Are we Free?

“When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed, yet he liked to listen to him.” Mark 6:20

It is written that King Herod liked to listened to John the Baptist, although he was greatly puzzled about what John said. What a greatly troubled man! He had John beheaded on the whim of a young girl whose dancing pleased him at a party! After she performed, King Herod promised, “Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you.” He swore, “I will grant you whatever you ask of me, even to half of my kingdom.” And the foolish girl, after following the advice of her even more foolish mother, asked for the head of John the Baptist! 

King Herod was deeply distressed at her request, but because of his oaths and all the guests at his party who heard it, he had John beheaded right there and then. The severed head of the prophet was put on a plate and presented to the daughter of Herodias. All this because John told the truth that it was unlawful, sinful, for Herod to have his brother’s wife, Herodias. 

We can see in this story that this so-called King is no King at all. He is a slave to his passions. He is captive to his many sins. He cannot even control his tongue, much less his desires of the flesh. John on the other hand, was imprisoned but he had the freedom to obey God, and say what had to be said. He had no fear for his life at all. John knew he was under no obligation to cater to the whims of the worldly rule of the king. John knew he was under only one authority, the King of kings and the Lord of lords. 

How about us, are we free or are we a slave like Herod?