Hello everyone, my name is Elise Brooklyn and this is Scattering Flowers, a podcast where we scatter flowers of faith.
I’m so happy to be with you reading the daily gospels together.
Let’s get started! Today is Friday, February 7th, and we will be reading Mark 6, 14-29.
Follow along in the Bible if you have one.
Now let’s read Mark 6, 14-29.
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 powers are at work of him.
But others said it is Elijah, and others said it is the prophet, like one of the prophets of old.
So when Herod heard of it, he said, John whom I beheaded has been raised.
For Herod 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 said to Herod, It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.
But Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not.
For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and kept him perplexed.
And yet he heard him gladly.
But an opportunity came when Herod, on his birthday, gave a banquet for his counters and officers and the leading men of Galilee.
For when Herodias' daughter came and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests.
And the king said to the girl, Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will grant it.
And he vowed to her, Whatever you ask me, I will give you, and half my kingdom.
And she went out and said to her mother, What shall 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 set a soldier of the guard and gave orders to bring his head.
He went and beheaded him in 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.
Do you know the Ten Commandments?
I have them all memorized.
We actually memorize them by learning a song.
Sometimes it’s easy to learn things when you put a tune to them.
The Ten Commandments are rules for the Hebrews to follow way back then.
When you break one of those rules, it’s called sin.
King Herod’s wife wanted John to be sent to prison and killed because he reminded her of the rules they were supposed to follow.
She was definitely a sinner.
She should have been punished, not John the Baptist.
When we mess up, we should ask God for forgiveness.
God is always happy to forgive us.
Luckily, when we sin, we don’t have to answer to King Herod’s wife and be beheaded.
God will forgive us even if we forget to follow His rules and confess our sins.
Let’s pray.
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, dear God, thank you for being such an amazing and forgiving God, and help us to turn to you when we know that we’ve sinned.
Amen.
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen! Thank you so much for listening.
I’ll be back next week scattering more flowers.
See ya!