Message summary: Today, regardless of the price we pay, let us unashamedly stand up for Jesus!

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"On Herod's birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for them and pleased Herod so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. Prompted by her mother, she said, 'Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.' The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted and had John beheaded in the prison. His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. John's disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus" (Matthew 14:6-12).

Ester had her 37th birthday on Monday. We mentioned that yesterday when we went over to the Shady Maple for her free birthday meal.

Celebrations of birthdays are a worldwide experience and why not, after all, our birth is something we all share of significance! There are those likely reading or listening to this message who are celebrating a birthday. So, we hope it's a blessed and happy one!

But the Bible mentions only two birthdays, both concerning worldly leaders. Pharaoh in Genesis 40:20 and Herod in our daily text.

The focus in both texts is not on the pagan's birthday celebration but rather the faithfulness of God's servants: Joseph in Genesis and John the Baptist in our daily text. Today let us consider John the Baptist.

As a child we had a picture of John the Baptist in our hallway. Since I grew up in the Methodist Church I recall in my earlier years reasoning that John must not have been a Methodist but rather a part of the Baptist church in our community!

Of course no single group or denomination regardless of name that can exclusively lay claim to this faithful servant. He had a relatively short life and a gruesome death as recorded in our daily text. Beheading is a particularly violent form of brutality and was the experience of at least two New Testament believers although there were likely others.* Throughout the Scriptures the consequences of sin and the fall are quite evident. We still see these consequences today. Just watch the news.

The daily text records the most prominent beheading in the Bible. It matter-of-factly states that on Herod's birthday he was tricked into beheading John the Baptist. It is surely among the harder passages to read, learn from and present spiritual application for God's people (let alone encourage).

Our first reaction tends to be, "Why would God allow this to happen to a man who served Him so faithfully?" But it did happen and has happened many, many times since. It's still happening today, the most prominent and a more recent example being the ISIS beheading of Christian men in Libya several years ago.

The following thoughts are derived from the fuller context of John's beheading recorded in Matthew 14:1-12 and Mark 6:17-29.

In these passages we find four lessons (at least):

There is an interesting passage toward the end of Revelation concerning faithful witnesses for the Lord. "And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the Word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years" (Revelation 20:4).

Where do you fit in today? Apart from someone just dropping in on our site we don't expect to have many readers that live in rejection of God's Word. However some may be interested or might possibly find our writings compelling, but are still at a crossroads. It's hard to admit, but are you spinelessly waffling, still undecided about where to place your allegiance?

Join us in faithfully proclaiming God's Word, in unashamedly standing up for Jesus. For some of you this will be literally preaching, but for most it will be that steady day by day proclamation through our lives and words to individuals and small groups. There are millions today who, like John the Baptist, faithfully proclaim God's Word. And frankly some will be beheaded or otherwise die due to their stand for the Lord. Today, regardless of the price we pay, let us unashamedly stand up for Jesus!

Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13

Stephen and Brooksyne Weber