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I love the gospels. Each is unique, though all largely chronicle the same events. Maybe that is why we were given four separate accounts, springing from different lenses, histories, and perspectives.

Mark writes of Jesus’ growing fame as He journeyed from village to village, healing the sick and sharing His good news. King Herod began to hear stories of the miracle worker. Some called Him a prophet, others believed him to be John the Baptist, resurrected. Mark reminds us that it was King Herod who imprisoned John when he reprimanded him for marrying Herodias, his brother’s wife. Mark says that it was because of her that the King imprisoned him. The NIV translates it:

So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to, because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him. [6:19,20]

You know the rest of this story: the King gave a birthday banquet that included his chief officials and commanders. Eager to demonstrate his largess, he promised to give his dancing stepdaughter whatever she asked of him, up to half of the kingdom. At the suggestion of her mother, the girl requested the head of John the Baptist and immediately the executioner was sent to carry it out.

All

because

Herodias

nursed

a grudge.

Have you ever done that? Have you held on to hurts and offenses, waiting to see recompense? Grudges may come and go. Trespasses may be held or released, remembered or forgotten. But Mark says that Herodias nursed her grudge. She fed it, she held onto it. Everyday she chose to embrace it.

The Bible is filled with stories of those who ‘nursed grudges’ and the end was always bitter. No doubt they were all spurred on by the same serpent who slithered up to Eve and asked, ‘Did God really say ….?’

Cain begrudged Abel because God was more pleased with his sacrifice. Esau held a grudge against Jacob because he used deception to steal their father’s blessing. Joseph’s brothers held a grudge because he was favored. Haman plotted the death of Mordecai because he was a Jew and because he refused to worship his pagan god. And on and on it goes.

Why? Psychologists suggest that we hold onto grudges because we want to make sure an offender doesn’t ‘get away with it’ or because we perceive it as a shield from future hurt. They warn that holding grudges increases stress, anxiety, depression, and that the practice can derail all of our other relationships.

Jesus knew how deadly grudges could be and how desperately we needed to practice forgiveness. When His disciples asked, ‘Lord, teach us to pray’, He suggested five sentences, the third and middle one being, Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. Perhaps this is step one in shedding grudges.

So, what is the end of the matter, G.K. Chesterton might inquire? We have to look no further than the book of Romans, when Paul warned them and us, as well:

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. . . . for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.

Finally, Jesus offered the bellwether for grudges. “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. [Matt 6: 14,15 niv]

“Lord, when looking at faults, let us begin with our own.”