The Death of John the Baptist, a Great Prophet

Mark 6:14-20, 21-29

Introduction:

- When life and death does not make sense, we need to remember that He calls His own, all His own, sheep by name and leads them.

John 10:3–4 ESV

To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.

- Christ knows the names of (source - Voice of the Martyrs – Canada):

- The members of the Baptist Church in Karshi, Uzbekistan, whose April 9/23 Easter Service was interrupted by police who broke open the door and forced them outside.

- Sara Ahmadi and Homayoun Zhaveh, a Christian couple in Iran, were convicted of being members of a house church in November 2021. In Iran’s Supreme Court, on April 9/23, their third appeal for retrial was accepted.

- The more than thirty-five people, including pregnant women and children, who were murdered on April 7/23 by militant forces in an IDP camp in Benue State, Nigeria.

Those who have graciously mentioned to others that while the consensus might the developing majority consensus might be that some things are okay and instead of being confronted as unlawful according to God’s word, should be affirmed so that no one is offended.

Theft from employer by doing personal work during paid time.

Lying by default when choosing to say nothing or not to tell the truth when asked - “Who broke window?” - Responding, I don’t know when did it or know who did.

MAID - Not the honorable choice or version of suicide that is being affirmed by so many.

Sexuality - while God made us sexual beings, His word explains that some practices of our sexuality are not permitted/are against the law/unlawful.

Refugees and asylum seekers - who want a better life for them and their children - Libya, Iran, North Korea, Central America,oppressive regimes Government assigned land for native peoples.

Those who have cried out to God, “God if You are there, please help me!”

Whether:

Homeless person on Dundas Street/Woodstock or the Bay Street Business person who own many properties but lives alone in a condominium on Dundas St/Toronto.

Those who are abused or used.

- Our heavenly Father always knows each of us by name and always remembers all of us. (Ex 33:12-17; Lk 12:4-7). NOT ALL ISRAEL WAS BELIEVING.

Exodus 33:12–17 ESV

Moses said to the Lord, “See, you say to me, ‘Bring up this people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.’ Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.” And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” And he said to him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?” And the Lord said to Moses, “This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.”

Luke 12:4–7 ESV

“I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.

Even when faithful servants might not be remembered by some of us, God remembers all His sheep by name:

The text before us focuses on John the Baptist, of whom Jesus said:

Matthew 11:11 ESV

Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

The context of Jesus’ answer is significant. John had been imprisoned, probably the imprisoned referred to in Mark 6.

John the Baptist was confused. He had introduced Jesus, the Christ as the one who would bring fierce judgment.

Matthew 3:12 ESV

His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

Jesus’ ministry of healing and teaching in the cities of the disciples - Matt 11:1 - , all of whom were from Galilee, Jesus answered that He was doing what the OT said He would do - Is 29:18-19; 35:5-10-

Matthew 11:4–6 ESV

And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

Jesus then affirmed John’s ministry.

1. The message of John the Baptist, a great prophet, remembered – Mk 6:14-20-

Mark’s added detail is noteworthy. Because Mark’s account of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Son of man is usually concise, when he adds details that are unique in his account we need to underline them. He includes some names that others do not - Jairus, the names of Jesus’ 1/2 brothers, the disciples whom Jesus called first and the 12.

Here than go from Jesus being rejected in Nazareth - Matt 13:53-58 - to John the Baptist’s death - Matt 14:1-12 - as Matthew did, Mark recounted the continued impact of the ministry of John the Baptist that was prompted by Jesus becoming further known when He sent out the 12, two by two.

- Because:

- Jesus’ name had become known.

Herod heard of the ministry of the disciples generally, but specifically that Jesus’ name had become known.

While the disciples - two by two - proclaimed that people needed to repent and the miraculous power underscored that they had called and anointed by God. In this, Jesus name became known. It was not about them but Jesus, Jesus name.

Acts 4:12–13 ESV

And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.

Salvation, forgiveness of sin and being saved are inseparably connected with Jesus.

“There are only two religious paths: the broad way of works salvation, leading to eternal death, and the narrow way of faith in Jesus, lead to eternal death.” (MacArthur Study Bible - Acts 4:12- )

Acts 4:12–13 ESV

And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.

Matthew 7:13–14 ESV

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

It was Jesus’ name that became known - not the church, not the denomination, not some means of grace or rite of entrance into heaven. Jesus never said that He would build His church through which people would go to heaven. Jesus made that clear.

Matthew 7:13–14 ESV

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

John 14:6 ESV

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 10:7–8 ESV

So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.

Attending church is not the door. Being part of a family who profess personal faith in Christ is not the door/passport to heaven.

- His message had been and continued to be clear and convicting.

- By:

Herod and others.

Herod Archelaus/Herod the tetrarch (one of four) - Lk 3:19 - - ruled Judea in place of father Herod the Great - Matt 2:22 -

History indicates - not a Jew but from Idumea

Son of Herod the Great

Whom the wise men visited - Matt 2:1 -

Ordered killing of male children in Bethlehem two years and younger

Died when Joseph, Mary & Jesus in Egypt - Matt 2:19 -

Other sons:

Herod Philip II - ruled regions north of Galilee - Lk 3:1 -

Herod Antipas - ruled Galilee and Perea - Lk 3:1 -

Lysanias of Abilene - Lk 3:1 - history says almost nothing about him

Abilene - small realm on western slopes of Mt Hermon

Abilia - principal town in Abilene

- Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife whom he had married.

2. The death of John the Baptist, the last Old Testament Prophet/the first martyr for Christ, recorded – Mk 6:21-29

- A rash offer from Herod was seized by the daughter of Herod and Herodias

- Because:

-Herod was more concerned about keeping up appearances than his integrity.

- Herodias was more concerned about eliminating the reminders of her disobeying God’s law than disobeying God’s law.

- Remembered and honoured by his disciples.

When each of us comes to the end of our road, by God’s grace:

1. He remembers us and calls us by name.

2. Jesus’ name will be known.

3. Our witness will be remembered.

4. We will finish well.

AWV/May 28/23