Conscience is a powerful thing. Even evil King Herod in the Bible was stricken with the pangs of conscience when reports about Jesus arose. “This is John the Baptist, risen from the dead!” he exclaimed.
The reason for his conscience will become clear in our Bible reading passage for today. The bottom line – Herod’s hands were stained with the blood of John the Baptist.
What stain of sin is on your hands today? As you read the scripture below, receive the cleansing power of Jesus to wash away your stain and make you whiter than snow.
Matthew 14:1-12
“At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, and he said to his attendants, ‘This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.’
“Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, for John had been saying to him: ‘It is not lawful for you to have her.’ Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered John a prophet.
“On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests 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.”