Mark 6:14

Mark 6:14 says, And king Herod heard of him; (for his name was spread abroad:) and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him. In Jesus's day, people were trying to figure out Who He really was, and today we must do the same.  Herod thought Jesus was John the Baptist, whom he had beheaded, come back from the dead.  John did not have the power to do so, but Jesus does.  First, when we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, He resurrects us from spiritual death, and then one day He will resurrect us to everlasting life where death will never again touch us.  Verse fifteen adds, Others said, That it is Elias. And others said, That it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets. Other people thought that Jesus was Elijah come back from the dead.  Though Elijah was a great prophet, his time was long past.  We cannot find the truth about Jesus simply by looking into what God had done before Jesus came as the Messiah but must look only to Him in faith that He is indeed the only way to salvation.  Other people at that time only saw Him as a prophet, or one of the prophets.  There are many people today who are willing to acknowledge that Jesus was a prophet, but that He was no more than that.  We have to decide Who Jesus really is.  I know He is the Son of God Who died for the sins of everyone if they will only put their faith in Him.  Verse sixteen states, But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead.  Herod was convinced that Jesus was John the Baptist who had come back from the dead no matter what other people might say.  There are more people today who deny that Jesus is Who He says He is than there are people who accept Him for Who He is, the only One Who can save us from sin.  Verse seventeen adds, For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife: for he had married her. Herod was feeling guilty and maybe a little terrified because he had John the Baptist beheaded, and now he thought John the Baptist had been resurrected and was preaching again.  Herod should have turned to Jesus for forgiveness, and he would have been forgiven if he had only truly done so.  We have no reason to be afraid that God is going to send someone to get us when we sin today.  Verse seventeen continues, For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife: for he had married her. Herod had John the Baptist beheaded after he had imprisoned him for pointing out Herod's sin in marrying his brother's wife.  Verse eighteen continues, For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife.  John stood up to Herod to point out his sin and was imprisoned and eventually beheaded because of doing so.  We need to be willing to point out the sins of even the most powerful people, no matter what it cost us.  Verse nineteen states, Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not. Herod's wife, Herodias, would have killed John the Baptist if she had the authority, but she didn't.   Some people today might kill us for preaching the gospel, but lack the authority to do so, so try to get elected officials to pass laws to at least silence us.  Herod feared John, because he knew he was a just and holy man.  Verse twenty adds, For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly. Herod feared him but gladly heard him, until he began to speak out against Herod's relationship with his brother's wife.  People today may recognize the truth of the teachings of Jesus until they point out their sins, and then like Herod, they reject him.  If you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord, as always, my prayer is that you will do so today.