Month: February 2026

Reflection on Mark 16:14-29

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Scripture

When Herod heard about Jesus, he said “John, the man I beheaded has come back to life.”

Observation

Herod hears about all the things Jesus is doing and starts to believe He is John the Baptist raised from the dead.

Herod had married his brother’s wife, but John had denounced this. Herodias. the wife was resentful of John and had had him put into prison.

On Herod’s birthday, Herodias’s daughter dances for the invited guests attending a party. Herod is greatly pleased by the dance and it’s effect on his guests. He rashly promises to give her whatever she asks for. At her mother’s prompting, she demands John’s head brought to her on a platter.

So John is beheaded, and the head is presented to the girl who gives it to her mother.

John’s disciples, come and retrieve his body for burial.

Application

Rash promises can be fatal and only people with poor character will make them.

Herod admired John, but the manipulation of the women in his life led to Herod being coerced into killing him.

Herod’s party and the dance of his stepdaughter were an attempt to show that he wasn’t one of those regressive Jews. No, he was a man of the world, a devotee of the Greco- Roman culture.

As Christians, we must not imbibe too deeply of the spirit of the world. Culture is a human construct and therefore is limited and sinful.

The Bible has a critique of every culture because the kingdom of God alone is perfect and holy.

Therefore, we must always allow God’s word to speak to us and to correct us in our ways, especially when we think that we are doing well according to the ways of the world.

Listen

Lord, what do you want to say to me about the clash of kingdoms – your kingdom and the kingdom of the world?

Keith, worldly people and worldly customs will always try to trip you up in your walk with me.

You need to walk with me in the world in which you live. There is sin and rebellion all around you, but you don’t need to indulge in the sin.

Culture is so pervasive and so persuasive. Many things you take for granted without asking if they are sinful. You are not held to account until I tell you to repent of these things.

Reflection on Mark 6:7-13

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Scripture

So the disciples went out, telling everyone they met to repent of their sins and turn to God.

Observation.

Jesus goes from village to village teaching the people. He calls the Twelve together and sends them out in twos, giving them authority over evil spirits. They are to take nothing with them, not even spare clothes.

Jesus gives them a strategy. In any town they are to stay in the one house for the length of their time there. If nobody welcomes them, they are to shake the dust from their feet as they leave.

The disciples go out telling everyone to repent of their sins and turn to God.

They cast out many demons and heal many sick people through anointing with oil.

Application

The gospel is very simple. God is the king, and we must turn away from our sins and enthrone him in our lives.

There is no mention in this passage of the results of their preaching. Many people are healed and released from demons. It doesn’t say how many believed in Jesus.

In modern times, we’ve made evangelism difficult. We teach techniques and presentations, but there is nothing of that back then. To many people, the courses make evangelism harder, not easier and undermine the confidence of ordinary disciples.

Many years ago, I came across the phrase “gossiping the gospel.” The idea is that in the early church, the believers would just talk about their faith in the normal course of their daily lives.

Most of us can manage that in some way or another We can say “In church on Sunday, we talked about…” or “I find that my problems are easier when I pray about them. Can I pray for you?”

If we don’t fret about getting people saved, but rather just getting the word out there to people, the pressure is a lot less, and the results are much better.

Listen

Lord. why is there an emphasis here about authority to cast out demons?

Keith, your culture has medicalised problems to a large extent. People are no longer tormented by demons. They suffer mental health issues. At least that is the popular explanation.

The fact is that you are in the middle of a battlefield and satan is holding many people captive. The entry points are things that were once considered sinful, but are now considered desirable, particularly things like drugs and sexual promiscuity.

People do not need antidepressants and other drugs. They need to be set free from the demons and to repent of their sins.

I have given all of my people authority to cast out demons and to preach the gospel of repentance.