Herod And John The Baptist


If some one had told me a few years ago that he thought Herod at one

time came near the kingdom of God, I should have been inclined to

doubt it. I would have said, "I do not believe that the bloodthirsty

wretch who took the life of John the Baptist ever had a serious

thought in his life about his soul's welfare." I held that opinion

because there is one scene recorded in Herod's life that I had

overlooked. But some yea
s ago, when I was going through the gospel

of Mark, making a careful study of the book, I found this verse:



"Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and

observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard

him gladly." (Mark vi, 20).



This caused me to change my views about Herod. I saw that he was not

only brought within the sound of John's voice, but under the power

of the Spirit of God; his heart was touched and his conscience

awakened. We are not told under what circumstances he heard John;

but the narrative plainly states that he was brought under the

influence of the Baptist's wonderful ministry.



Let me first say a word or two about



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