"And King Herod heard of it, for His name had become well known; and people were saying, "John the Baptist has risen from the dead, and that is why these miraculous powers are at work in Him." But others were saying, "He is Elijah." And others were saying, "He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old." But when Herod heard of it, he kept saying, "John, whom I beheaded, has risen!"
Good Morning my beloved,
We welcome you to worship in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is my honor and privilege to have you here with us today. I want you to know how grateful I am for each and every of you. Please continue to pray for this ministry as we continue to work to introduce the Gospel and Jesus Christ to a number of Middle-Eastern and Asian countries. We praise God for those who have come to faith in Jesus Christ.
There are many today who want to downplay human depravity, in fact, most attempt to deny it altogether, claiming that people are basically good and have an inherent desire to do what is right. Yet, in the last several years we have seen wickedness and corruption dramatically increase, effecting every aspect of our lives, from the streets of every major city, to our public school systems where children are being indoctrinated to a level that can only be referred to as insanity, as morally bankrupt billionaires and the medical industry bankroll transgender ideology to destroy the family while corrupt politicians systematically work to destroy our economy as interests rates, food and gas prices continue to climb to their highest levels in decades leaving many Americans struggling to provide the basic needs for their families.
And, I dare say our churches aren't doing much better. As pastors have remained silent, afraid to speak out against the damning lies, fearing they might offend someone or be ridiculed for standing up for Christ, have chosen to embrace the fallen worlds abominable standards by blurring the clear biblical lines of gender, marriage and sexual immorality all in the name of love and tolerance. While the future looks bleak and everything around us feels out of control, it's important to remember God is in complete control, directing every detail through the free will of the human race under sin’s corrupting influence. This is only a preview consistent with the Word of God, of what is to come when the restraint of the Holy Spirit is removed. 2 Thessalonians 2:7, "For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way." I know it tends to be a very unpopular view in contemporary Christianity today, but I believe in keeping with the teaching of Christ, every invitation to salvation must include the demand for repentance. In Luke 5:31-32, Jesus said "It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance." And in verse 12 in our last message, Jesus instructed the twelve to go out and preach that men should repent.
Tragically, there is a massive amount of undiscerning people in the church who think they’re saved but they’re not because they have accepted the damning lies of false teaching, desperate to hold onto their sin. Rejecting the boundaries of God's revealed moral laws concerning sexual immorality, neglecting to come to true salvation. Scripture makes it clear that salvation is granted only to those who repent, acknowledge Jesus as Lord and are willing to submit their life to Him. The invitation to salvation is command to repent, followed by a call to obedience, call to submission. In John 8:31, Jesus said "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine." Jesus made clear commands which include orders to love God above all else, submit to God’s authority and fully surrender to Him. Therefore, the call to discipleship is more than someone who believes in God, for even Satan and demons believe in God, but they are not disciples of Jesus, they are the enemies of God. The idea that we can sin all we want and still be saved is the heretical theology of Antinomianism which Jesus and His disciples fought against, which undermines the importance of Jesus teachings of godly conduct in Matthew 5:27-28, "You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart."
Paul said in Romans 6, "What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?" In other words, a Christian must never engage of the unbiblical practice of using God’s grace as a license to sin. When we live our lives in contrast with the teaching of Scripture, we display our own inferior qualities, rather than the transformed lives God calls us to live.
Let us pray
Heavenly Father,
The is a riveting story of the apex of human depravity, the execution of John the Baptist, the forerunner to the Messiah and the last of the Old Testament prophets. The people of Israel were the most privileged people who ever lived, they not only turned their backs on God but started killing the prophets that God sent bringing them divine revelation. This was the history of Israel throughout the Old Testament which they continue to follow throughout the New Testament, well aware that their ancestors heinous murderous history, ultimately committing the rebellion against God, the worst tragedy of all tragedies ever imaginable, killing the Lord Jesus Christ.
By this time in Marks Gospel, John the Baptist had been arrested and put into prison for over a year by Herod for standing on the palace steps, and outright condemning the unlawful marriage of Herod and his wife Herodias, who despised John for his very public rebuke. It is interesting that the very people who often have it out for God's preachers are most often those whose lives have been touched by his preaching. Rather than repenting of their wrong they have committed, they resist with a deep resentment in their heart and seek to avenge themselves against God’s man.
Jesus indicted the Jewish religious leaders who were plotting to kill Him, because they rejected both the Word of God and the messengers of God saying "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, and say, ‘If we had been living in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’So you testify against yourselves, that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of the guilt of your fathers. You serpents, you brood of vipers, how will you escape the sentence of hell?" And, that is exactly what they did when they cried for His blood, shouting, "Crucify Him, crucify Him!" They rejected Jesus, and they also rejected John the Baptist who was the prophet who pointed to Jesus, announcing He was "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." If they had received John the Baptist, they would also received his message about Jesus. And, they would have received Jesus. Yet, we know they rejected them both and eventually they both were murdered, though they did not murder them with their own hands, they did stand by while their murders occurred.
By now, all the preaching, all the healing, all the casting out unclean spirits that Jesus had been doing up to this point by Himself, is now being multiplied by the disciples, so miracles were literally happening everywhere. They made sure that everyone knew this power was not their own but delegated by Christ, the word of it cannot escape getting back to Herod, who had a love/hate relationship with John the Baptist who would preach to him from time to time. But as a compromise to his wife’s demands, He had John beheaded. Herod has a superstitious fear of John and now suspects that Jesus is actually John the Baptist who has risen from the dead and he doesn't like it at all.
Open your Bible to the sixth chapter in the Gospel of Mark verses 14-29. Mark 6:14-29. So, let's open our hearts and our minds to see what the Spirit of God has to say, it is my prayer that the Lord would help us to hear and apply what He's saying to each of us. I invite you to follow along with me as I read to set the text in our minds.
"And King Herod heard of it, for His name had become well known; and people were saying, "John the Baptist has risen from the dead, and that is why these miraculous powers are at work in Him." But others were saying, "He is Elijah." And others were saying, "He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old." But when Herod heard of it, he kept saying, "John, whom I beheaded, has risen!"
Let's look at verse 14, "And King Herod heard of it, for His name had become well known; and people were saying, "John the Baptist has risen from the dead, and that is why these miraculous powers are at work in Him." In chapter 9, Luke adds "he was greatly perplexed because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead." As you can imagine, Herod is very concerned, his greatest fear has manifested itself, John had risen from the dead. Up until now Herod was not particularly aware of the ministry of Jesus, perhaps it's because He never went there. But, Herod knew John well, he saw him face-to-face for over a year while he was incarcerated in prison, that’s why he wanted to see Jesus for himself.
He was a wicked and shameless man, who indulged every evil desire one could imagine, like his father before him, Herod the Great who tried to stop the coming Messiah by ordering all the male babies to be slaughtered. There's little doubt that all of the Herods were paranoid about their power. So, Herod is frightened because John had been fearless in his denunciation about his illegitimate marriage to his brother Phillip's wife, and she was the daughter of another brother. This is one messed up family that is deeply entrenched in sin! If John has indeed risen from the dead, then Herod is convinced he is in serious trouble. Herod was paralyzed by fear, so if I had to guess, I'd say Herod never got another peaceful nights sleep, because Jesus never let him have that opportunity to see Him until the very end of His life.
Verse 15, "But others were saying, "He is Elijah." And others were saying, "He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old." According to the book of Malachi, the prophet said that Elijah was to come before the great and terrible day of the Lord.
Verse 16, "But when Herod heard of it, he kept saying, "John, whom I beheaded, has risen!" In the Greek it's emphatic. Fear and pride are a dangerous combination. That's where his fear is coming from, if John the Baptist has risen, he must be coming after him. I’m certain John didn't just condemn Herod's incestuous marriage, I imagine he really piled it on, quoting every biblical reason why it was wrong, reminding him of the consequences of this kind of behavior and called down the judgment of God on his head.
Verse 17, "For Herod himself had sent and had John arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, because he had married her." John had been baptizing Jews in the Jordan River, calling them to repentance when Herod sent for him and had him arrested. The point of Mark saying "Herod himself" was that is was not ordered by Rome but an attempt to satisfy Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, who wanted to silence the voice of the messenger of God because she despised the way in which John dragged her name into the public arena under God’s condemnation. Which she eventually accomplished by having her daughter Salome request his head to be brought to her on a platter as proof the command had been carried out. Notice, Herodias is not called Herod's wife but called the wife of his brother Philip, though they were technically married because God doesn't recognize any marriage that is evil in nature, no matter what the laws of man allow.
According to the 4th Century Bible scholar, Jerome, Herodias then spat
on the head and stuck a pin through the tongue. If that is true, she may have been mimicking the
event when the head of Cicero was brought to Fulvia, the wife of
Antony, she
spat on it, she pulled its tongue out and drove her hairpin through it. But, to my knowledge, it's
never been verified whether or not Herodias did in fact do that. We do know that John was not bashful in telling Herod, verse 18, "‘It’s not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.'" In fact, he kept saying everywhere he would preach. And she hated him for it.
Verses 19-20, tells us "Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death and could not do so; for Herod was afraid of John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. And when he heard him, he was very perplexed; but he used to enjoy listening to him."
Herod the Great, the father of Herod Antipas, built a fortress near the northeastern shore of the Dead Sea, on the edge of the Jordan Valley, all the way down in the southern tip of Perea, in the gorge of Callirhoe, called Machaerus, which was protected on three sides by deep ravines, which afforded seclusion and safety, especially in times of political unrest. According to Josephus, it beautiful and breathtaking fortress. By the way, Machaerus means "black fortress." Luke 7, tells us John's followers were allowed to visit him and talk to him there. Herod knew that Herodias wanted John dead, he knew John was a righteous and holy man, prison was a way to keep him safe. I imagine John even told the prison guards how wrong their illegitimate marriage was. Interestingly enough, Herod enjoyed listening to him, I think it was more of a curiosity than anything else. The fact he was perplexed tells us he didn't understand John's message. John was a great preacher, again, it's never the messenger or the message, but the condition of the hearers heart.
Verse 21, "A strategic day came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his lords and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee." It's Herod’s birthday and the Romans made a big deal out of birthday celebrations. So Herod throws himself a huge party, which some have said more wicked than any. It’s very important to understand that these celebrations were an excuse for every lewd and debaucherous act imaginable. Of course, this became an opportunity for him to invite his lords and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. These would be the socially elite over which he had jurisdiction, including Jews who thought they could benefit by having some sort of an alliance with him. By attending this event, the Jews became guilty by complicity in the execution of John the Baptist. It's been said that Herod's birthday parties were synonymous with unrestrained wicked, excessive drunkenness, and wretched celebration. By the way, this was an all male event, shameful immorality at it's highest level. It was customary at such banquets to have some young woman dance naked for sexual allurement, usually professional prostitutes, who were willing to exchange their souls for hard cash.
Verse 22, "And when the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests; and the king said to the girl, "Ask me for whatever you want and I will give it to you." Keep in mind, Herod is the step father of Herodias daughter by his brother, this is also his niece. What kind of a mother would let her daughter dance like this in front of a bunch of inebriated men, much less her step father? Obviously, Herod had no desire to protect her because he's drunk and aroused, "she pleased Herod and his dinner guests" with her suggestive lewd dancing. To elaborate any further would be sinful, but I'm sure you get the picture. It's interesting that he said "Ask me for whatever you want and I will give it to you," because everything he had was held by Rome, therefore, he didn’t have anything to give. He’s merely feeling his perverted lust mixed with his foolish pride of power, that's what led him to foolishly make such a promise.
Verse 23, "And he swore to her, "Whatever you ask of me, I will give it to you; up to half of my kingdom." This is over-the-top foolishness, he doesn't have a kingdom, or territory to give yet he makes an oath, and binds himself to it.
Verse 24, "And she went out and said to her mother, "What shall I ask for?" And she said, "The head of John the Baptist." This is the moment Herodias had been waiting for and she used her daughter as a pawn in order to get it. Her mother could have suggested some kind of position of power, or expensive jewelry but all she vindictively wanted was the head of the prophet who had publicly maligned her. That goes to show what kind of cruel, egotistical people are we dealing with. John's head was worth sacrificing her daughter’s honor for who was probably about 15 or 16 years old, and her daughter, must have been afraid of her, because she goes right along with her plan.
Verse 25, "Immediately
she came in a hurry to the king and asked, saying, "I want you to give
me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter." Apparently, the whole family was afraid of her because Herod didn't stand up to her and say "Hey look, I know I said anything, but this is going a bit too far! I'm sorry, I can't do that." Instead, he was unwilling to refuse her because of his foolish pride, he swore an oath in front of his dinner guests to give her anything she wanted.
Verse 26, "And although the king was very sorry, yet because of his oaths and because of his dinner guests, he was unwilling to refuse her. It's shocking what some people are willing to sacrifice for entertainment, even a human life means nothing to them. Tragically, it's not much different today.
Verses 27-28, "Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded him to bring back his head. And he went and had him beheaded in the prison, and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother." John the Baptist, the last of the Old Testament prophets, the voice crying in the wilderness "‘Make ready the way of the Lord, Make His paths straight!’", t he one of whom Jesus said "Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist!" John is now dead, his ministry has come to a screeching halt and the Jews who were present said nothing in protest, silently complicit to his execution. Satan's tactics haven't changed in over two thousand, you'd think we would be wise to them by now. Even today, he is still scheming to silence the Truth, and bring confusion to the clarity of God's Word, isn't he?
I believe those of us who proclaim the Gospel must understand the importance of standing up for what is right against those who are wrong, in a world marked by confusion, where standing up for Christ is becoming less and less popular. We must not allow ourselves to become intimidated by evil, we must speak the Truth in love with compassion, even if it costs us our lives. Remembering what Hebrews 10:38 says, "But My righteous one shall live by faith; And if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him."
That brings us to verse 29, "When his disciples heard about this, they came and took away his body and laid it in a tomb." In his parallel account Matthew adds "And they went and reported to Jesus." They knew that Jesus needed to know the Truth, even as painful as it must have been to hear it, they knew they had to tell Him. Sometimes speaking the Truth involves delivering difficult messages that are painful to hear to those we love and care about. Matthew tells us "Now when Jesus heard about John, He withdrew from there in a boat to a secluded place by Himself." The news of the execution of John was crushing, as well as a very painful reminder of what is soon going to happen to Him. John death and the cross He would soon face calls for silence and solitude to contemplate.
Is is any wonder why Jesus wept as He said "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not have it! Behold, your house is being left to you desolate!"
I'm sure Herod must've been pleased when he finally got to see Jesus face to face, now he knew for certain John the Baptist, had not come back from the dead to get him. John is in his eternal home, while their souls are tormented. I imagine John heard the words "Well done My good and faithful servant," for his uncompromising service to the God whom he dearly loved and faithfully served. We all are given a choice, we can either stand with John the Baptist who gave his life serving the Lord, or we can stand with the God hating, Christ rejecters, but we cannot stand with both.
May it be so..
And now may the Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
Now and forever, in Jesus' name
Amen
Copyright © 2019-2023 All Rights Reserved