BIBLE STUDY LESSON 11

SERIES R --- THE GOOD SHEPHERD

COST OF COMMITMENT

A KING’S TROUBLED CONSCIENCE

From Mark 6:14-29

The news of Yeshua spread everywhere, even to King Herod. Some people were saying, [John the Baptist has risen from the dead. That’s why He can do such miracles.] Others said, [No, this is Elijah.] And still others said, [Yeshua is a prophet like the prophets who lived long ago.] But when King Herod heard about Yeshua he said, [This man is John the Baptist! Even though I had him beheaded, he has come back to life again.] Herod had personally ordered the arrest and imprisonment of John the Baptist. When Herod had married Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, John had repeatedly told him, [It is wrong for you to marry your brother’s wife.] Because of this, Herodias hated John and thought of ways to have him killed, but none of them seemed to work. King Herod was afraid of John, for he recognized that John was a godly man, and therefore Herod kept him safe from Herodias’ evil plans. Herod enjoyed listening to John, even though the things that John told him caused him to be disturbed. At last Herodias found the opportune time to put her evil plans to work. Herod gave a big party on his birthday and invited the leading men of Galilee, along with the military officers and government officials. Herodias’ daughter danced for Herod and the other men. Herod was so pleased with her performance that he made a rash promise. [What do you want?] Herod asked. [I give you my word that you may have anything you ask, even half of my kingdom.] Immediately the girl ran to her mother, Herodias. [What should I ask for?] she wondered. [Ask for the head of John the Baptist,] Herodias answered. The girl hurried back to Herod. [Give me the head of John the Baptist on a plate,] she said. [Now!] Herod was sad when he heard this. But he had given his word before his guests and could not refuse. Herod sent a guard immediately to bring the head of John the Baptist. The guard beheaded John in prison and brought his head on a plate and gave it to the girl, who then gave it to Herodias. When John’s disciples heard about this, they took his body and laid it in a tomb.

COMMENTARY

THE OSSUARY

In Bible times, several generations of one family frequently used a single tomb. Instead of burying each individual in a separate grave, the body was sealed in the family tomb immediately after death. After the flesh had decayed and only the skeleton remained, the tomb was reopened. The bones were collected and put in a small box called an ossuary. This box was then set on one of the special shelves carved out of the wall of the tomb. It was placed beside the ossuaries of the other members of the family who had died. This left the main part of the tomb empty for the next time it was needed, and made it possible to bury many people in a small area of land.