Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus and thought he was John the Baptist raised from the dead. Herod bound John and put him in prison for He-ro'di-as? sake. He-ro'di-as? was his brother's wife. John told Herod it was not lawful for him to have his brother's wife. Herod feared to put John to death for his saying because the multitude said he was a prophet.

At Herod's birthday celebration, the daughter of He-ro'di-as danced before him and pleased Herod. Herod then promised her with an oath to give whatever she asked. Her mother instructed before she danced for Herod to ask for John the Baptist's head in a charger. The wickedness of sexuality being used in an evil manner can only bring about more evil.

Even though the King was sorry, he commanded it be given to her because of the oath's sake, and those that sat with him at mealtime. King Herod sent the order for John the Baptist to be beheaded in prison. John the Baptist's head was brought in a charger and given to the damsel that danced before King Herod and gave him pleasure. The damsel took the head to her mother. The disciples came and took the rest of John the Baptist's body and buried him. The disciples told Jesus what had happened to John the Baptist.

When Jesus heard the news he left in a ship into a desert. When the people heard the news they followed Jesus on foot out of the cities. Jesus saw the great multitude and was filled with compassion toward them. He healed their sick.

When evening came the disciples wanted Jesus to send the multitude away to the villages so they could buy themselves victuals. The disciples feared there would not be enough food to feed everyone. Jesus declined and said they did not have to leave, feed them. The disciples then told Jesus they only had five loaves and two fishes.

Jesus commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass. He took the five loaves and the two fishes and looked up into heaven in prayer to God the father in heaven. Jesus was able to feed the disciples and the entire multitude with only five loaves and two fishes. They all ate and were filled. There was some leftover, which were twelve baskets full. About five thousand men, beside women and children ate this day. I believe this to mean for the rest of us to know that although at times we may have little food in our refrigerator and cabinets, but if we will look toward the heavens and trust in God the Father in heaven, we also will have plenty to eat.

Jesus told his disciples to get into a ship and go before him into the other side while he sent the multitudes away. Jesus went up into a mountain apart from the disciples to pray after the multitudes left. He was there until evening alone.

Jesus became aware of the ship where he sent his disciples in the midst of the sea were being tossed with waves from the contrary winds. During the night Jesus walked on the waters of the sea to get to them on the ship.

His disciples saw Jesus walking on the water and were troubled. They said, it is a spirit, and they cried with great fear. As soon as Jesus knew of their troubled hearts he said, ?Be of good cheer, it is I; be not afraid.

Peter asked the Lord if it was truly him walking on the water, then bid him to come to him on the water as well. Jesus said, ?Come, Peter.? Peter come down out of the ship and walked on the water toward Jesus. When Peter noticed the boisterous wind around him he was afraid and began to sink, then cried, Lord please save me. Immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand and caught Peter. Jesus asked Peter if he had little faith and why did he doubt?

As long as Peter kept his mind and his eyes upon Jesus he was able to walk on the water just as Jesus, but as soon as he realized what he was actually doing, and noticed how fierce the winds were around him, he lost faith, took his eyes off Jesus, and began to sink.

For us today, the bible story of Jesus and Peter walking on water reveals to us how we must always keep our eyes upon Jesus to stay above the troubling waves, problems and cares of our lives. When we stop looking toward Jesus, when we stop trusting in him is when we can get into greater trouble than ever.

However, our trust in Jesus does not keep us from the hour of death as with John the Baptist. Death is an appointment we all must keep and cannot escape from regardless of the God we trust or serve.

As I read these passages and in times before now, the Holy Ghost has taught me some differences in the death of saints and the death of sinners. God takes great pleasure in the calling of his saints to rest from all their labor. I believe John the Baptist was in this group.

The devil does not have power over the death of a saint. He has power over the death of sinners and can cut their life short. As with Job, however, God told the devil, you can torment him, try him, tempt him, but you cannot take his life.

I believe this means to all people after these, the devil has no power to take the life of a saint of God. Any saint of God can die in prison at the hand of anyone that God allows it to be, but only at the appointed time for that particular saint, and he or she is actually being called to a rest from spiritual labor in which God takes pleasure in.

However, if a man or woman dies without repentance or as a sinner, that death is brought about by the devil. They will lay sleeping until the Day of Judgment for all mankind. Furthermore, the true elect of God will only sleep for a short while, and then rise at the sound of the first trumpet, while the others lay sleeping. When that first trumpet sounds, all the dead in Christ will rise first to meet him in the air and will help to judge the rest of the world.

John the Baptist will be in that group and all those after him who have been chosen, called and who have answered as God's elect. You might say, ?Who told you this?? I can answer, ?The Holy Ghost told me.? The Holy Ghost will lead and guide you into all the truth and will show you things to come.

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? 2007 Connie Limon. All Rights Reserved