Jesus Walks on the Water (Mark 6:45-56)

 

Jesus Walks on the Water (Mark 6:45-56)

How do we rule as God intended to do from the beginning? We live by faith. Jesus fed five thousand people with five loaves and two fish. Because Jesus trusted in His Heavenly Father, He lacked nothing in feeding that great multitude (Psalm 23:1). By believing in a faithful God, we lack nothing regardless of our situation.

In Mark 6:45-56, Jesus came to His disciples walking on the water. Jesus demonstrated a new creation that transcends human limitations. We live by faith and hope in the invisible love of God and His kingdom. This is what it means to live a life walking on water.

Going Up on a Mountainside to Pray

Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray (Mark 6:45-46).

After feeding the five thousand with the five loaves and two fish, Jesus immediately had His disciples get into a boat to go to the other side toward Bethsaida. Mark records that Jesus "immediately" made His disciples leave. The miracle of the loaves and fish was undoubtedly an astonishing event for the disciples. The crowds, likewise, were amazed.

However, this event carried the risk of people misunderstanding Jesus Christ as a Messiah who simply came to solve their bread problem. In fact, according to the Gospel of John, the crowd tried to take Jesus by force to make Him their king (John 6:15). They expected that by doing so, their food problems would be solved.

The disciples also saw this event as an opportunity for their dreams of Jesus ascending as an earthly Messiah to grow even larger. They longed for a Messiah who would liberate them from the powerful Roman oppression that ruled the Mediterranean coast at the time.

When they saw that Jesus not only healed the sick but also calmed the wind and sea and fed five thousand with five loaves and two fish, they were convinced that He was the Messiah.

Jesus is in God, and the Father is in the Son

After sending the disciples to the other side of the sea first, Jesus went up to a mountain to pray. Jesus habitually went before God the Father to pray (Mark 1:35). Jesus was always in the Father, and the Father was in the Son (John 17:21). During His time on earth, the incarnate Jesus was always with the Heavenly Father (John 5:19).

The example shown by our Lord Jesus Christ represents the intimate relationship between Christ and us believers. The Lord Jesus Christ is in us, and we always abide in Christ (John 17:21). Therefore, while living on this earth amidst storms and challenges, we fix our eyes on the Lord (Hebrews 12:2).

Consequently, we no longer live by our own strength and ability, but by the power of the resurrection of Christ who lives in us (Galatians 2:20). In Christ, we no longer live according to our own dreams and plans; instead, we surrender everything to Christ, who bought us with the price of His blood (1 Corinthians 6:20).

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20).

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship (Romans 12:1).

The Disciples See Jesus Walking on the Sea and Think He is a Ghost

47 Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. 48 He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out (Mark 6:47-49).

The disciples were straining at the oars because of a strong headwind. Shortly before sunrise while it was still dark—Jesus came toward them walking on the sea and was about to pass them by. When the disciples saw someone walking on the water, they cried out, thinking it was a ghost. It is unimaginable for a human to walk on water.

That is true. Water is dangerous for humans. While we can swim to a limited extent, walking on water is impossible. Jesus walking on the water transcends the laws of nature. Jesus was treading upon the sea water. This shows that the Lord rules over all things as the Creator.

In the beginning, God made fish to swim freely in the water and birds to fly freely in the sky (Genesis 1:20-21). In contrast, humans dwell on the land. However, Jesus, by walking on the water, surpassed human limitations. He walked on the water as if it were dry land. The water was no obstacle at all.

Therefore, this is a new creation. The creatures God made reveal the purpose and will He established. Through the birds of the air and the fish of the sea, God shows us a life filled with the Spirit. In Christ, we have been washed by His blood and set free from the chains of sin and death. We have now become a new creation before God.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:17)

We Sit with The Lord at The Right Hand of The Throne of God and Rule

Although we still wear this earthly body, in the spirit, we are no longer slaves to sin and death but sit and rule with the Lord at the right hand of God’s throne (Ephesians 2:6). We do not sink into the mire of greed, jealousy, hatred, and complaining; instead, we look forward to the hope of the eternal kingdom of heaven and enjoy thankfulness, joy, and rest. By enduring through trials and hardships, we store up heavenly rewards of love, joy, and peace.

In the past, we worried, were anxious, and trembled with fear, but now we adore God’s peace and joy. No matter how urgent or pressing the situation may be, just like the Lord who slept in the midst of the storm, we find peace and rest by dwelling in God through faith.

Even amidst the deceptions and plots of the devil—who hides in unseen places, trying to swallow us up with all kinds of lies and threats—we repel the devil’s lies and threats through the power of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has overcome this world. After everything was made, we enter into the rest of God, who is the Lord of rest (Genesis 2:2-3).

Faith Wins the Victory

People fundamentally live by faith. For example, when starting a car and driving toward school or work, we set out believing we will arrive. When we go to bed at night, we seek sleep believing we will wake up the next morning. We believe the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. We believe that eating food will supply the nutrients our bodies need.

Nevertheless, there is something people often refuse to believe and reject: believing in and obeying Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Instead, they rely on experience, education, and knowledge. Over thousands of years, God has made us realize through historical facts that we are to live by faith alone.

There are Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, David, Elijah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Hosea, Malachi, and a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us (Hebrews 12:1). Through John the Baptist, the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth, God prepared the way for the coming of Christ, the Son of God.

Our Lord Jesus Christ, who came to this earth as evidence sent by God, healed the sick and drove out demons through signs and wonders. There is no praise for people in the Bible. However, Jesus blessed the faith of anyone who came to Him with faith. And Jesus opened the gates of heaven, giving the treasures of the kingdom—the Father’s love, joy, and peace—as gifts.

Therefore, we now obey and live by faith alone, walking on water. Long ago, the prophet Habakkuk said, "The righteous will live by his faith" (Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 1:17).

To him who overcomes until the end,
He will give white robes and eternal life;
what a joyful thing.
Passing through this dark world to reach that heavenly fortress,
By the power of believing in the Lord Jesus,
we overcome the whole world.

Faith is the victory!
Faith is the victory!
Believing in the Lord Jesus overcomes the whole world. (Hymn)

Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid.

50 because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 51 Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, 52 for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened. 53 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there. 54 As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus. 55 They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56 And wherever he went—into villages, towns or countryside—they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed. (Mark 6:50-56)

Jesus told the terrified disciples to take courage and not be afraid. Here, who was it that made the disciples so terrified? It was the Lord Jesus Christ. Who was it that made them feel safe and relieved? It was the Lord Jesus Christ.

We might think this uncertain world is what startles us. Unexpected difficulties and pain cause us to be afraid. However, none of this can happen without God’s permission. It is a process of discipline and refinement, preparing us as the holy bride of Christ, without spot or blemish (Philippians 1:6; Ephesians 5:25-32).

Therefore, the hardships and pain we experience on this earth are neither accidental nor bad luck. Through Jesus walking on the water in the midst of the storm, the disciples confessed that He is truly the Son of God (Matthew 14:33). "Son of God" means that Jesus is equal to God.

Even after the miracle of the five loaves and two fish and walking on the water, Jesus continued His ministry of healing the sick and driving out demons. Everyone who touched even the edge of His cloak was healed, just like the woman who had suffered from bleeding (Mark 5:34).

Jesus’ work of healing the sick and driving out demons has continued for the last 2,000 years, and He continues it among us today. We know this if we look back at how our week has been. Many challenges and pains follow one day after another. Our hearts are heavy and troubled by things not yet resolved. That is why, even today, if we come to Him in faith, Jesus pours out the living water that flows from the heavenly throne of grace. Amen!

Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:13-14)

Amen!

March 22, 2026

Buffalo Livingstone Church ©2026, David Lee Ministries ©2026 – All Rights Reserved.

Scripture quotes are from the NIV.

 

The Miracle of the Five Loaves and Two Fish (Mark 6:30-44)

 

The Miracle of the Five Loaves and Two Fish (Mark 6:30-44)

What do we eat and drink? We become what we eat. Those who consume God’s love, joy, and peace become like Christ. Those who consume hatred and jealousy become slaves to them.

In Mark 6:30-44, Jesus gave thanks for the five loaves and two fish, fed five thousand people until they were satisfied, and twelve basketfuls of broken pieces were left over. Through this, Jesus revealed that He is the true Bread of Life descended from heaven.

The Apostles Return from Their Missionary Journey

30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. 31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” 32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. 33 But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. (Mark 6:30-33)

After successfully finishing a great task, there is a sense of accomplishment. Naturally, one thirsts for recognition and praise. At the same time, the body and mind become tired and exhausted. The disciples had gone out two by two to the villages of Judea, healing the sick, driving out demons, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom.

The disciples obeyed Jesus' word, going on their journey without money, extra clothes, or sandals. Surprisingly, they personally witnessed and experienced the authority and power as the sick were healed and demons retreated. The disciples reported the whole story to Jesus in detail.

When the seventy returned with joy from their journey and reported what they had done, Jesus said, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven" (Luke 10:17-18). The healing of the sick and the retreat of Satan are due to the authority and power of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is clearly shown in the case of the woman with the bleeding for 12 years (Mark 5:30).

However, because of the gathering crowds, the disciples had no chance to rest or even time to eat. People followed on foot by land, moving according to the direction the boat was heading to come before Jesus. They came primarily to be healed of diseases and also to hear the gospel of the kingdom.

This shows that in any era, every human being is thirsty. Of course, at that time, there was a longing for a Messiah to save them from Roman oppression. Simultaneously, there was a great desire for freedom from disease and relief from the hardships of daily life.

There is little difference between them and us living in the 21st century. Everyone wants to escape the monotony and boredom of daily life and be free from worries about living expenses.

Compassion Because They Were Like Sheep Without a Shepherd

34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things. 35 By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late. 36 Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” 37 But he answered, “You give them something to eat.” They said to him, “That would take more than half a year’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?” (Mark 6:34-37)

Jesus saw the gathering crowds wandering like sheep without a shepherd. A sheep without a shepherd is not only lost but is also food for wild beasts. Survival is impossible for a sheep without a shepherd.

In what way were the crowds like sheep without a shepherd? Ultimately, the Shepherd is God and the Lord Jesus Christ. However, God called men like Moses and Joshua as His servants to lead the people to the Lord. In Jesus' time, the Pharisees, Sadducees, and priests held that role.

However, they fell into their own interests and greed, failing to care for widows and orphans and instead exploiting them (Isaiah 10:2; Luke 20:47). They only wanted honor and glory and did not act according to the truth (Matthew 23:6-7). They thirsted for the praise and recognition of men. Therefore, they loved to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners (Matthew 6:5; Luke 18:11-12).

The religious leaders of Jesus' day should have performed the work of leading people to God and His Son, Jesus Christ, but instead, they blocked that path and led them to hell (Matthew 23:13, 15). Likewise, the people of that time were hungry and thirsty, having lost the way to truly go to God, like sheep who had lost their shepherd.

Accordingly, Jesus taught the crowds. He explained the secrets of the kingdom of heaven in detail and taught using parables. He led them to the God of Abraham, the Lord of hosts. He revealed the love of the Lord, who sent His Son, Jesus Christ, just as God the Father had promised to Abraham.

To show that He was the Son sent by God, Jesus performed signs and wonders. Opening the eyes of the blind was something that had never happened until then (John 9:32). He opened the eyes of the heart that were trapped in darkness and could not see God. This is the evidence teaching us that Jesus came as God’s Christ.

Just as Jesus called the twelve disciples and sent them on a missionary journey, today all believers are called as instruments to witness to God's love. To manifest this is to love our neighbors as ourselves, following the example of Christ's cross (John 13:31-32).

We practice God's love as Christians in our daily lives—at work, at home, and while commuting. It is to forgive, embrace, be patient, endure, and show love. Thus, even in irritating and painful situations, we reflect the light of God's love.

You Give Them Something To Eat

The disciples suggested that the large crowd be sent home. That seemed like a practical, realistic option. Furthermore, feeding that large crowd would have required 200 denarii, a large sum of money equivalent to roughly a worker’s annual salary.

However, Jesus commanded His disciples, "You give them something to eat." The disciples must have doubted their own ears. It was physically impossible. The disciples were poor, and such a large amount of money was far beyond their reach. The Lord, of course, was fully aware of the disciples' empty pockets.

Then, what does this mean? It means to have compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and to lead them to draw closer to God. In other words, He ordered them to fulfill the role of guiding people to Jesus. The Kingdom of God is filled with love, joy, and peace, and is full of grace and truth (John 1:14). Standing right before them was Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who is the door leading to the Kingdom of Heaven.

We have been called by the one-sided grace of God. Through the gift of faith, which God gave freely, we confessed our sins and came to the Lord. Since we received it freely, it is only right that we share it freely. Sharing God’s love and grace is the way to lead others to the Lord. Forgiving and loving one another is what those who have received grace must do.

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand (Matthew 14:13–21; Luke 9:10–17; John 6:1–14)

38 "How many loaves do you have?" he asked. "Go and see." When they found out, they said, "Five—and two fish." 39 Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. 41 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. 42 They all ate and were satisfied, 43 and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. 44 The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand. (Mark 6:38–44)

Jesus’ disciple Andrew, brother of Peter, brought the five loaves and two fish, doubting how such an insignificant amount could feed them (John 6:9). Jesus received the five loaves and two fish and gave thanks to God the Father in heaven.

Then, Jesus broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to distribute, and He did the same with the two fish. Through Jesus' hands, the bread and fish were continuously supplied. The crowd of five thousand gathered there ate and were satisfied, and twelve basketfuls were gathered up. The twelve baskets signify the twelve tribes of Israel.

God does not desire the 200 denarii; He desires what the disciples already have. Whatever it may be, He gladly receives the five loaves and two fish. In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul said that he planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God the Father made it grow (1 Corinthians 3:6).

There is no one who does not possess their own "five loaves and two fish." God has poured out gifts upon each person to build up His church. In the Parable of the Talents, Jesus gave some servants ten talents, others five, and another one, and commanded them to trade, that is, to make a profit (Matthew 25:14–30).

Every believer reborn in Christ has received the Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of truth, and has also received various gifts such as teaching, serving, ministering, and administration (Romans 12:6–8). The fact that Jesus sent His disciples on a mission trip shows that they were working together in the work of God the Father.

The work of God is done only by the Lord’s power and authority. It cannot be done by human experience, education, or status. Jesus gave His disciples the authority and power to heal the sick and drive out demons. Using the power Jesus gave them, the disciples actually did so (Mark 6:13).

So, how do we offer our five loaves and two fish? For example, when someone asks about the gospel of Jesus Christ, we kindly share our faith together. Also, looking toward the Kingdom of Heaven that God has given us as our hope, we endure today’s pain and difficulties with gratitude and joy.

When conflict arises in a relationship with others, we yield and step back. This may seem like defeat, but it is not. Jesus, though He had no sin, bore our burden of sin in our place and was even forsaken by God the Father (Matthew 27:46).

God fed them with manna from heaven for forty years in the wilderness. Jesus feeding the five thousand in a solitary place reminds us of Israel being fed manna in the wilderness after the Exodus (Exodus 16:35). This teaches us that God the Father personally feeds, clothes, and protects us.

After the miracle of the five loaves and two fish, Jesus declared that He is the bread of life who came down from heaven (John 6:35, 48). Because Jesus is the bread of life, anyone who believes in Him will not die but live (John 6:50).

"I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." (John 6:51)

Eating Jesus’ flesh and drinking His blood is the way to gain eternal life (John 6:53–57). This refers to believing in and obeying Jesus Christ, His Son, whom God sent from heaven. To eat His flesh and drink His blood is to believe that our Lord Jesus Christ was sacrificed on the cross. Amen!

"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)

March 15, 2026

Buffalo Livingstone Church ©2026, David Lee Ministries ©2026 – All Rights Reserved.

Scripture quotes are from the NIV.

 

The Death of John the Baptist (Mark 6:14-29)

 

The Death of John the Baptist (Mark 6:14-29)

How we live and how we die are both important questions. Death is a scary thing, but it is not the end. This world is not everything; the kingdom of heaven is the essence. Jesus comforted His disciples by saying, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).

In Mark 6:14-29, John the Baptist was beheaded by King Herod for no justifiable reason. Herod was immoral and violent, constantly showing off and boasting, and in the midst of his inner turmoil, he killed the righteous John.

John the Baptist Has Risen from the Dead

14 King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known. Some were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.” 15 Others said, “He is Elijah.” And still others claimed, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago.” 16 But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!” (Mark 6:14-16)

The name of Jesus became known throughout Judea and Galilee. Wherever Jesus went, large crowds came to Him seeking healing. Jesus saw that the crowds were like sheep without a shepherd and had compassion on them (Mark 6:34).

Jesus healed a man with a shriveled hand, paralytics, the blind, the deaf, lepers, the demon-possessed, and a woman with a bleeding disorder; He even raised the dead. He performed signs and wonders, calming the wind and waves and walking on water.

Naturally, rumors about Jesus of Nazareth spread throughout the whole country. When King Herod heard about Him, he said that John the Baptist, whom he had beheaded, had risen from the dead. Other people said Jesus was Elijah or one of the prophets of old. They did not know exactly who Jesus Christ was.

John the Baptist, the Forerunner of Jesus

At that time, Zechariah, one of the priests, had no children even though he was old. However, while he was performing his priestly duties in the temple according to his division, he received a sudden visit from an angel. The angel announced that his wife, Elizabeth, would give birth to a son (Luke 1:13). The son born from this was John the Baptist.

14 "He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord" (Luke 1:14-17).

John the Baptist carried out his ministry in the wilderness. This signifies that the hearts of the people were dry and thirsty like a desert. He preached a powerful message of repentance to all the people. It was a message that was uncomfortable and bothersome for the people to hear—calling them to confess their sins and urging repentance (Mark 1:4).

7 John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham" (Luke 3:7-8).

John the Baptist’s voice calling out in the wilderness shook people's hearts. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him, confessed their sins, and were baptized by him in the Jordan River (Mark 1:5). As the prophet Isaiah predicted, he was the forerunner preparing the way for the coming of Jesus Christ, the Son of God (Mark 1:2).

Salvation from sin comes only through faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It does not come through blood or flesh (John 1:12). Even being a descendant of Abraham or being born into a believing family cannot do it. Salvation is solely accepting Jesus Christ—who died by shedding His blood on the cross, was buried, and rose again—as Lord.

This is because human sin cannot be forgiven by anything else; only the blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, can break the power of sin and death and save us. The blood of Jesus Christ is a gift of God’s holy love, mercy, and grace, shed to forgive the sins of this world.

John the Baptist’s preaching of a baptism for repentance was a voice inviting people to the salvation that comes from heaven. Tax collectors also came to him, confessed their sins, and were baptized; soldiers also came to him and confessed their sins (Luke 3:12, 14). The people even began to wonder in their hearts if he might possibly be the Messiah (Luke 3:15).

However, John the Baptist said he was the voice of one calling in the wilderness, just as the prophet Isaiah had predicted (Luke 3:4; Isaiah 40:3). As the forerunner of Jesus Christ, he prepared people's hearts to welcome the Lord who comes as the Son of God. Confessing sins is the way to welcome Christ into the heart.

Why do we confess our sins? It is because this world is under sin. To be under sin means that the relationship with God is severed, preventing one from entering into His love and grace. Ultimately, one faces God's judgment and eternal punishment.

Confessing sins is painful and stinging because it is an admission of shame and disgrace. No one wants to do it. However, because of this very shame and sin, our Lord Jesus Christ hung on the cross and received the shame, disgrace, and pain we were supposed to receive (Hebrews 12:2). Now, following the example of Jesus Christ, we walk the way of the cross, acknowledging the disgrace and shame of our sins.

Even though confessing the sins of shame and humiliation may seem harder than dying, God opens the gates of heaven and pours out blessings on those who confess their sins. God does not rebuke anyone who confesses their sins and comes to the Lord; He forgives their sins and purifies them from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Therefore, we come to stand boldly before the throne of God's grace (Romans 5:1-2).

John the Baptist Rebukes Herod’s Sin of Immorality

17 For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, whom he had married. 18 For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19 So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to, 20 because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him (Mark 6:17-20).

Herod was a king, but he was trapped in a swamp of darkness and ignorance. He committed the immoral and violent act of taking his brother’s wife. John the Baptist rebuked his unrighteousness. Instead of repenting, Herod arrested John and put him in prison. Herodias, who had become Herod’s wife, watched for every opportunity to kill John.

However, Herod regarded John as a righteous and holy man and was greatly troubled when he heard his words. Yet, he did not listen to the voice of his conscience and did not repent of his violent and immoral deeds. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil (Romans 2:9). On the other hand, there will be glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does good (Romans 2:10).

In this world, it seems that those who boast, show off, and rule with their own ability and power succeed (Psalm 73:3-4). It seems that those who ignore others and seek only their own benefit gain the wealth of this world and advance (Psalm 73:8-9, 13). That is not the case. Their path is a shortcut that falls suddenly into ruin and destruction (Psalm 73:18-19). They are caught in a great delusion and fantasy (Psalm 73:20).

However, those who fear God and act according to His Word may suffer in this world, but they inherit the kingdom of heaven (Romans 8:17). Though they are not recognized by the world and face persecution, they do not become slaves to complaints and dissatisfaction; rather, they conquer and rule because of the hope of the kingdom of heaven.

John the Baptist Beheaded (Matt. 14:1-12; Luke 9:7-9)

21 Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 22 When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the girl, "Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you." 23 And he promised her with an oath, "Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom." 24 She went out and said to her mother, "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, 28 and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother. 29 On hearing of this, John’s disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb. (Mark 6:21-29).

Herod, who had a prick of conscience but did not repent, eventually followed the way of Cain (Gen. 4:8). While indulging in self-display and boasting, he fell into his own trap and beheaded John the Baptist. He killed a righteous man for no reason.

On the surface, it seems Herod wore royal robes and enjoyed wealth and glory, but he cannot escape the judgment of God's wrath. It appears that John the Baptist died and Herod is alive, but in reality, it is the opposite. Herod is still breathing, but because he rejects God’s holy love, he cannot escape the agony of death—ceaseless anguish and distress.

Death is not the end. Jesus died and was buried, but rose again after three days. Death is not the end of everything, but rather the beginning. However, for those who fear and obey God, He gives eternal life, but for those who do not, God’s wrath remains on them (John 3:36).

Everyone will be resurrected. However, there is a difference as vast as heaven and earth between those who welcome God's love and keep their faith through repentance within His grace, and those who reject and refuse the Lord's love.

"Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned" (John 5:28-29).

The death of John the Baptist seems like a tragedy, but it is not. Jesus referred to John the Baptist as the greatest among those born of women (Matt. 11:11). Yet, Jesus said that the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Therefore, the important thing is to live by faith. To fear God and, amidst that awe, to look toward the hope of heaven and follow the way of the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ is truly the way of life. That way is to love and forgive one another, and to forgive and love again. Loving the unlovable and forgiving the unforgivable is the love of Christ, the Son of God.

Amen!

March 8, 2026

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Scripture quotes are from the NIV.