In this episode, J. Mark studies Mark 6:14-29, which is the account of John the Baptist’s death. This text highlights the essential qualities that all Lord’s messengers must develop to reflect Christ’s character and to deliver His message effectively.
Transcript
As you know, not all of the Bible is easily understood with stories and simple lessons. There are some sections we read and wonder, Why did God allow this? What made Him include this in the Bible?
Today, our passage from Mark is one of those more complex passages. It prompts the question: why God? As I am sure you know, that is a difficult question, and we won’t answer it directly, but there are some lessons we can learn from the death of John the Baptist. This story is found in Mark 6. Please turn there if you can, and J Mark will guide us through the lesson.
As we resume our journey through Mark’s Gospel, we’ve arrived at the account of John the Baptist’s death. This record is inserted in the narrative following Jesus’ rejection in Nazareth and the sending of the twelve on their mission. The theme of rejection runs throughout these verses. First, Jesus is rejected in Nazareth; then he instructs the Twelve on how to handle rejection in their ministry; and finally, John’s rejection and death.
The disciples’ mission tour of Galilee awakened the whole region to Jesus’ name and powers. This awakening brought Jesus to Herod’s attention and led to his mistaken conclusion that John the Baptist had risen from the dead. This news awakened Herod’s conscience, and the narrative provides a flashback of the events that led to John the Baptist’s death.
I’ve titled our study “The Lord’s Messenger.” Here’s the text, Mark 6:14-29.
14 Now King Herod heard of Him, for His name had become well known. And he said, “John the Baptist is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him.”
15 Others said, “It is Elijah.” And others said, “It is the Prophet, or like one of the prophets.”
16 But when Herod heard, he said, “This is John, whom I beheaded; he has been raised from the dead!”
17 For Herod himself had sent and laid hold of John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife; for he had married her.
18 Because John had said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
19 Therefore, Herodias held it against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not;
20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he protected him. And when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.
21 Then an opportune day came when Herod, on his birthday, gave a feast for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee.
22 And when Herodias’ daughter herself came in and danced, and pleased Herod and those who sat with him, the king said to the girl, “Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you.”
23 He also swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”
24 So she went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist!”
25 Immediately, she came in with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”
26 And the king was exceedingly sorry; yet, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he did not want to refuse her.
27 Immediately, the king sent an executioner and commanded his head to be brought. And he went and beheaded him in prison,
28 brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother.
29 When his disciples heard of it, they came and took away his corpse and laid it in a tomb.
This text highlights the essential qualities that all Lord’s messengers must develop to reflect Christ’s character and to deliver His message effectively.
The First QUALITY of the Lord’s messenger is,
Develop a Godly Reputation
The disciples’ mission tour awakened the whole region to Jesus’ name and power. People were speculating about who He was. Some said he was John the Baptist, others said Elijah, while still others said he was like one of the prophets of old. However, King Herod said, “This is John the Baptist, the man whom I beheaded. He is risen from the dead!”
Herod’s belief was the result of a guilty conscience. He knew he had unjustly murdered an innocent man. Verse 20 says, “Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he protected him. And when he heard him, he did many things and heard him gladly.”
John impressed Herod. He realized that this was no ordinary man; he was “just and holy.” So, “[Herod] “he was greatly perplexed…” This quality of character is one that every genuine messenger of the Lord should strive to develop.
Herod had arrested John and put him in prison for the sake of his adulterous partner, Herodias, the wife of his brother, Philip. She would have immediately killed John, but Herod protected him, at least temporarily, from her murderous designs.
Would people describe you using the terms “just” and “holy”? What impression have your interactions left on others? John the Baptist was a rustic, in the mold of the Old Testament prophets, of whom he was the last. However, according to our text, his reputation for godliness, humility, and justice was unquestioned. As the Lord’s messengers, you and I must also develop a godly reputation. It may elicit appreciation or opposition, as we’ll see shortly.
The Next QUALITY of the Lord’s messenger is,
Deliver a Grating Message
In verse sixteen, we learn why John was imprisoned. Herod entered an adulterous relationship with Herodias while she was still married to his brother. John rebuked Herod and told him, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” It wasn’t a popular message.
As messengers of the Lord, we must be prepared to stand upon the truth of God’s Word. The truth will grate on the ears and consciences of those it convicts, even when spoken in love. Today, even many who profess to follow the Lord don’t want to listen to His Word.
Paul warned Timothy about this very thing. “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth and be turned aside to fables.”
John’s grating message aroused Herod’s fear. Mark describes that fear in verse 20, indicating that Herod was in a continuous state of fear. His fears tormented him. He feared John because he knew he was innocent. He feared Herodias because she was vengeful. He knew what was right, but his passions and feelings overcame his better judgment.
John’s message also grated on Herodias. She “held it against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not” because Herod protected him. So, nursing her grudge, she waited for an opportune time to strike.
As the Lord’s messengers, you and I must be willing to deliver a grating message. We must “speak the truth in love,” as Paul writes in Ephesians chapter four. And yes, we must remember our sinful past, our susceptibility to sin, and our tendencies toward self-righteousness. However, we cannot allow those things to muzzle us and keep us from proclaiming the truth of God and His Word. Today, more than ever, we need to stand boldly and confidently on the Word of God regardless of the cost.
The Final QUALITY of the Lord’s messenger is,
Die a Grievous Death
Some of us may find ourselves in circumstances like John the Baptist’s, where proclaiming the truth will cost us our lives. John was willing to tell the truth and accept the consequences.
Herodias was a conniving woman. She planned to use Herod’s birthday party to spring the trap! After extensive feasting and drinking, Herodias sent her daughter to dance before the king and his guests. Herodias degraded her own daughter, as if she were a common harlot, to carry out her scheme. She would do anything to rid herself of this hated prophet.
The drunken group lounging on the couches was pleased by the sensual dancing of this princess. In his drunkenness, Herod’s inhibitions disappeared, and his judgment deserted him. He rashly promised the princess anything, even as much as half of his kingdom. He had been caught in the net of Herodias. It was a public promise.
The princess, not knowing what to ask for, sought her mother’s counsel. She was probably unprepared for her mother’s horrible reply. Notice how her request, her mother’s request, and the subsequent execution were carried out – in haste. Everything had to be done while the king was still intoxicated.
So, Herod sent an executioner to perform the gruesome task. He soon returned, bringing the head to the princess, who took it to her mother. This miserable man, the slave of his passion for Herodias, now became the slave of his fears. The ghost of John haunts him, and he shudders at the reports of the work of Jesus.
The text closes with John’s disciples, taking his body and giving him a proper burial. As a messenger of the Lord, he was faithful, even unto death.
As children of God by faith in Jesus Christ, you and I are the Lord’s messengers. Confessing Jesus with our mouth is an integral part of our salvation according to Romans 10:9. When you and I realize what we have been saved from and what we have been saved for, how can we not proclaim the truth that has set us free?
Let us strive to develop a godly reputation by God’s grace and the enabling of the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist had that.
Further, we must be willing to deliver a grating message. Refusing to confront sin out of fear of rejection is not love. John cared for Herod’s eternal destiny. John discovered that speaking the truth publicly, especially regarding influential people, can be very dangerous.
Finally, we must be willing to die to defend and proclaim the truth. Many of our brothers and sisters around the world can teach us how to do this with grace and dignity.
May Jesus’ testimony of us be similar to His testimony of John the Baptist when He said, “He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light.”
Thank you, J. Mark, for sharing this lesson with us. You’ve given us good things to think about. This is a complicated story. Why would God allow this Godly man to die because of such a horrible, shallow request? John had faithfully prepared the way for Jesus and spoke God’s truth to Herod, but God did not spare Him from a martyr’s death. This question and similar ones may not be entirely answered until we are with Jesus. Until then, we can walk in faith, trusting that He is working in every situation, even when it does not make sense to us.
If you have any questions about today’s lesson or if you would like to contact us, please let us know. You can contact us by email or online. Our email address is hope@heraldsofhope.org, and our website is heraldsofhope.org. There, go to the “partner” tab at the top. Under this tab, you will see “contact us”; from there, you can message us directly. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
Thanks so much for being with us for today’s program. There is a compelling passage that addresses the big, hard questions we have for God. He says, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” Even when God doesn’t make sense and when we don’t understand, we can trust Him.
