Jesus warns against trying to do God’s job to figure out who will be in Heaven . “And behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.” Luke 13:30 KJV. In fact, the parable of the fig trees earlier in the chapter reminds us that our Father does not give up easily on those who are seemingly lost. Luke 13: 6-9. Also, he points out that a tiny mustard seed or a very small amount of leavening can have amazing effects in the kingdom of God. Luke 13 19-21.
One of the most dastardly kings depicted in the Gospels, Herod Antipas is responsible for executing the beloved John the Baptist, perhaps the most well-known hero of Jesus’s ministry. Ironically, it seems that John may have had an effect on the king, whose family had been set on destroying Jesus since the day He was born. The king was forced into killing the prophet because of a promise made in a moment of drunken debauchery. In Mark’s account, we learn that King Herod actually respected John, and “heard him gladly.” Mark 6:20 KJV. After John’s death, the king was “exceeding sorry.” Mark 6:26.
Interestingly, when King Herod heard about Jesus, he had a theory about who this amazingly popular man really was. In typically narcissistic fashion, he thought that John the Baptist had returned from the dead to haunt him. Self centered? Yes. But, it also reveals that he had been affected by the Good News message. He obviously believed that God had the power to bring someone back from the dead. He was actually predicting the resurrection of Jesus.
Remember, none of us can decide who will end up in heaven. But, if scripture records that a totally despicable man like Herod Antipas could become a believer, there is hope for us all.
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