Immerse: Messiah - Flipbook - Page 281
6:12-31
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your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to
their fate.”
So the disciples went out, telling everyone they met to repent of their
sins and turn to God. And they cast out many demons and healed many
sick people, anointing them with olive oil.
Herod Antipas, the king, soon heard about Jesus, because everyone was
talking about him. Some were saying, “This must be John the Baptist
raised from the dead. That is why he can do such miracles.” Others said,
“He’s the prophet Elijah.” Still others said, “He’s a prophet like the other
great prophets of the past.”
When Herod heard about Jesus, he said, “John, the man I beheaded, has
come back from the dead.”
For Herod had sent soldiers to arrest and imprison John as a favor to
Herodias. She had been his brother Philip’s wife, but Herod had married
her. John had been telling Herod, “It is against God’s law for you to marry
your brother’s wife.” So Herodias bore a grudge against John and wanted
to kill him. But without Herod’s approval she was powerless, for Herod respected John; and knowing that he was a good and holy man, he protected
him. Herod was greatly disturbed whenever he talked with John, but even
so, he liked to listen to him.
Herodias’s chance finally came on Herod’s birthday. He gave a party for
his high government officials, army officers, and the leading citizens of
Galilee. Then his daughter, also named Herodias, came in and performed
a dance that greatly pleased Herod and his guests. “Ask me for anything
you like,” the king said to the girl, “and I will give it to you.” He even vowed,
“I will give you whatever you ask, up to half my kingdom!”
She went out and asked her mother, “What should I ask for?”
Her mother told her, “Ask for the head of John the Baptist!”
So the girl hurried back to the king and told him, “I want the head of
John the Baptist, right now, on a tray!”
Then the king deeply regretted what he had said; but because of the
vows he had made in front of his guests, he couldn’t refuse her. So he
immediately sent an executioner to the prison to cut off John’s head and
bring it to him. The soldier beheaded John in the prison, brought his head
on a tray, and gave it to the girl, who took it to her mother. When John’s
disciples heard what had happened, they came to get his body and buried
it in a tomb.
The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all
they had done and taught. Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to
a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many
