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THE APPLE AND THE TREE. It generally is very true...whether positive or negative. Thoughtful, kind, patient, magnanimous, Jesus-loving parents typically turn out a generation that follows in their footsteps. And that "tree" turns into a godly lineage and legacy. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. On the other hand, parents who tend to be harsh, controlling, abusive, self-centered, foul-mouthed, angry, hateful, controlled by alcohol or drugs...well... too often, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Sadly so. That brings us to Herod the Great (HTG). He was appointed king of Judea in 40 BC by the Roman senate. He was known to be extremely cruel and very suspicious of those around him. This led HTG to kill off the whole Hasmonean royal family that had ruled Judea previous to the Herodian dynasty. He even murdered his own wife (of Hasmonean descent) and their two sons as well as multitudes of Jews who opposed his rule. This is the HTG who "put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under" (Matt. 2:16). Why? Because the wise men showed up asking, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him" (Matt. 2:2). Indeed, HTG was a vile, murderous, godless man. What about his "apple"? Well, his son, Herod Antipas (HA), didn't fall far from his dad's tree. He took his brother's wife, Herodias, as his own. It was then that John the Baptist stood face to face with HA and boldly proclaimed, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife" (Mark 6:18). Yes, HA, to a degree, feared John. Yet during his birthday feast, when Herodias' daughter danced, no doubt sensuously, he promised to give her whatever she asked. She monstrously asked for John's head on a platter. And HA so ordered. Question: How's your tree doing? The good news? Following Jesus WILL impact your apples!
