Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-08-27
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.RRLE. STUDIES
FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH.
Mark vi. 14-2q-Sept. 1.

l connected WITH JOiln the bdptiSt >
death. King Herod had put away his
own wife, and was living unlawfully
with the wife of his brother Phillip
/ Herodias-a vain woman apparently
and without conscience, who, for am
bitions sake, had dared everything
that she might occupy the place of a
queen. John the Baptist, fearless
| teacher, in his preaching had referred
to. the fact that King Herod was liv-
| ing in violation of the Divine Law,
and that this was likely alsuAto bring
upon the people war, for Ais wife
whom he had put away was the
daughter of King Aretas. 6N
Herodias heard of Johns teaching,
and was both angry and fearful-afi-
CRY that he should dare to speak so of
her relationship to the King--fearful
| lest the words of this eloquent man,
Which greatly moved the masses,
might ALLEVIATE her from the King
Had Herod put her away, as would
have been his duty, she would have
been a disgraced woman, for the Her.
DDS were well known in Rome, and
elsewhere. So she was ready to do
murder or anything that would divert
such calamity.
Herod feared John and feared the
people who believed John to be a
Prophet, but Herodfas feared neither
God nor man. However, in Difference
to Herodias' wish, Herod had John ar
rested for his temerity. Even then
Herod liked to hear John talk,ithough
he still kept him prisoner. All the
more Herodias feared the influence OF
John. The Kings birthday came, and
she encouraged him to make it a fes-.
tival, and to ask to the banquet his
principal friends. In the midst Of the
earousal she dressed her own daughter
in the airy costume of the dancing
girls of the East, and sent her in to
dance before the King and his friends.
So great condescension implied
that the King should make some re-
turn. He asked the girl what he
should give her, promising anything
that she would ask even to the half of
his kingdom. True to her agreement
the child returned for instructions.
Bound by an UnhoIy Oath.
When she returned and made her re-
quest the King was grieved yet, not
being humble man, nor a God-fear-
ing man, but merely proud man
with man-fearing spirit. he felt him-
self bound 10 comply with his OATH
Was he not King? Was it not his
birthday? Had he not freely prom
Used. even though Under the influence
of intoxicating liquor, and should he
now draw back and show the white
feather. ard imply that he had some
confidence in this peculiar Prophet?
No The execution was accomplished;
the head was delivered TO Herodias;
the Kings honor 60 was maintained.
Alas, poor world. How many are it's
snares of pride in the wrong things.
and in fear of the wrong person. How
many are it's attempts to preserve and
increase its pleasures and he; Isl
In previous study we heard Jesus
words. that no greater Prophet than
John had ever arisen. We fully agree
that he was & great man, holy man:
Prophet of the Lord was he. We
fully agree that he will have a great
reward in the future-with all the holy
Prophets, and Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob, he will come forth from the
death-state perfect as man, because
he was found faithful, even unto
death. He will be one of the class
mentioned by the Lord through the
Prophet David-'Instead of Thy ia
Tiers, shall be Thy children, whom
Thou lMessiahi shalt make Princes in
all the earth" psalm xiv, 16) John
will be one of those glorious Princes
on the earthly plane, one of the repre-
sentatives>of Messiah and the Church.
who viii be on the Heavenly and in
visible plane, like unto the angels,
partakers CT the divine nature.
| Those who selected our lesson text
evidently overlooked the fact that
| John the Baptist is not one of the
| Church class referred to in the Lord IS
| words, BE thou faithful unto death.
and j viii give thee a crown Of life
| (Reyelation ii, 100 John will indeed
get life everlasting as glorious. por-
| ton, but he will not be member OF
| the Bride class, as We have shown
This honor belongs to us who have
received Jesus and become His disci-
| pies and been begotten of the Holy
Spirit, since Pentecost. We again
quote st. PauFs words concerning the
Ancient Worthless: "AlI these died in
faith, not having received the things
promised Them that they, without
US. should not be made perfect" Gle
brews XII. IL, 3S-40) We, the Church
the Bride class the Little Flock, called
to be joint-heirs with Jesus in His
Kingdom, must get our share of thu
blessings first. The Bride and the
Bridegroom must be perfected in the
| First Resurrection before the King
dom can be established; and it mus
be established before the blessing car
go to any others-even to the Ancien
Worthless.
Wherein Is the Difference?
If John the Baptist was faithful un
to death, Just as faithful as those viii
be who have lived since Pentecost
4 wherein is the difference, and VIII!
should he receive an earthly reward
and the Bride class receive the heav
enly reward? There are several rea
sons for this. In the matter of justic
God could not properly show any pre-
ference to one person, or to one class
but in matters Of grace, favor, as tn
Scriptures declare, He may do wha
He will with His own. ~
Il II a owed SIS each to and G, n
could not justly give the entire $40 t
80 ne tl,a,,, a nd. ranudiafe the debt 4