One of my favorite stories is The Emperor's New Clothes. It is the tale about an Emperor who was swindled by a supposed tailor. The man claims to sew a new, special suit for the Emperor. It is special because only those who are wise will see the clothes, while those who are foolish will find them invisible. Not wanting to be labeled a fool, the Emperor pretends he can see the suit, pretends to put it on, and then proceeds to walk around the castle in his underwear. Not wanting to be considered fools, all his advisors and servants pretend to be able to see the clothes as well and comment on how beautiful they are. As the Emperor leads a parade through the city, his loyal subjects "ah" and "oh" over clothing they cannot see. Everyone is lying, because they are afraid to tell the truth. If they admit they see the Emperor in his underwear, they will certainly be ridiculed by all their neighbors. But, finally, one young boy exposes the deception. He blurts out that the Emperor is not wearing any clothes and his words encourage others to speak the truth as well.
Oh, sometimes it seems much easier, much safer, to tell people what we think they want to hear, but a willingness to speak the truth, even if that truth is not popular, is a great virtue. Friends, today we look at a story of a man who was not afraid to tell the truth, a man who was willing to pay the price for speaking what he knew was the truth. As we continue our journey through the gospel of Matthew, we come to Chapter 14:1-12. Here we find the story of John the Baptist's execution. Now, on the surface this passage of Scripture may not seem very appropriate for the Advent Season, but I think we will find it has a very important message for every time of year. Let's pray that the Lord would help us to hear that today.
This is the story of Herod Antipas and John the Baptist. So far, in Matthew's gospel, he has told us about Jesus, a Man who is saying and doing incredible things. His teaching has folks in awe and He has been doing things like healing those who are sick, casting out demons, and commanding weather patterns. He has certainly caught the attention of the religious leaders of the day, the Pharisees, who now see Him as a threat to their privileged position. And He has also caught the attention of a politician. Matthew 14:1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus,... The king whom the wisemen visited and who then slaughtered all the infants around Bethlehem was known as Herod the Great. This Herod is his son, Herod Antipas. He had been appointed by Caesar Augustus as a tetrarch, or governor, in Palestine. For almost thirty years he has ruled over two regions, Perea and Galilee. The first is the place where John the Baptist conducted his ministry, and the second is where Jesus' ministry was taking place. When he hears about this Jesus, he expresses a startling conclusion. 14:2 ...and he said to his attendants, "This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him." Those words are rooted in superstition and a very guilty conscience. At this time John is dead, because Herod had him killed. Matthew then tells us what had happened, probably a few months earlier.
Matthew 14:3,4 Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, for John had been saying to him: "It is not lawful for you to have her." There is a scandal in the palace. Herodias had been the wife of Herod Philip, a half brother of Herod Antipas. Incidentally, she was also Antipas' niece, being the daughter of another half brother, Aristobulus. Herod Antipas apparently had an affair with her, divorced his first wife, and then married Herodias. He sinned against his brother, against his wife, and most importantly against God. This was too much for John, a righteous man and a godly prophet. Verse 4 could be translated, "John had been continually saying to Herod, 'What you are doing is wrong!'" and Herod didn't like it. He threw John in prison and Verse 5 says he would have killed him had he not been afraid of the political consequences. John was a popular figure and Herod didn't want to see his poll numbers go down. But then at his birthday party, 14:6,7 On Herod's birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for them and pleased Herod so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. The girl's name was Salome, the daughter of Herodias and Philip, and she was probably about thirteen years old. Reading between the lines we can assume a couple of things. First, her dance was no doubt "R-rated" and if not, "X-rated." Secondly, Herod probably had too much to drink. He has promised this girl whatever she wants. Salome consults with Herodias, and 14:8 Prompted by her mother, she said, "Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist." It appears Herodias didn't like John any more than Herod did - maybe even less. 14:9 The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted... He is a very weak man who doesn't want to renege on his vow and be embarrassed in front of his friends. 14:10,11 ...and had John beheaded in the prison. His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. According to Jerome, the 4th Century Bible scholar, Herodias then spat on the head and stuck a pin through the tongue. 14:12 John's disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus. Jesus hears about Herod and now, back in the start of the chapter, Matthew says Herod is now hearing about Jesus, and he is terrified.
So, what is the Lord saying to us through this passage today? We could spend some time exploring the nature of human evil typified by Herod and Herodias. They murdered John, simply because they didn't like the truth he told. In his commentary, Don Carson suggests these two people have as their mentors Ahab and Jezebel, the wicked Old Testament king and queen of Israel. Like Ahab, Herod is wicked but weak, while Herodias, like Jezebel, is wicked and ruthless. They make quite a pair, and they illustrate how political power often corrupts people and makes them even worse than they were before. But, I want our focus today to be on John. He plays a very unique role in history. He was the forerunner of Christ, the prophet who was sent to prepare a way for the Lord, a prophet who helped people prepare for the coming of Jesus the Messiah. Yet, this story raises some very practical questions. Should we follow John's example? Should we be willing to speak the truth, even when it might get us into trouble? Or did John make a mistake when he kept reminding Herod that what he was doing was wrong? I want to look at four important principles to remember about telling the truth.
#1) Before we say anything, we need to make certain that what we will speak is true. Governor Ventura's comments a few weeks ago that "organized religion was for weak-minded people" has drawn many reactions. I have been amused, however, by those who have defended Ventura by praising him for "being honest and saying what he really thinks." It seems that "speaking one's mind" has been elevated to a virtue because we have so many folks, especially politicians, who talk out of both sides of their mouths. I think of the story of the new senator who asked one of the senior members, "What is a good word for 'no' that sounds like 'yes'?" Because some folks are so hesitant to let their "yes be a yes and their no be a no" it is kind of refreshing to hear someone just say what he thinks. Yet, honesty by itself is not enough. Uninformed opinions, false ideas and bigoted attitudes are better if left unexpressed. One of Chuck Colson's Breakpoint commentaries a few weeks ago pointed out that Governor Ventura's opinion that organized religion doesn't have a positive influence on our society is demonstrably false. What the Governor said is simply wrong. I don't think someone deserves any congratulations for his or her honest opinion, if that opinion is off the wall.
When John spoke up against Herod's sin, he knew what he was talking about. He had his facts straight, and it was by the authority of God's Word that he condemned what Herod was doing. Today, as Christians, we need to make sure we do the same thing. I have learned the hard way - that it is not wise to open my mouth unless I know what I am talking about. There have been a time or two when I have scolded one of the boys about something, only to find out a bit later that I was simply wrong about what had happened. We need to be very careful that we don't say critical things about someone or to someone, unless we know what the truth is. It is also very important that we be able to distinguish between what God teaches in His Word and our own opinions. Telling someone that it is wrong to use profanity is very different from telling someone that it is wrong to have a Christmas tree. The first is clearly a violation of God's Word, the 3rd Commandment says to not take the Lord's name in vain; the latter is merely an opinion, the Bible doesn't tell about Christmas trees at all. It is wrong, however, to express our opinions as if they were facts. That is not telling the truth. I see Christians, and especially pastors, falling into that trap frequently. Or we make blanket statements which just are not accurate. For example, I have heard pastors shout from the pulpit, "Divorce is wrong; it is sin." Yes, often it is. But, I believe the Bible teaches that divorce is permissible, that it is not a sin, if one's partner has been unfaithful or has abandoned the marriage. Yes, we should be bold in speaking the truth, but we'd better first make sure that it is the truth that we are going to speak.
#2) We need to be willing to speak the truth. We need to do that even when other people are not going to like what we have to say. That is clearly what John was willing to do and I think God calls us to follow his example. In the past couple of weeks, news reports have come out that Newt Gingrich was having an adulterous affair with one of his staff members while he served as Speaker of the House. Bill Bennett gave a powerful rebuke to those Republicans who were very critical of Bill Clinton's behavior, but refuse to criticize Gingrich's behavior. Bennett, a leader in the Republican Party, said men and women of principle need to be willing to condemn dishonest and immoral behavior no matter in which party it occurs. Now, I'm not going to touch the political issues. Whether or not it was wise to vote for Clinton or Gingrich, whether or not they should have been removed from office for what they did, are political questions which I'm not going to try to answer for anyone. But, I will say that the actions of both men have been morally disgusting and disgraceful. And I think it is tragic that some Christians, especially some pastors, have refused to speak against this type of behavior simply because of their political preferences.
Friends, there are many times when we need to be bold and tell people what we really believe. When there is discussion at work about whether or not all religions are equal, you need to be willing to speak the truth, and let people know that Christianity, as a religion of grace, is different from any other religion on the planet. When your sister wants to leave her husband because she has met another guy who is much more caring and sensitive, you need to be willing to speak the truth and say, "No, what you are doing is wrong." When some friends at school are going to sneak some booze from their parent's liquor cabinet and want you to go out drinking with them, you need to be willing to speak the truth and say, "No, I'm not going to do that. It is stupid and it is wrong." Friends, we cannot let ourselves be intimidated by the people around us. They may not want to hear the truth, they may not like what it is, but as God's people we have been entrusted with the truth, and we need to proclaim it boldly.
As we do that, however, #3) we need to speak the truth in the right way. What do I mean by that? Well, the right way is spelled out in some instructions God gives us through Paul in 2 Timothy 2:24-26 And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. Friends, when we are witnessing to a friend about Jesus Christ, or confronting a family member about behavior we think is wrong, or responding to unfair criticism at work, this is how the Lord expects us to speak. Some of you are thinking, "Is that how John the Baptist spoke about Herod?" I don't know, but I do know that kindness, gentleness and respect should always season my speech, and yours. A few weeks ago 200 evangelical leaders and 200 homosexual activists met at Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Virginia. Dr. Jerry Falwell and a man named Mel White had brought them together. On one issue there was no agreement. The evangelical Christians all believe the homosexual lifestyle is sinful, while the activists all believe it should be celebrated. But on one issue, they found agreement. It is time for both sides to turn down the rhetoric. Both sides need to stop portraying the other as the incarnation of evil. There are Christians who think Jerry Falwell has sold out on this issue and has become soft on homosexuality, but I don't think so. I think he is simply putting into practice what 2 Timothy tells Christians to do. Since many homosexual activists oppose Christianity, we must gently instruct them in the hope that God will grant them repentance, leading them to a knowledge of the truth.
A few years ago I was leading a Bible study on these verses, and one of the fellows got a little agitated. He said, "Pastor Dan, it sounds like you want us to be wimps. We should go out there and blast sinners so they will wake up. Non-Christians who are getting drunk, and fornicating, and cursing, and viewing pornography, need to be told that they are heading for hell." I responded, "Yes, they do, but they need to be told that with kindness, gentleness, and respect. We need to speak that way because God has told us to do so. And we need to speak that way because we will be much more effective in persuading others when we do so. The proverb that you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar is not found in the Bible, but it is still true. The Holy Spirit can use our words, however they are spoken, to accomplish His purposes, but He is much more likely to use words which are spoken with gentleness and respect. Yelling at people isn't the answer. Telling them the truth in the right way is.
#4) We need to accept that we will sometimes pay a price for speaking the truth. John the Baptist certainly did. He paid a very high price. Many Christians over the centuries have had similar experiences. Some died as martyrs, and many others sacrificed their comfort and security because people didn't like what they heard when these Christians chose to speak the truth. Some significant changes have occurred in our culture in recent years. In the past, as long as we spoke in a gentle and respectful way, most people didn't get mad at us for speaking the truth. Oh, they might have disagreed with us, they may not have liked what we had to say, but nine times out of ten, they would not become angry at us. That has changed. Now, no matter how nicely and lovingly we speak the truth, there are more and more people who will not only hate what we say, but they will hate us as well.
That means there may be times when speaking the truth can get you in trouble at work or school. It may even get you fired. I guess you don't get fired at school, but you may get sent to the principal's office. I think of Antonio Peck, a first-grader from Syracuse, New York, who was told to make a poster about how to save the earth from environmental disaster. When Antonio drew a picture of Jesus, his poster was banned from the art display. Then there is Ron Geer, a fireman from Madison, Wisconsin, who also happens to be a pastor of a little Baptist church. He lost his job as a fireman for expressing his view that homosexual behavior is a sin. A school teacher from southern Minnesota is in danger of losing his job because he insists on telling his students the truth that Darwinian evolution is a theory, not a fact. A number of Southern Baptist churches around the country have been picketed by Hindus recently because the Southern Baptist Convention has told the truth - that men and women can only find salvation through Jesus Christ. Friends, I don't think it is likely that any of those types of things will happen to us, but if we are a believer in Jesus Christ, if we are committed to following Him and telling others the truth as He leads us to do so, then we'd better accept the fact that we may pay a price, even a high price, for doing that. But, because Jesus is our Lord, we need to be willing to do so.
Friends, today I want to close with this question: Are you willing to tell the truth about Christmas? During the month of December, we have a wonderful opportunity. Almost everyone is focusing on Christmas. We have a chance to tell them the truth, and remind them that Christmas is not really about Santa and reindeer, holly and eggnog, bright lights and lutefisk. It is about Jesus. It is about God becoming a Man so He could live on this earth and then die to be our Savior. As we come to the year 2000, we acknowledge what is unofficially the 2000th anniversary of the coming of Jesus. That is why we call it 2000 A.D., in the year of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Friends, I encourage you to share the true message of Christmas with your friends and family members whenever the Lord gives you an opportunity to do so. There are many different things you can do. Christmas cards and letters are a great way to do that. No, I haven't started mine either, but it is a super opportunity. Someone here told me that they have one atheist on their Christmas card list, so they figured he probably would not like the card they sent. But, that is one reason they keep his name on the list, so they can share the truth of Christmas with him. During the next few weeks, we have many Christmas events here at church. These are excellent opportunities to invite people to join you so that you can expose them to a true Christmas. Be bold, don't be obnoxious, but be bold. No, everyone may not like what you have to say, but the real story of Christmas, the story of the incarnation of Jesus Christ, is the truth, the truth everyone needs to hear and believe.
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