Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1912-08-28
LESSON FOR SEPT. |.
DEATH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST

LESSON TEXT-Mark s14-2e
| GOLDEN TEXT-"Be thou faithful unto
death. and 1 will give thee the crown OF
| hfe."-Rev. 2:10.
The story of Hamlet and Banquo's
ghost is no more vivid or dramatic
than the story OF the tragedy OF John
the Baptist.
And King Herod heard OF him"
v. 4. or course Herod would hear OF
the rising young cousin of John who
was creating such a stir throughout
Galilee. His coarse, sinful, licentious,
heart cringed at the rebuke Of such a
life Of purity, one hat performed so
many good deeds, one who was con-
stantly ministering to others as con-
trasted with the life Of Herod. who
only ministered to his own selfish
lusts. Small wonder he should ex-
claim, 1T is John whom I beheaded
and one can hear in fancy the risin.;
tide of terror that surged through his
heart as he must have screamed. He
is risen from the dead" The first
three verses of the lesson are a vivid
picture Of how the fame Of this young
Galilean affected the conscience
stricken and guilty-hearted usurper
upon the throne
Who was this Herod? In the first
place, he was guilty Of the sin of in
cest, for he had married the wife OF
his brother Philip. who was still liv-
ing. From verse eighteen of the les
son We learn further that the bold and
courageous John had rebuked him OF
n
cast him into prison. and though he
may have desired. yet he did not as
yet dare to take his life. Added 10
this is the anger Of a sinful woman.
John a Just Man.
This precipitated a war which re-
suited in the overthrow and utter
loss Of the army belonging to the
father OF HerOd's lawful wife. Why
did Herod hesitate TO comply with all
that Herodias desired2 Verse 90 tells
us. because John was Just man and
an holy" righteousness is often a
mans surest safeguard. Herod was
not altogether devoid OF conscience as
we have already seen, and this is
further evidence Of that fact Verse
20 adds that when Herod heard him
he was ''perplexed and heard him
gladly" We believe that Herod was
seeking some sort Of a recanting uron
the part OF John. that he was glad
(anXious) to hear from his lips some
sort OF statement that would justify
his liberation and was perplexed over
the persistence of John. who, THOUGH
in prison. never for one moment low
cred his standard OF divine righteous
ness. nor trimmed his sails so as to
catch the wind OF Herod's popular
favor. That this was Johns attitude
and that it was known 10 Herodias Is
evident from the beginning Of the
verse 81. and when 4 convenient day
was come" HerCdias was all too
ready and willing to seize her oppor-
tunity.
To evidence her depths of depravity
and also her anxiety. note that Hero
dias was willing to sacrifice the mod
esty of her own daughter 10 gain her
end. The use Of the word "hersel
V. % r. V. is evidence that it was
an unusual thing for this daughter OF
a queen thus to exhibit herself.
Now note the oath Of the liquor and
lust-drunken king. What an appalrog
request. What a terrible consequence.
What lengths men will go to keep
their word" given thoHghtlessly or ut
tered in the heat of passion This is
one of the blacklist pictures of his
tory. lust-driven. licentious poten-
tate, a rebuked but vindictive queen,
slave Of these same passions.
Not Real Sorrow.
The child of the home thrust forth
before the gaze OF the court to help Sc
cure the ends of n murderous mother.
4 godly. fearless saint who had a great
message from a great God, and with
out hating. hesitancy or compromise
continued to deliver that message till
stricken down in the midst of an orgy
OF passion. Herods sorrow was not
unto repentance" ". 26) but rather
that of a guilty conscience.
We need now to return a~ain to t.,
first verse OF the lesson and we can
we'll believe 1t must have been a sad
wall, He is risen" q. IG. History
tells us Herod lost his kingdom and
that he and Herodias {. 4 in exile.
Let us turn from this awful picture
and look at John. How different. Thus
dies he who was the greatest born CT
\ woman. Thus died one who dared
10 rebuke evil in high places. One
who would not compromise to save
Ills life. and one who was faithful unto
ieath (see the Golden Text. Can wa
hesitate to believe that John receives
his crown?
suggested outline for this lesson
q as fOllOwS