Sometimes bad things happen to good people. Most of the time it’s not their fault. But it still happens.
Many Christians try to live a good life but even their good works do not immune them from trouble. Sometimes it seems their good works get them in more trouble.
I found in the story of John the Baptist’s death, a few principles that may help you cope the next time you find yourself in trouble.
Courageous People Get in Trouble. John was a Courageous Man.
For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife: for he had married her. For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wife. (Mark 6:17-18)
John denounced Herod Antipas’ marriage. He divorced his wife to marry his brother’s wife, Herodias. This was against Jewish law (Lev. 18:16; 20:21). It was forbidden to marry your brother’s sister while he is still living. It got him arrested and eventually killed. Good people get in trouble because they are courageous enough to confront evil and stand up for truth.
Phil Robertson, the patriarch of Duck Dynasty, is an example of this. He made some remarks about homosexuality in GQ magazine – calling homosexuality a sin. A & E denounced him and threatened to suspend him from the show. The family banded together and said if he goes, we all go. A & E continued the show.
God wants us to obey faithfully no matter what the outcome. John’s death shows the price a disciple may have to pay. He met his death because of his faithfulness. To be a follower of Jesus means following Jesus all the way to the cross.
Angry People Get Good People in Trouble. Herodias was an Angry Woman.
Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not: (Mark 6:19)
Herodias didn’t like John telling her how to live her life and held a grudge against him. Herodias could not have John killed. She had the desire but not the power. So she bided her time until the right time – a birthday party for Herod. She and her daughter, Salome, laid a trap for Herod that ended in John’s death.
Anger can be very destructive. There was a little boy with a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, to hammer a nail in the back fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Then it gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence. Finally the day came when the boy didn’t lose his temper at all. His father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days passed and the boy was finally able to tell his father all the nails were gone. The father led him to the fence. “You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like these holes in the fence.
The trouble with Herodias was that she was angry at the one man who had the courage to confront her with her sin. She murdered John that she might sin in peace. She forgot that while she need no longer meet John, she still had to meet God.
Fearful People stay in Trouble. Herod was a Fearful Man.
For 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 6:20)
Herod was afraid of John, his wife, and those attending his birthday party. He felt pressure from multiple sides, so tried to stay in the middle. Through the trickery of his wife, and the pride in his heart, he made a promise to give Salome anything she wanted. When she requested John’s head, he felt forced to follow through.
Even years later we see his regret. When everyone wondered who Jesus was, Herod fearfully felt it was John come back from the dead. He admitted his guilt (v. 17) and his guilt continued for many years. It doesn’t appear that Herod wanted to kill John the Baptist. He was ‘exceeding sorry” (v. 26). But he gave the order because he feared what his guests would think.
Some think they are good Christians because they listen to the truth. but Herod is an example of someone who listened, but did nothing in response. As time passes while we limp in indecision, the more likely it is that we will do things we really do not want to do. Some spend their entire lives basing their decisions on what other people think. Make your decision now to follow Christ.
Herod felt pressure. Once he was killed, the pressure should have been off. He pleased his wife and got rid of the preacher. But he continued to feel another pressure, far more intense than any human pressure – the pressure of guilt. Don’t be like John. Turn to Jesus.
Here’s another article I wrote from a sermon about the same subject: Why bad things happen to good people. Try this one: What not to do when bad things happen.
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