The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1912-08-29

death, and j Will give thee ths crown OF
life. Rev. 21O.
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."
Va OF course Herod would hear OF
the rising young cousin OF John who
was creating such a stir throughout
GaliIee. His coarse, sinful. llcentious.
heart cringed at the rebuke OF such q
life OF purity. one that 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
nsts Small wonder he should ex
claim, ct is John whom I beheaded."
and one can hear w fancy the rising
tide OF terror that surged through his
heart as he must have screamed. He
ia 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 Herodf 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 Nv
ing. From verse eighteen OF the les
son we learn further that the bold and
| courageous John had rebuked him OF
| this evil and as result Herod had
cast him into prison. and though he
may have desired, yet he did not as
yet dare TO take his life. Added TO
this is the anger OF n sinful woman.
John q Just Man.
This preclpitated 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 10 comply with all
that Herodias desired! Verse 20 tells
us. because John was n Just man and
an holy" Righteousness Is often
mans surest safeguard. Herod was
not altogether devoid OF conscience as
we have already seen, and this is
further evidence OF that fact. Verse
90 adds that when Herod heard him
he was "perpleNed and heard him
gladly" We believe that Herod was
seeking some sort OF recanting upon
the part OF John. that he was glad
(anxious) 20 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 20
catch the wind OF Hcrod's popular
favor. That this was Johns attitude
and that Il was known 10 Herodias is
evident from tho beginning OF tho
verse 81, "and when a convenient day
was come" Herodias was all too
ready and willing 10 seize her oppor'
tunity.
To evidence her depths OF depravity
and also her anxiety. note that Hero
dias was willing 10 sacrifice the mod
esty OF her own daughter TO gain her
end. The use OF the word herself
v. 20 r. ". is evidence that II was
an unusual thing for this daughter OF
n queen thus 10 exhibit herself.
! Now note the oath OF the liquor and
iust-drunken king. What an appalling
request. What a terrible consequence.
What lengths men will go 10 keep
their word" given thoughtlessly or ut
tered in the heat OF passion. This Is
one u the blacklist pictures OF his
tory. A 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 10 help So
cure the ends OF a murderous mother.
A cody. fearless saint who had great
message from great God. and with
out hating. hesitancy or compromise
continued TO deliver that message TIL
stricken down in the midst OF an orgy
OF passion. Herod's sorrow was not
unto repentance" w. 26) but rather
that OF a guilty conscience.
We need now TO return again 20 the
first verse OF tho lesson and we can
we'll believe II must have been a sad
wall. "He is risen" ". 16). History
tells us Herod lost his kingdom and
that he and Herodias died in exile.
Let us turn from this awful picture
and look at John. How different. Thus
dies he who was the greatest born OF
a woman. Thus died one who dared
10 rebuke evil In high places. One
who would not compromise TO save
his life. and one who was faithful unto
death (see the Golden Text. Can we
hesitate TO believe that John received
his crown7
A suggested outline for this lesson
Is as follows:
l. A TerrorstrIeksn conseIonee.-
v. 14t6.
!. Jesus name spread abroad. v. IL
2. Men sought to explain Jesus. v.
IL.
8. Herod's guilty conscience. v. 10.
H. A Wicked Woman's Hatred. "
1925.
1. The effect OF righteous life.
2. Herod's downward steps.
III. The End Of q Faithful Preach
or. v. 2c-2s.
| H..oat.