Luke 3:20 But Herod, the ruler, stung by John’s rebuke in the matter of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, capped his long string of evil deeds with this outrage: He put John in jail. (The Message Bible)
Remember last week we saw Herod with the Magi? Well about thirty years has passed and this is that Herod’s son, also named Herod. He was the ruler in the northern part of the land, the part known as Galilee. Phillip was his brother, another son of Herod the Great, and he was the ruler in the eastern part of the land. Phillip was married to a woman named Herodias (you can google her for more information). She divorced Phillip and married his brother, the aforementioned Herod. This was not kosher according to the Jewish law of that time and John the Baptist, in his often-fiery style, said so. On several occasions, I suppose. The result was that Herod had John arrested. You may have heard the rest of the story. If not, you can find it in Mark 6:14-29. In short, it cost John the Baptist his life to speak up. Next week we remember Martin Luther King Jr. His words also cost him his life. To speak the truth when it is unpopular can be costly. Do you have a truth God would have you speak despite the cost?
Logan Memorial Presbyterian Church 