"AN INTENSE FAITH"
MARK 6:16-29
INTRODUCTION:
In the highly rated Smallville, the WB’s story of Superboy, Clark Kent is just learning about his super powers. It is a perplexing and frustrating time for him. His powers really come to light when he is accidently run down by Lex Luthor and yet is unhurt. Not only is he spared any pain but is able to save Lex’s life even though he was run over at 60mph! Lex, who is very wealthy, gives Clark a new truck out of gratitude, but Clark’s father is not grateful. And we learn that there is something that Clark actually wants more than any truck.
{Video Clip - Smallville - Season 1 - Episode 1 (Pilot)- Start: 3:23:34 - End:3:26:12 - 2:45}
“I’d give anything to be normal.” What would you give anything to be? How would you fill in the line.. “I’d give anything to ____________” what? Be rich? Be married? Have a better job? What would you say means the most to you? Is there anything you would give your life for? Is there anything that means more to you than you?
I want to be right up front with you this morning. The purpose of this message is to motivate you to make Jesus Christ.. the consuming passion of your life. Now, in this day and age that sounds fanatical but that’s the level of intensity that Jesus calls us to. Mt.10:37-39- "Those who love their father or mother more than they love me are not worthy to be my followers. Those who love their son or daughter more than they love me are not worthy to be my followers. 38Whoever is not willing to carry the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39Those who try to hold on to their lives will give up true life. Those who give up their lives for me will hold on to true life."(NCV) Jesus calls us to believe in Him and His promises with such intensity, that we are willing to give anything, to sacrifice everything for Him if it is necessary.
John the Baptist was that kind of radical believer. John gave his all for God. He did not allow his comfort, his popularity, his needs to stand in the way of pointing people to Jesus. And John’s dedication to Christ cost him his freedom and finally his life. I’m sure that there were a lot of people who thought John was a fanatic but Jesus said, "Of those born of a woman there is no one greater."(NIV)
So, this morning, let’s examine the story of John’s death and then apply some truths that will challenge us to a more intense faith.. To live a sold out life for Jesus.
I. TELLING THE STORY: Matthew 14:1-13a
The story of the death of John the Baptist reads like a modern day soap opera. It is full of inter-tangled marriages, lustful passion, political intrigue, lust-filled decisions, violent murder, unresolved guilt. But it is not the fictional "As the World Turns" but a true, historical account written for our instruction.
Let’s begin with vs:3. Matthew tells this story in “flashback”style as he reviews the events that lead up to John’s death. Vs:3-4 tells us of the arrest: "Herod was the one who had ordered the arrest of John, put him in chains, and sent him to prison at the nagging of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. For John had provoked Herod by naming his relationship with Herodias “adultery.” If you were here last Sunday you may remember that the scripture tells us that John kept on telling Herod and Herodias that they had grievously sinned by marrying each other. Herodias had dumped Herod’s half-brother Philip for Herod and without even a divorce had married Herod. Now, Herod had mixed emotions about John. On the one hand he didn’t like being told he was a sinner, yet on the other hand he was enthralled with John and interested in his message. The King was apparently impressed by the Baptist’s courage and sincerity. Our text says it this way in vs:20: “Herod was in awe of John. Convinced that he was a holy man, he gave him special treatment. Whenever he listened to him he was miserable with guilt - and yet he couldn’t stay away. Something in John kept pulling him back.” That may seem a little strange but as we said last week, one of the bi-products of truth can be respect. And Herod apparently respected John for his courageous stand against sin.
But while Herod was enthralled with John, Herodias, his wife, was enraged by him. While Herod liked to listen to the prophet’s message, Herodias hated hearing him and was looking to silence him...for good. It galled Herodias that John, this country bumpkin, would have the audacity to criticize her lifestyle.. the Queen! And for Herodias, imprisonment was too good for John and so she apparently hounded Herod to have him shut-up permanently! Herodias as we’ll learn was an evil woman and she kept nagging Herod to exterminate John. And Herod seemed to be in between the proverbial "rock and a hard place." He didn’t want to tick off his vindictive wife, but he wasn’t sure if he should kill the man who seemed to appeal to his conscience, or what was left of it. So Herod probably thought he had found a happy medium. He kept John in prison to appease Herodias, yet alive to appease the people & soothe his own conscience.
But then came Herod’s birthday bash and Herodias saw her chance. Vs:21 says, “Herodias’ chance finally came.” In other words what happens here is pre-meditated on this woman’s part to get her way. Herod, threw himself a party and invited all his high officials, his military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. Historians tell us that these kind of parties were often no more than drunken orgies. The wine is flowing, people are making toasts to the Great Herod. What does Herodias do? This treacherous and conniving woman arranges for her own daughter, and by the way, also the daughter of Phillip, Herod’s brother to dance for Herod. But not just any dance. It’s one that has been replicated in painting, film, ballets and operas. This was a seductive, lewd, lap dance, for the purpose of arousing her husband! Herodias knew that when men become aroused to sexual passion they are vulnerable to all kinds of irrational behavior. So she exploited her own daughter to achieve her spiteful goal. And it worked! Vs:21-23- "Herodias’s daughter entered the banquet hall and danced for the guests. She dazzled Herod and the guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask me anything. I’ll give you anything you want.” Carried away by his lust, he kept on, “I swear, I’ll split my kingdom with you if you say so!"
Now, you know when you get all emotional you can make these rash promise statements that you never intend to keep. We lose it with our kids.. "Just for that you are grounded.. for life!" Or on the golf course we say, "If I miss another 3’ putt, I’m going to quit golf forever." Now, we don’t mean those things. (for the most part) And Herod was so excited about this dance that he says to the daughter of Herodias.. "I’ll give you anything you desire.. up to half my kingdom.” I think some of this was because desire had gone to his head but some of it was male macho.. impressing his guests.. I mean, what could she ask for? A new chariot? He could afford that. A trip to Rome? No problem. Max Lucado in his book Applause From Heaven, writes: "Herod, who was as easily duped as he was aroused, promised to do anything for the pretty young thing in the G-string. "Anything?" "You name it," he drooled. She conferred with her mother, who was waiting in the wings, then returned with her request. "I want John the Baptist." "You want a date with the prophet?" "I want his head," replied the dancer. And then, reassured by a nod from her mother, she added, "On a silver platter, if you don’t mind." Herod looked around him. He knew it wasn’t fair, but he also knew everyone was looking at him. And he had promised ’anything.’ Though he personally had nothing against the country preacher, he valued the opinion polls much more than he valued John’s life.. So John died because Herod lusts. A man of God is killed while a man of passion is winking at his niece."
Obviously Herod had under estimated the cunning of Herodias. Vs:25 tells us that this young woman tells Herod- “I want the head of John the Baptizer served up on a platter. And I want it now!” Vs:26 give us Herod’s reaction: “That sobered the king up fast. But unwilling to lose face with his guests, he caved in and let her have her wish.” Because of his hasty oath, Herod ordered that Herodias’ request be granted. So, John heard the steps of the guard, in chains, wondering what was going on, he is brought out in the prison courtyard..his head laid on the smooth, stained, granite.. and there gives his life for the cause of Christ. Just doesn’t seem fair does it? A prophet of God killed while a wicked Queen gets her way. But the Bible reminds us that there will be a "pay-day" someday for the wicked. Herodias had met John and had her way.. but she hadn’t met God yet. Things would be different then because God doesn’t collect all His debts in 30 days.
Look at the response to John’s death. Herodias gloated. vs:27-28- “The king sent the executioner off to the prison with orders to bring back John’s head. He went, cut off John’s head, 28brought it back on a platter, and presented it to the girl, who gave it to her mother.” Most women would be repulsed by a man’s bloody head on a platter. But Herodias was so vengeful and spiteful, she took delight in it. Those critical lips were finally silenced.. and I can see her smirking, saying, "See preacher, you don’t mess with Herodias. I don’t get mad, I get even." It’s a good thing I’m not God.. because the minute she pulled the top of that platter off, I would performed a miracle. I would of had John’s eyes open up and his mouth say.. "It’s still wrong for you to be married to Herod." And she would of had a coronary and died right there.
While Herodias gloated, Herod felt guilty. Vs:16, which was sometime after the murder of John- "When Herod heard about Jesus he said: “It’s John, sure enough. I cut off his head, and now he’s back, alive.” ’ "Remember Lady MacBeth couldn’t get the blood off her hands because of her murder. Or the killer in Edgar Allen’s Poe’s The Tell-Tale Heart? He thought he heard the dead heart beating. Herod was being tortured by his guilty conscience.
But when Jesus heard of John’s death, he grieved. Matthew 14:13 tells us: "When Jesus heard about John, he left in a boat and went to a place where he could be alone." (GW) Now, I don’t believe Jesus was startled or saddened by John’s dying.. after all, He knew he was so much better off. But I believe that He was saddened by the fears and trepidation that this great man must of felt as he was lead to his death.. grieving like we would when missing a loved one, His cousin.. and saddened by the hatred in the hearts of people that would cause such a travesty. I don’t know if there was an epitaph on John’s tombstone, but if there was it could of easily been that which was said from Jesus’ own lips: "Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist."(NIV) A great man.. one who expressed his uniqueness, by accepting his role, who went to the right source with his doubts who courageously confronted sin and as we’ve learned today was radical in his belief, willing to give anything for Jesus and His cause.
And by the way... this is why one of our “5 R’s” along with real, relational, relevant and relaxed is “radical.” Not like from the 60’s - “Hey, that’s radical, man.” But an all out, sold out faith.” This “R” in our philosophy says that the people who make up Discovery will do “whatever it takes” to impact their sphere of influence with the love of God and the good news of Jesus Christ.” Being radical in that way, like John, is one of the marks of God’s greatness.
II. THREE TRUTHS TO APPLY:
Now, before we go home let’s take 3 truths from this story & apply them to our lives.
(1) Please beware: sin is serious. When we are outside of God’s will we have two choices. We can submit to His authority, find His forgiveness and be brought back into reconciliation with Him. -or- We can be our own authority, continue in our sin and have it be our undoing. If we are going to be sold out for Jesus, we must recognize a couple things about sin. (A) Jesus hates it.. hates it so much that He died because of it. One of the reasons that we aren’t living intense lives for Jesus is that we don’t hate sin like John did, like Jesus did. John knew what being outside the will of God would do to a person.. it would cost him eternity!
That brings us to the 2nd thing we must recognize about sin. (B) It has serious consequences. You see, we will never understand the great grace God offers until we understand the seriousness of sin. It is clear from Herod’s actions, that he did not acknowledge the gravity of his sin. Today many are in the same place. The problem is we don’t want to believe sin is that bad. That’s why a majority of people are calling for tolerance rather than repentance. That’s why the universalist theology that says, "all will be saved.." is so popular. That’s why we don’t want to accept responsibility for our sin.. we blame our parents, our environment, our circumstances. I heard the other day of a boy that killed his father & mother and then stood in the courtroom and begged for mercy on the grounds that he was an orphan. No one is guilty.
But the truth is.. sin is serious and the more you give into sin, the more calloused you become. You find, like Herod, that your sin becomes more and more depraved. Watch his downward spiral.. adultery.. then a rebellion against the truth, he refused to listen and repent.. then, to appease his vengeful wife, he imprisons an innocent man.. then finally with uncontrollable lust he makes a rash oath & commits murder. Did those actions bring Herod happiness? No.. misery, turmoil, guilt. And folks, sin is still a slippery slope today! Listen, Satan knows that he won’t have much luck getting you to do the big sins right away. So he starts you on the small compromises and before you know it, like Herod, you can’t believe what you’ve allowed to happen. James 1:14-15- "Temptation comes from the lure of our own evil desires. These evil desires lead to evil actions, and evil actions lead to death. So don’t be misled..." (NCV)
The first step in becoming more intense in your relationship to Jesus is to admit the seriousness of your sin and be willing not only to repent but to begin to snuff out even the smallest temptations.. not just the action of adultery but the attitude of lust. Not just the action of hurting others, but the attitude of anger. Not just the action of harsh, bitter words said against another but the attitude of hate. Not just the action of stealing from the business, but the attitude of integrity. Beware, because what happened to Herod can happen to us.. there is a downward spiral with sin.
(2) Be warned: There is a battle going on for your soul. Please understand that there is a spiritual battle going on for you. Just as there were two sides in this incident with John.. the good and the evil, so there is a dual struggle going on right now for our lives. There are two conflicting spirits: Satan vs God. There are two sets of beliefs: Humanism- which says man can save himself, won’t even recognize a God. vs Christianity, which says our only hope is in Jesus Christ. There are two sets of guidelines: man’s decisions made by the sliding scale of relativism where there are no absolutes, vs the Bible where God, through His Scriptures set the standard for right and wrong. And there are two sets of destinies: Hell, which is reserved for those not covered by the blood of Christ vs Heaven where those who come to Jesus will reside with Him forever. We are involved in an awesome spiritual battle. And the Bible calls us to be intense about this conflict. Eph. 6:10-13: "Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil. For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms. Use every piece of God’s armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm.”(NLT) The Christian life is not a playground it is a battleground.
So, this incident teaches us that sin is serious having serious consequences and that we are involved in a mighty conflict and the third lesson to learn is that we need to be aware: Jesus calls us into an intense relationship. One of our problems today is that don’t recognize that we have the same call as John.. to love God with all our hearts, minds, souls. We think of following Christ as a supplement to life not all of life. Juan Carlos Ortiz pointed out that Jesus said, "I am the bread of life"; but we want to make Him the jam. Jesus said "I am the source of life"; but we want to make Him a sequel to life. The Wittenburg Door, a Christian periodical which is known for it’s satirical humor. A few years ago they suggested the “Lite Church” which has 24% fewer commitments and only 8 Commandments, your choice.. Everything you want in a church and less!” You see God never said that following Jesus would primarily make you feel warm and fuzzy. No, following Christ will eventually feel great.. but it doesn’t start so hot.. there is conviction and sorrow for sin, there is an understanding that this world can be tough, that circumstances don’t always work to your benefit just because you are a Christian. They didn’t for John. But please hear me. Authentic Christianity is worth it! It’s the challenge that some of you’ve been looking for, making Jesus Christ the primary purpose of your life no matter what life brings.. If Christianity is true, that Jesus Christ died for our sins and by His Grace made a way for us to go to heaven, then it is worth everything!
Just look back at a heritage of those with intense faith. Read the Bible about those "..others trusted God and were beaten to death, preferring to die rather than turn from God - knowing that they would rise to a better life afterwards." (Hb. 11:35- LB) John the Baptist beheaded, James killed by the sword, Stephen stoned, Peter crucified upside down. Why were they willing to sacrifice so much? Because they were convinced that Jesus Christ was the source of their eternal hope. And they believed that so intensely that they surrendered their all. According to Christian mission statistician, David Barrett, since the time of Christ, some 40 million Christians have been martyred. 40 million! In our generation there are missionaries who have lost their lives on foreign mission fields. Stan Dale who the Yali tribe killed with so many arrows that they were as "thick as reeds in a swamp" in his body. Jim Elliot who went to Equador and lost his life trying to reach the Iqua Indians. Or even Cassie Bernall confessing Christ while looking down the barrel of a gun in the Columbine High School library. And now we have been called by Jesus Himself to a life of intense faith. Lk. 9:23-25: “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life. And how do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose or forfeit your own soul in the process?"(NLT)
Let me ask some serious questions: “What is your consuming passion in life? What are you willing to give up for Jesus? When we get to heaven and look back over our lives will we be embarrassed by the number of things we pursued with a greater intensity than we did a growing relationship with the One who gave his all for us?” Yes, Jesus calls us to a life of total allegiance. But He doesn’t call us to something that He wasn’t willing to give Himself. He gave up His life for us, on the cross. And now he asks us to follow Him.. With the same intensity. When Jim Elliot went to Equador he was asked how he could give up everything and he said, "He is no fool, who exchanges that which he cannot keep, for that which he cannot lose."
{All Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, The Message, unless otherwise noted}
