4: his own brother's wife, a wicked woman named Herodius. The 131 00:08:35,440 --> 00:08:38,280 Speaker 4: rule of these two and their persecution of John is 132 00:08:38,640 --> 00:08:42,880 Speaker 4: reminiscent of some of Israel's evil kings and queens, like 133 00:08:43,000 --> 00:08:47,120 Speaker 4: Ahab and Jezebel. They had no regard for men of God, 134 00:08:47,320 --> 00:08:50,319 Speaker 4: so as John said in a cell, they were still 135 00:08:50,360 --> 00:08:55,400 Speaker 4: not satisfied. He needed to be disposed of, canceled. But 136 00:08:55,520 --> 00:08:58,720 Speaker 4: Herod was also fearful of the people who loved John, 137 00:08:59,120 --> 00:09:03,400 Speaker 4: so he was relied to have him killed. His wife, Herodius, however, 138 00:09:03,679 --> 00:09:07,680 Speaker 4: had no interest in such caution, so she hatched a plan, 139 00:09:07,800 --> 00:09:10,720 Speaker 4: an evil plot, to ensure that John would be put 140 00:09:10,760 --> 00:09:14,680 Speaker 4: to death. She sent her daughter Saloon to dance for 141 00:09:14,760 --> 00:09:19,240 Speaker 4: Herod and his court on his birthday. Herod, surely intoxicated 142 00:09:19,280 --> 00:09:23,240 Speaker 4: from his partying, was pleased with Salome's dance and vowed 143 00:09:23,280 --> 00:09:26,960 Speaker 4: to give her whatever she asked. This is always a 144 00:09:27,040 --> 00:09:31,240 Speaker 4: dangerous promise to make, and Herod would soon regret his offer, 145 00:09:32,000 --> 00:09:35,960 Speaker 4: for at her mother's direction, she made her request. She 146 00:09:36,120 --> 00:09:38,959 Speaker 4: wanted the head of John the Baptist on a platter, 147 00:09:39,840 --> 00:09:43,520 Speaker 4: and so John, after having served God's purpose for him 148 00:09:43,600 --> 00:09:47,720 Speaker 4: on earth, went quietly into death. That day. His head 149 00:09:47,960 --> 00:09:50,800 Speaker 4: was cut off without any ceremony or dignity for this 150 00:09:50,960 --> 00:09:53,920 Speaker 4: man of God. But there is no doubt that when 151 00:09:54,000 --> 00:09:57,400 Speaker 4: he entered eternity he was in the presence of God, 152 00:09:57,480 --> 00:10:02,040 Speaker 4: immediately rejoicing in heaven, and heard the words well done, 153 00:10:02,120 --> 00:10:05,200 Speaker 4: good and faithful servant He had announced and made a 154 00:10:05,240 --> 00:10:07,880 Speaker 4: way for the coming of the Lord, the Messiah Jesus, 155 00:10:08,200 --> 00:10:10,600 Speaker 4: who was going to take away the sins of the world. 156 00:10:11,320 --> 00:10:16,520 Speaker 4: In Matthew fourteen, Verses thirteen to fourteen. Here's what we read. Now. 157 00:10:16,520 --> 00:10:19,520 Speaker 4: When Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a 158 00:10:19,559 --> 00:10:23,080 Speaker 4: boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the 159 00:10:23,080 --> 00:10:26,200 Speaker 4: crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. 160 00:10:26,760 --> 00:10:28,920 Speaker 4: And when he went ashore, he saw a great crowd, 161 00:10:29,440 --> 00:10:32,920 Speaker 4: and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. 162 00:10:33,960 --> 00:10:38,120 Speaker 4: Jesus mourned the death of his forerunner and friend and 163 00:10:38,240 --> 00:10:42,240 Speaker 4: family member, John the Baptist. This man had meant so 164 00:10:42,440 --> 00:10:46,120 Speaker 4: much to the Lord Jesus, and though he isolated himself 165 00:10:46,160 --> 00:10:49,040 Speaker 4: in grief for a while, he soon saw the need 166 00:10:49,040 --> 00:10:52,680 Speaker 4: of the people who followed him. Christ had compassion and 167 00:10:52,760 --> 00:10:56,920 Speaker 4: mercy upon each one. It's another sign of God's unending 168 00:10:57,000 --> 00:10:59,880 Speaker 4: grace and mercy and his willingness to hear and answer 169 00:10:59,880 --> 00:11:03,320 Speaker 4: the cries of his people. You see Jesus as God, 170 00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:06,600 Speaker 4: and in his deity he can heal. He is also 171 00:11:06,800 --> 00:11:11,880 Speaker 4: man in his humanity. He had compassion for people, so 172 00:11:12,040 --> 00:11:16,280 Speaker 4: as God and man, he loved each one. Jesus knew 173 00:11:16,320 --> 00:11:20,520 Speaker 4: that soon he also would die, He would be killed, crucified, 174 00:11:20,960 --> 00:11:23,440 Speaker 4: and Herod himself would also have a hand in it. 175 00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:27,679 Speaker 4: But unlike John, whose body remained in the ground, Jesus 176 00:11:27,679 --> 00:11:31,800 Speaker 4: would rise victorious, conquering sin and death as the Savior, 177 00:11:31,920 --> 00:11:34,640 Speaker 4: the redeemer of all who would call upon his name. 178 00:11:35,679 --> 00:11:39,400 Speaker 4: John's life was well lived because he fulfilled his purpose. 179 00:11:39,840 --> 00:11:43,120 Speaker 4: He served with courage and boldness and faithfulness all the 180 00:11:43,160 --> 00:11:46,760 Speaker 4: way to heaven. Oh, that the same might be said 181 00:11:46,800 --> 00:11:50,120 Speaker 4: of each of us as we live and die and 182 00:11:50,200 --> 00:11:54,760 Speaker 4: then experience the eternal reward of our Savior and our God. 183 00:11:56,080 --> 00:11:59,280 Speaker 4: Dear Lord, we thank you for the tremendous example of 184 00:11:59,360 --> 00:12:03,679 Speaker 4: John the Babtis, and how his bold, courageous, faithful life 185 00:12:03,720 --> 00:12:07,440 Speaker 4: shows us how to live and how to die. May 186 00:12:07,440 --> 00:12:10,400 Speaker 4: we live in your grace, and may we die in 187 00:12:10,440 --> 00:12:14,199 Speaker 4: your peace, and all along, may we fulfill your purpose 188 00:12:14,240 --> 00:12:18,560 Speaker 4: for our lives in Jesus' name. Amen. Thank you for 189 00:12:18,640 --> 00:12:21,920 Speaker 4: listening to Today's Bible in a year. I'm pastor Jack 190 00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:25,200 Speaker 4: Graham from Dallas, Texas. You can download the pray dot 191 00:12:25,240 --> 00:12:28,760 Speaker 4: Com app and make Bible study in prayer the priority 192 00:12:28,840 --> 00:12:32,760 Speaker 4: of your life. And if you appreciate this podcast, please 193 00:12:32,760 --> 00:12:35,920 Speaker 4: share it with someone else. I also want to encourage 194 00:12:35,920 --> 00:12:39,240 Speaker 4: you to go to Jack Graham dot org. That's Jack 195 00:12:39,280 --> 00:12:43,200 Speaker 4: Graham dot org, for we have resources that are free 196 00:12:43,240 --> 00:12:46,000 Speaker 4: and available for you, so that you may know Christ 197 00:12:46,200 --> 00:12:48,960 Speaker 4: and grow in him. God bless you.