The Gospel of Mark Part 26
The Gospel of Mark • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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As we discussed last week, we are right in the middle of a Markan sandwich in this passage.
John the Baptist’s death could have been inserted anywhere in the text of Mark’s gospel. But the Holy Spirit wanted it inserted right here…right in the middle of the narrative of Jesus sending out His men on a mission.
This is a stark foreshadowing of not only Jesus’ death, but also the apostles themselves, who =, according to church tradition, were all persecuted and martyred (exception is John) for their faith in carrying out the Great Commission later.
This passage is actually a “flash-back” - just like film makers and novelists use today, where we see the words, “6 months earlier” or “12 hours before” on the screen.
Mark now takes us back in time to an event in the past that has major implications in the present timeline in which he is writing, as well as major implications for us.
John was sent out by God, the disciples were sent out by Jesus, we have also been sent by Jesus and empowered by the Holy Spirit…the common thread woven all throughout is that discipleship is costly! (eternal life is a free gift by grace through faith…but to be a disciple means sacrifice…sometimes the sacrifice of one’s very life.)
31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
I. The Disciple’s Identity (v.14-16)
II. The Disciple’s Imprisonment (v.17-20)
III. The Disciple’s Execution (v.21-28)
IV. The Disciple’s Internment (v.29)
I. The Disciple’s Identity
I. The Disciple’s Identity
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.”
Remember what was taking place right now: Jesus’ twelve apostles were out on their missions trip.
They were casting out demons, preaching, and healing people. And as Jesus’ representatives, it was really Jesus Himself that was gaining the fame.
Herod’s hearing about Jesus was possibly (and even likely because of the disciple’s ministry in Israel.
Jesus’ fame was spreading rapidly, and now it reaches Herod’s ears, but he is worried about it because he assumes that the man he had wrongfully executed had come back to life.
Others had offered up their own theories as to the true identity of Jesus - which we should pause and ponder about:
If there were things about Jesus that placed Him in these kinds of categories, shouldn’t they have given Him more consideration??
This proves that Jesus was no ordinary man!
He was being mistaken for at least four major persons:
Jesus’ Mistaken Identity:
John the Baptist
Elijah
The Prophet
One of the Prophets
Jesus had made a huge impact on the people of Israel!
They recognized Him as Someone special - someone that they looked up to in a national and even spiritual sense.
And now they were trying to figure out Jesus’ identity by comparing Him to one of several prominent figures in Judaism.
John the Baptist was Herod’s take (more on that soon)
Elijah was one of the greatest prophets in Israel’s history. He was that desert fire-brand that called out King Ahab and his queen, Jezebel, for their atrocities against God.
The Jews expected an eschatological return of Elijah, based on Mal. 4:5.
5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
But Jesus dispelled this in Mark 9:13, where He explained that the future Elijah had come in the person of JtB:
13 But I say to you that Elijah has also come, and they did to him whatever they wished, as it is written of him.”
“The Prophet” likely refers to the one that Moses prophesied would come in Deut. 18:15
15 “The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear,
The last view, “like one of the prophets” was a generalized assumption, connecting Jesus to the long line of Israel’s prophets.
16 But when Herod heard, he said, “This is John, whom I beheaded; he has been raised from the dead!”
Although John never performed miracles (John 10:41), Herod’s constant state of suspicion caused him to assume that maybe raising from the dead was his first miracle and he would come and take revenge on Herod for killing him without cause.
One other important thing to take note of: John had lived a life of such devotion to God, both in his boldness and obedience, that when Jesus came on the scene, Herod saw some of the same characteristics in Jesus as he had in John…and it wasn’t because Jesus was mimicking John…it was the other way around…John had lived a life of GODLINESS, and Jesus was God in the flesh.
Even though John was not a disciple of Jesus, like the 12, he was a follower of God and therefore represented God to the best of his ability. John’s devotion to God made him like God (just as our devotion to Christ makes us start living like Him), and so this passage is really about Jesus - John is simply a supporting cast member.
John’s identity was connected to his Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth and so should ours be.
II. The Disciple’s Imprisonment
II. The Disciple’s Imprisonment
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.”
So now we get a little bit of the Herodian family politics.
The Herod spoken of in this passage is Herod Antipas - the son of Herod the Great.
Antipas was given a fourth of his father’s empire after his death, while others ruled over the other parts.
The historian Josephus wrote about this in his historical accounts.
Herod Philip was another son of Herod the Great who ruled over the area at the north of Israel.
The story has it that when the families were visiting, Antipas fell in love with his brother’s wife and ended up divorcing his own wife in order to marry her.
John the Baptist had rebuked the marriage, as the Herodian family were actually Jewish or part Jewish.
Under Mosaic law, the way this was done would have been illegal, and John was not going to back down from telling both Herod and Herodias that it was wrong.
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.
So the adulteress wanted John killed, but her new husband was afraid to do it…so she patiently waited and brooded and plotted and she eventually saw her chance.
Notice Herod’s treatment of John:
He feared John - a word like our word phobia, a state of being afraid.(Matthew tells us that Herod feared the multitude because they considered John to be a prophet, which he was)
He knew that John was just and holy - things that Herod certainly wasn’t…but it is interesting that Herod, despite his willful sin, was not ignorant - he knew better!
He protected John from Herodias’ demands for death.
He listened to John willingly, and enjoyed hearing what John had to say…he was oddly fascinated by what John had to say…(“heard him gladly”)…but with a kind of superstitious dread.
Herod saw something in John that he didn’t have and couldn’t understand - it was as if John was a link to something good, which was an anomaly in Herod’s life - he had surrounded himself with evil.
John was like a light in Herod’s darkness…like a burning torch to whom Herod was drawn like a moth to the flame, but it was always at a distance. John could speak to Herod freely, but he was not free to leave - back to the dungeon with him.
Herod was the epitome of a double-minded man, “unstable in all his ways”…he was clinging to his darkness while gazing at that light before him.
III. The Disciple’s Execution
III. The Disciple’s Execution
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.
The word “opportune” her is in direct reference to Herodias - this was HER opportunity to do away with John. His preaching had been an annoyance and even possibly a conviction and she wanted him silenced.
This is first century “cancel culture” - if you don’t like what some one else is saying, cancel them…silence them…and then everything will be ok.
Also notice who else is in attendance: nobles, high officers, and chief men - the upper crust of Galilee! And although they never speak a word in this story, they certainly have a major role to play as we will see.
So it’s Herod’s birthday, he’s throwing a big party, probably some drinking and he will be in a good mood…it is time!
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.”
To seal the deal, Herodias sends her daughter in to perform for Herod. The Bible does not tell us specifically what kind of dance this was, but it was likely a provocative, sensual, immoral performance.
This was by design to entice Herod in his state of celebration and likely drunkenness.
Also, keep in mind that this girl dancer is Herod’s niece AND his step-daughter - which adds to the disturbing and immoral atmosphere within the Herodian family.
Herod’s promise here was likely and extravagant hyperbole, as he was not technically a “king” in the true sense of the word…more like a governor who’s authority was derived from a Roman appointment.
But remember who Herod is surrounded by - all the nobles of the region - and he wants to appear extravagant, wealthy, and generous, so he makes this extravagant offer.
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.”
This exchange between Herodias and her daughter seems to confirm that Herodias was indeed behind this the whole time.
It also shows that the two were not in conspiracy together - the daughter did not know why she was asked to perform, just that her mother had required her to do so.
The request for an enemy’s head on a platter was not unheard of in the GrecoRoman world.
And now Herod was stuck in a bad place, created by his own lustful drunkenness, his desire to appear great before his esteemed guests, and his desire to protect John the Baptist.
If only he would not have allowed himself to be caught in the trap - just as many can say today - the trap of drunkenness, lust, and pride are difficult to escape from.
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.
Antipas is suddenly sober - he is “exceedingly sorry”. This is the same word Jesus used in the garden when He asked the inner three to watch and pray with Him.
This is a socially awkward situation for Antipas, and notice why - “because of those who sat with him”. These were the high-class guests who never speak a word, but have such influence over the weak-kneed Herod.
He knew it was wrong and he should have (and easily could have) refused her, but he cared more about what they thought of him…his reputation…than he cared about doing what was just and right.
mark 6.27-28
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.
Notice Mark’s key word once again - “immediately”. This was carried out right away, with no delay.
So what began as a wild, rowdy, and indecent party turned in to a somber death sentence.
Herod cared about doing what was right, which is why he had refused Herodias’ requests to execute John…but he didn’t care enough to do the hard, right thing.
Herod is an example of what a person is not to be - he is not a real man, not a man of principle and courage - he falls prey to his conniving wife and her seducing daughter.
Herod is, in many ways, a precursor to the mindset of many today, even many Americans.
I believe that most people know right from wrong - there is an innate sense of morality that God has built in to the human mind…but so many ignore that inner voice.
Our culture is much like the seductive dance of Herodias’ daughter - and then it demands our allegiance…it demands that we bring our own mind on a platter to offer up to the gods of this world - power, lust, wealth, and status.
IV. The Disciple’s Internment
IV. The Disciple’s Internment
29 When his disciples heard of it, they came and took away his corpse and laid it in a tomb.
What a tragic ending for these faithful disciples - to have to bury the headless body of their rabbi.
This was a heartbreaking end, but also a glorious beginning for John, as he stepped into the presence of his God.
John’s mission was complete - he had run his course and finished well.
30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
This was John’s heartbeat - his mission statement.
He knew that he was here temporarily to complete one specific task and it was done.
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Let us also make this our goal - Christ must increase in us as we decrease ourselves and make Him first in all things so that we will be able to say at the end- “I have fought well and can finish well.”
34 When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 35 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.
Eternal life (salvation) is a free gift…no works required! (Eph. 2:8-9)
Discipleship, however, is costly…works are required.
Three works necessary for discipleship:
“deny himself”...”take up his cross”…follow Me”...
“save his life will lose it”: loss of the abundant Christian life that Jesus wants us to have. (John 10:10)