Scripture: Mark 6:14-29
Theme: John the Baptist
This sermon focus on the life of John the Baptist. John was a man who was renowned for 1. His Humility 2. His Life of Repentance 3. His Integrity and Commitment His life shines as a sign post for all us to follow!
INTRO:
Grace and peace from God our Father and from Our Lord and Savior King Jesus who came to take away the sin(s) of the world!
A couple of weeks ago we looked at a story that revealed to us the genius of Mark's ability to work alongside the Holy Spirit in writing the Gospel according to Mark. You may remember, it was the story of the woman with the issue of blood. What an amazing story of determination on both the woman's part and Jesus' part. You may remember that our King Jesus was not willing to let her go without receiving a "whole healing" - A SOZO healing (Body, Mind and Soul).
This week, we discover how much of a realist Mark was in writing His Gospel Story. Mark doesn't provide for us this pleasant story that is always filled with rosy pictures, multicolored butterflies that are leading all of us down a yellow brick pathway. Mark lets us know that Jesus had to face some very trying and difficult days. Days that we find him and his disciples completely exhausted (dog tired). Days that we find them hungry, alone with only a rock to use as a pillow and the hard ground to use as a bed. Days that we find them having to deal with all the trials and tribulations that come with confronting sin and rebellion in people's lives.
Up to this point Mark has been sharing with us at nearly break neck speed the incredible and amazing story of Jesus - His Preaching, His Teaching, His Supernatural Power to Heal and set people free from Spiritual Bondage. Even in the midst of rejection and small setbacks it seems as if the business of being a disciple of Jesus is relatively a piece of cake. Story after story of increasing fame, miracles and wonders beyond comprehension come quickly in succession.
Then we hit our passage this morning and suddenly the brakes are slammed on. Everything comes to screeching halt. We are thrust into a story that reminds us our world can be a very dangerous place especially if you want to stand up for God and righteousness. In fact, you might find yourself on the short end of the stick so to speak. You might even find yourself in mortal danger because you are proclaiming and standing up for the Kingdom of God. You might lose your job, your friends, your family and even your life all because the person in charge has a cowardly streak who is being manipulated by someone who is determined at all cost to seek and get revenge against you.
That is what we find out in the story concerning the demise of John the Baptist. Rather than being killed in some type of open confrontation what we read is that John was murdered through shrewd manipulation and cowardice. His untimely death came about because those who were in charge were apt to shout out foolish oaths, bow down to peer pressure and allow a spite filled, malice filled individual have their way.
This morning we could spend some time looking at King Herod Antipas, Herodias and/or her daughter. We could look at their lives and the cesspool of immorality, greed and pride that surrounded them. We could look at how these three people were responsible for taking the life of the first true prophet that the People of God had experienced in 400 years.
But to do so, I think, would dishonor the life of the amazing man that they callously murdered. And with that in mind I would like for us to take some time this morning and celebrate and learn from the life of the man John the Baptist. I believe that is what Mark would like for us to focus on and I believe that is why the Holy Spirit directed Mark to include this story in His Gospel.
Now, to get us going in the right direction there are a few things most of might already know about John the Baptist. We know for example:
+John's birth was marked by an angelic proclamation and divine intervention - Saint Luke shares this story in the first chapter of his Gospel.
+John's parents were Zacharias and Elizabeth - both of whom were descendents of Levi and therefore would have been involved in working around the Temple
+John was Jesus' second cousin from his mother's side Mary
+John was born about six months before the birth of Jesus
+Even though John was the son of a priest, he felt the LORD calling him to the office of being a Prophet. We don't know exactly when John left the priesthood but at some point the LORD led John to trade in the grand hallways of the Temple for the rocks, stones and wilderness of the desert.
+John was famous for his unusual diet - The Bible tells us that two of the things that he ate quite a bit were locust and wild honey. While that may not be a diet that very many of us would like to have on a regular basis, it was one that John enjoyed.
+We also know that his clothing (attire) was a little unusual as well. The Bible tells us that John wore an outer coat manufactured from camel hair. Owning such a coat would have been quite expensive and rare but it would have immediately reminded everyone that John was no longer a priest, nor a scribe but a rugged prophet called by the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY.
+Perhaps the things that John was most famous for was his strong and direct message of Repentance, the Coming of the Messiah and Baptizing people (including Jesus) in the Jordan River.
Now, that is all the stuff - the basic facts that we know about John for the most part. That is the kind of stuff that people would have included in either John's obituary page or shared during his eulogy.
But some of the questions we want to look at this morning is:
+ Why is John the Baptist so admired and venerated even today after 2,000 years?
+What did John do in his less than 32 years of life on this earth that has caused millions of people throughout history to see him as one of the greatest people to have ever graced our planet?
In fact, listen to what Jesus says about John the Baptist recorded in Matthew 11:11:
"This is the truth - I say to all of you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist."
It has to be noted that when Jesus takes the time to describe you with those words, then you know that you are a very extraordinary person. And when you read those words you know that you must take some time to get to know such a person.
So, let's take a few moments this morning and look at some things that over the years have caused people to venerate John the Baptist. Some things that John did that are like a sign post showing us that as he did these things so too can we do the same things. Not so that we can be great in our own eyes or to one day be venerated like him, but to see that as John lived so too are we called to live as disciples, followers and redeemed ones in King Jesus.
I. John's Spirit of Humility
Among all the fervent and passionate words spoken by John the Baptist we might forget that among all the people in the Old and New Testament, John had this amazing spirit of humility. John did not allow a spirit of pride to get the best of him. He was not struck on himself nor did he allow his popularity to make him arrogant or egotistical. John had no problem giving up his position in life to follow God's Will nor did he have a problem in being the forerunner of the Messiah and not the Messiah Himself.
We have to remember that John was born in the household of a priest. As such he would have had the honor of serving in the Temple. He would have had the honor of serving as mediator between God and the Children of Israel. And because of his miraculous birth, John could have been a shoe in for being named the High Priest. He had the heritage, he had the popularity and he had this miracle thing in his back pocket so to speak. I mean, who wouldn't want a Levite born by way of a miracle to take up the mantle of being Israel's High Priest.
After all, John's birth story tops that of both the Great Law Giver Moses and the Great Prophet and Judge Samuel. Moses was miraculously saved from the crocodiles but that was three months after his birth. There were no angels that had appeared to his father, Amram or to his mother Jochebed to announce Moses' birth.
We all know from the first stories in 1 Samuel that Samuel's birth was proclaimed as an answer to prayer but not as the one who would be the forerunner of the Messiah. Samuel's birth was an amazing answer to the tears and petitions of Hannah but again there were no angelic visitations or divine announcements. It would not have been impossible for John to have set the high priesthood as one of his goals in life.
I am sure that is what Elizabeth and Zacharias first thought. Here was their son, conceived and born miraculously in their old age. His very name had been given by God. No doubt, God was going to use their son to be the leader of the Temple who by virtue of his office would be able to introduce the Messiah to the People of Israel. It all looked perfect - who better to announce the coming of the Messiah than a Levite? Especially a Levite that had come into the world via a miracle?
But if that was in their thinking then God had another plan in mind for their son, John the Baptist. He would not go down in history as John the Priest or even John the High Priest. Because God called John to leave the life of a priest and become His Prophet. And when God called John to go and live in the desert that is exactly what he did. When God called John the Baptist he did not dilly dally around. He immediate took upon the role in life that God called him.
John was very much like the young man we meet back in the book of 1 Kings chapter 19. It is there we meet another young man who seemed destined to live a life of honor and luxury named Elisha. When God called Elisha, the young man was plowing with his father's 12th pair of oxen ( 1 Kings 19:19).
That gives us a small clue to how prosperous Elisha's family was at the time. Not very many ancient farmers were able to have one pair of oxen much less 12 pairs. Not very many ancient farmers had enough land to need 1 or 2 pair of oxen much less than 12 pairs. Elisha's family was both prosperous and held in very high esteem.
I am sure Elisha's parents had already decided what he would be in his life. It would be his job to take over the farm. It would be his job to continue the tradition of his family and be a man of leisure and one that others envied and admired. Elisha would therefore become a man of honor in his community and in the communities that surrounded him.
But the Bible says that Elisha did exactly what John the Baptist did. He immediately obeyed the will of God. He left a life of luxury to humbly be Elijah's assistant as a prophet in training. He went from wearing robes of silk to putting on his own mantle or coat of camel's hair. So, we see John had an ancient image he could point to and tell his parents, his friends and even himself that God does call people out of a life of ease and into a life of being a prophet and holy man.
Furthermore, notice very carefully what John did when Jesus appeared on the scene. John does not try to upstage him. John does not try to make Jesus become his assistant. John does not remind Jesus that it is he (John) that is from the tribe of Levi not him. John does not look at Jesus and remind him that after all he is just a carpenter/handyman/stone mason. It would have been natural for some to think that Jesus should have taken some time to be under the leadership of a man like John. Yet, John says things like this:
"Behold, the lamb of God"
"I must decrease so He can increase."
"I'm not worthy to untie the strap of His sandals."
"Lord, it is I who should be baptized by You."
John recognized who he was and who Jesus - God in Flesh was. John understood his own sinfulness, his own helplessness and the fact that as a genuine human being it was his privilege and honor to reflect God's Glory and give God all the glory. He was to be Jesus' servant not the other way around.
The Bible tells us that there were others who tried their best to tell John that he was the Christ/the Messiah not this carpenter turned rabbi. After all, John had the original following. It was John who was preaching the message of repentance, baptizing people and proclaiming the coming of God's Kingdom.
However, John would have none of that talk and openly and proudly proclaimed Jesus as Messiah and Lord. He told everyone that he was simply a witness to the light. That as he would baptize with water, Jesus, the true Messiah would baptize with the fire of the Holy Spirit. John even helps some of his disciples to join up with Jesus.
John knew who he was. He was secure in his own skin. He knew what God wanted him to do and the role he was to play for the LORD. John did not seek out his own fame and fortune. He did not try to fight his way to the top. He did not try to manipulate or maneuver his way to be a man of high position, authority or to have a lot of possession. He realized for whatever time he was here on this earth it was to be spent doing God's work.
John was one of those perfect pictures of a person living a life of humility. A life dedicated to honoring the LORD. A life committed to doing God's Will first and foremost.
II. John was a man of Repentance
John understood the message of repentance from the inside out. He knew that in order to be right with the LORD one must repent of one's sins. One must not only acknowledge that one has sins but one must then repent - that is to say - do a 180 degree turn from a life of doing things inappropriately to a life of doing things that please and honor God.
Repentance for John was more than merely mouthing a few words or going under a pool of water. John understood that repentance is much more than information. For John, repentance means information that leads one to transformation.
A great deal of people do see repentance as information. That is to say, they see repentance as them fessing up that they are not right - that they have sinned - that they are broken - that things between them and is God is not right. That is good, but in actuality all that means is that somewhere the Holy Spirit has helped us finally see the light.
I mean any human being after some period of time realizes that there is something wrong with them. They feel it in their heart and mind that they are messed up. They know it down deep that something is not right with their mind, their heart or their soul. Even though some of them try their best to do things right they come to understand that doing right all the time is beyond their ability. They hurt people. They tell a lie or a lot of lies. They cheat. They disobey the rules. They want things that is not theirs to have.
Repentance is more than just information or even acknowledgement. It is first and foremost transformation. It is acknowledging that we need a change of direction in our lives and that the only person that can help us make that change in direction is God in Flesh - King Jesus.
Repentance can be seen as a journey and a process of being drawn closer and closer to the LORD. It is a daily walk in the power and presence of God's Holy Spirit. It is a daily walk of turning away from walking towards darkness, sin, chaos and death and walking towards the LORD, light, holiness and righteousness. A life of repentance is allowing Jesus to come into our hearts, minds and souls and receiving His grace, forgiveness, new life and the power and presence of His Holy Spirit. Repentance is a life of continually saying no to the Old way of Living/carnality and Living a New Life in Christ. Repentance is the way of sanctification, the way of progressive holiness.
John the Baptist clearly understood that everyone must turn away from sin. He knew that we were not to get as close as we can to the edge of living a sinful life. He knew we were not to camp near sin nor where we to just put a foot inside the door of salvation and holiness. John knew that repentance means that we do our best to eliminate from our lives anything that "dominates" us or "leads" us away from living a life of holiness.
That is one of the reasons why John stood up to King Herod. It wasn't because he wanted to "get" Herod. It wasn't because he thought he was better than King Herod. It wasn't even to make Herod look bad or to get him removed from office. It certainly wasn't to yell at Herod and proclaim loudly that Herod was going to split hell wide open. John stood up to Herod, Herodias and others because John loved them.
John knew (beyond a shadow of a doubt) that the only way for Herod to one day experience the Resurrected Life was for him and all people to repent and then live a life of repentance - a life of what we would call sanctification. A life in which it is our goal to turn away from sin and walk in the leading and guidance of the Holy Spirit.
John understood that we are to turn to the LORD and fix our minds and hearts on those things which are from above. That we are to allow God to renew our minds and to fix them on things that are true, that are honorable, just, pure and worthy. John knew that we are to put on things like compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, wisdom and knowledge.
John understood that repentance has both its "let go's" but also its "grab a hold ofs" ( 1 Thessalonians 5: 19 - 22)
"Do not quench the Holy Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil."
John understood that true repentance is not just saying that you are sorry but doing all you can through the power and presence of God's Holy Spirit to live a life worthy of Jesus.
John also understood that living such a life did not guarantee that you would be perfect or that you would know everything. When King Herod first put John in prison he had to deal with some doubts about Jesus. Surely, if Jesus was the Messiah then he would come with his holy army and rescue John. Surely, if Jesus was the Messiah he would have already began to set the world on fire.
But John shows us that not only could he preach repentance, he could live repentance. He might have had doubts for a period of time but he asked Jesus for more wisdom and knowledge. He asked Jesus to help him stay true in his walk and in his mission.
Today, we not only are called to be people of humility but also people of repentance. None of us are perfect. We all know that. None of us make good decisions all the time. But that doesn't mean that we can't make good decisions and it doesn't mean that we cannot have a pure heart.
I believe that our LORD wants us to be people who make sure that when we go to bed every night and wake up every morning we are asking the LORD to help us walk towards Him. I believe that when we mess up, the LORD wants us to repent and do a 180 degree course correction and get back on the right path.
Years ago, when I was in high school, I had a 1968 Mustang that developed a transmission problem. After the transmission got hot it would no longer go into reverse. You had to wait until it cooled off and then you could put it in reverse. So, I had to park where I could always head out. If I didn't, I either had to wait for it to cool off or put the car in neutral and push it so I could head out.
When I got my next car I can't tell you how much I loved reverse. If you were headed the wrong way - just put the car in reverse and head out the right way. Reverse gear is a true miracle. In following Jesus we need to learn how to use our spiritual reverse gear. At times our pride gets in our way, our wants get in the way and our stubbornness gets in the way. It gets us to heading not towards Jesus but towards anger, greed, pleasure and all kinds of wrong things. We have to allow Jesus to help us repent - to put our spiritual car in reverse and get it going the right direction again.
III. John was a man of Integrity and Commitment
Those that lived around John knew the power of his convictions, his honesty, his integrity and his commitment. John did not waver even when his own life was at stake.
-He told the truth to Herod
-He told the truth to Herod's new wife, Herodias, who in fact was his ex sister-in-law
-He told the truth to the Pharisees
-He told the truth to the soldiers that came to listen to him
-John told the truth to everyone that was within ear shot
John made up his mind to tell the truth, to stand his ground and to stay faithful no matter what the cost. Even when Herod had him imprisoned, John did not change his message about repentance and holiness. Even when Herod gave him opportunity after opportunity to change his mind and relent, John's convictions stayed true.
John not only possessed convictions he also lived out and expressed his convictions. There was no difference between John's private faith and his public faith. John did not keep his holiness convictions to himself. John loved people to much to do that. It was out of a heart of agape love that John believed that people needed to hear the truth so that they could repent and become the people that God wanted them to become.
John believed in telling the honest truth. It was not his intention to cause harm but to help people see the truth and experience a spiritual transformation. John did not want anyone to be deceived. If God's Word said something was wrong then that was good enough for John.
He did not put his finger up in the air to test the Political or the Spiritual Winds of his day. Instead, he committed himself to living, preaching, sharing and praying for others. John used his voice to help those around him make their crooked ways straight and to experience the joy of living a holy life.
I am sure that there were many that told John to just be quiet. They wanted John to keep his faith to himself. To never speak against King Herod or his wicked immoral ways. To just let it go. If Herod wanted to have an affair with his sister-in-law then it is his business. If he then wanted to steal her and figure out a way to marry her then that is his business. If he wanted to live an immoral life while at the same time do his best to convince others that he may in fact be the Messiah then let Herod have his little fantasy world.
But John would not be silent. Like the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel before him, John was going to tell the truth. He was a man of integrity. John did not do things just to be seen or to make a scene. John's heart was pure. John preached the because he loved people.
He did not attack King Herod out of spite. King Herod was his king. King Herod was to be God's representative as God's Shepherd King. He was to be in the same line as King David of old. John's love for King Herod was greater than his own life. He wanted to do anything he could to see King Herod repent, to see Herodias repent and for their family to be in perfect accord with the LORD. If that meant that John had to ruffle some feathers then so be it.
America needs people like John the Baptist today. Not people who do such things to be seen or to make a scene. But people who love others so much that they are willing to tell the truth and put themselves on the line.
John could have said these things about Herod while he was in Jerusalem under Pilate's control. That way he would have been safely out of Herod's reach. Or he could have gone to Philip's territory and started a campaign against Herod. I am sure Philip would have be happy seeing that it was his wife that his half brother, King Herod Antipas stole in the first place.
But that is not what John did. John was a lot like a man named Dietrich Bonheoffer.
Dietrich Bonheoffer wrote the book, "THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP" and shared the same spirit of integrity and commitment that John the Baptist possessed. Like John, Bonheoffer believed that a person must have convictions, integrity and be committed to preaching the truth. For Bonheoffer that meant speaking against Adolf Hitler, the Nazi Party and the rise of the Third Reich.
Union Theological Seminary in New York made it possible for Dietrich to come to the United States and avoid the persecution from the Nazis. Dietrich could preach and write against the Third Reich while enjoying the safety of America. It seemed like a perfect equation. He could lead a faction of the resistance but not face the persecution of the Hitler and the Gestapo.
However, Bonheoffer believed strongly that the LORD wanted him to go back home to Germany and do all he could to stop Hitler and Nazism in person. He believed that God wanted him to be a voice of reason and to do all he could to help the people of Germany turn away from evil. He knew if people did not stand up for what was right then Germany would be taken over by the Nazis and in the end that his homeland of Germany would be destroyed.
In 1939, Bonheoffer wrote to his good friend Reinhold Niebuhr: "I have come to the conclusion that I made a mistake in coming to America. I must live through this difficult period in our national history with the people of Germany. I will have no right to participate in the reconstruction of Christian life in Germany after the war if I do not share the trials of this time with my people... Christians in Germany will have to face the terrible alternative of either willing the defeat of their nation in order that Christian civilization may survive or willing the victory of their nation and thereby destroying civilization. I know which of these alternatives I must choose but I cannot make that choice from security." Bonheoffer returned to Germany on the last scheduled steamer to cross the Atlantic. Dietrich was well aware that there would be a good chance he would be attacked, perhaps put in jail and at worst killed for his faith.
For a few months, Bonheoffer was tolerated. But the more Adolf came to power the more pressure was put on Bonheoffer. He was constantly harassed by the military police. By 1941, he was forbidden to preach or to write. Bonheoffer even joined the military as a way of being able to still preach and teach as well as do what he could to stop Hitler from inside the military.
All that did, however, was bring more harassment and persecution. On April 5th 1943, he was imprisoned first in a military prison (Tegel) and then later he was dispatched to a Gestapo Prison ( located in Berlin) where he faced many trials and tribulations because of his faith.
Finally, out of spite he was moved to a concentration camp in Floosenburg under the cover of night where on the next day, April 9, 1945, Bonheoffer was put to death. Even though it was imminent that Germany would have to surrender it was decided that the only way to stop Bonheoffer and his faith was to murder him.
One of the most quoted statements written by Bonheoffer comes from the book, The Cost of Discipleship in which he deals with the distinction between what he calls "cheap" and "costly" grace. According to Bonheoffer,
"cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline. Communion without confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ."
Bonheoffer gave his life doing what he believed God called him to do. He gave his life being a man of commitment and integrity. He gave his life much the same way that John the Baptist gave his - being a man of humility, a man of repentance and a man of integrity and commitment.
Jesus - Our Savior and Lord told us that no one born of woman was greater than John but as he said this he pointed out that anyone who has been born again is greater - greater because they will be able to enjoy Everlasting Life. Greater because they can live an abundant life here on this earth through the power and presence of God's Holy Spirit.
This morning, we need to see the spiritual signposts that John the Baptist left behind:
+The privilege and the ability to possess a spirit of humility - to be secure in who we are while at the same time knowing that the greatest thing we can do in this life is to love and follow Jesus.
+The privilege and the ability to live out a life of repentance - to live so close to the LORD that any time we do something wrong - we know to put our spiritual life in reverse - to back up, to confess, to repent and to continue on our journey of following Jesus.
+The privilege and ability to be a people of integrity and commitment. To live according to God's convictions and God's way. To be ready to suffer persecution and hardship if need be for the cause of Jesus Christ.
The Bible tells us that we should not be surprised when a time of persecution, trials and tribulations happen. Today, we may very well be on the verge of such a testing time here in our land. In many people's lives their commitment, their integrity and their loyalty to Jesus is already being tested. It may be that time in our lives as well.
The question is will we humbly bow before King Jesus and live a life of repentance - a life of integrity and commitment? Will we follow the sign posts of such a life as John the Baptist left behind? Or will we surrender to the way of the world? Will we decide that the price to be faithful to Jesus is to great a price to pay?
I believe that we can and that we will be faithful to Jesus. I believe that the LORD can depend on us to be a people of humility, a people living a life of repentance and a people died out to Him. I believe that the Lord can count on us being a people who possess sanctified integrity and sanctified commitment.
I believe that we can stand this morning and sing that old hymn - I SURRENDER ALL and mean every word of it.
Song - Hymn - I Surrender All
Contemporary - I Surrender - Hillsong Worship
Time for Prayer/Blessing
