Contact Us  |  Help  |  Home 
Log In  |  Register 
The Proclaimer

King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some said, "John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him." But others said, "He is Elijah." And others said, "He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old." But when Herod heard of it, he said, "John, whom I beheaded, has been raised." For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because he had married her. For John had been saying to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife." And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly. But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. For when Herodias’s daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, "Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you." And he vowed to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom." And she went out and said to her mother, "For what should I ask?" And she said, "The head of John the Baptist." And she came in immediately 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." And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.
Mark 6:14-29
St. John the Baptist was the promised forerunner of the Messiah whose mission it was to prepare the world for the arrival of their Savior and Redeemer. His very life and message was the finger of God pointing from heaven at Jesus of Nazareth and identifying Him as the Lam of God who takes away the sins of the world.

A necessary part of that work was the proclamation of the Law of God. Unapologetically, unashamedly he called upon the world to repent of their sins and bear the fruits of that repentance. He warned them that God's judgment was at hand. And not only did he preach the Law in a general way, he was quite specific -- condemning the adulterous marriage of Herodias and Herod. Holding fast to the truth of God's Word -- Both Law and Gospel -- ultimately cost him his life.

Christians are confronted with the same challenge today. Our primary message must be the Good News of salvation that god has given gor all people in his Son Jesus Christ. But it is still necessary to tell the truth about sin. The world rebels against that message and parts of the Church have even abdicated their responsibility to tell the truth about the same issues of marriage and sexuality that confronted St. John the Baptist in his day.

The truth of God's Law hurts. It hurts those who hear it as they are confronted with their sin and it can even hurt those who speak it and stand up for it -- as we see in St. John's life. Yet we must not abandon it! Instead, we repent of our own sins and follow St. John's courageous example, boldly speaking the whole counsel of God's Word to a world that seems to have lost all moral restraint, entrusting ourselves to the One who conquered death and the grave.

Let us pray:

Almighty God, You gave Your servant John the Baptist to be the forerunner of Your Son, Jesus Christ, in both his preaching of repentance and his innocent death. Grant that we, who have died and risen with Christ in Holy Baptism, may daily repent of our sins, patiently suffer for the sake of the truth, and fearlessly bear witness to His victory over death; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Your Servant in Christ,
Pastor Eckert
Inside This Web Site
 Main  VBS
 About Our Church  Can-Do Mission
 Church Newsletter  Glorybound 2005
 Church Calendar  Lutheran Disaster Response
 Bible Studies  BSA Troop 186 Eagle Scout Project
 Our Kids  National Youth Gathering 2007
 LWML  Guestbook
 Circuit 27  
Site maintained by:
 Caroline Eckert 
 aceckert@juno.com
 521 E. Doddridge P. O. Box 1581 Kingsville Texas 78363-5606 United States of America 
 Phone: 361-592-6531   
 Fax: 361-592-4134
 Copyright Policy  |  Privacy Policy  |  RSS Feeds  |  Site Directory  |    |  Site Map  |  The Store
 
Contact Us
866-201-1522
RSS icon RSS  Facebook icon Facebook  Twitter icon Twitter  
 
         
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Contact Thrivent Financial
800-THRIVENT
(800-847-4836)
Appleton Office:
4321 N. Ballard Road
Appleton, WI 54919-0001 USA
Minneapolis Office:
625 Fourth Avenue S.
Minneapolis, MN 55415-1624 USA
 
         
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, Appleton, WI 54919-0001, is authorized to conduct business in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. NAIC # 2938-56014. Products issued by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans are available to applicants who meet membership, insurability, U.S. citizenship and residency requirements. Not all products described are available in all states. Thrivent Financial representatives are licensed insurance agents. Insurance and retirement products, where available, are individual contracts, (not group coverage), and issued by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Investment products are offered through Thrivent Investment Management Inc., 625 Fourth Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55415-1665, a wholly owned subsidiary of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Member FINRA. Member SIPC. Thrivent Financial representatives are registered representatives of Thrivent Investment Management Inc.