Herod, John, and Jesus
The Gospel of Mark • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 2 viewsVerse By Verse Preaching through the Book of Mark
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Read “China’s Communist Plot in Vain”
Text
Text
14 King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.” 15 But others said, “He is Elijah.” And others said, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” 16 But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.”
17 For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because he had married her. 18 For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19 And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, 20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly. 21 But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 22 For when Herodias’s daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” 23 And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” 24 And she went out and said to her mother, “For what should I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” 25 And she came in immediately 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.” 26 And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. 27 And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison 28 and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. 29 When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.
Big Idea:
Big Idea:
The king is on the move -
Who is Jesus: the greater servant who is the king
Who is Jesus: the greater servant who is the king
John, Elijah, A Prophet all have in common with Jesus. They all resisted political rulers of their day.
Elijah resisted and preached against the sins of Ahab and Jezzabel, John the same for Herod and you could go on with other Prophets as well, Moses, Elisha, and so on.
Each of those men is a type a sign pointing to the one to come in Biblical terminology we would call those men types that find their fulfillment in Jesus the Anit-type.
Jesus unlike those prophets, who are great is not only a prophet, calling men out for their sin and calling them to repentance is actually the true king.
Rome, Herod, the Jews they’re nothing compared to him.
You can see from the text that the highest circles, the elite of society were talking about Jesus’s ministry.
Does your faith in Christ cause men to talk, maybe in derision, do people take notice? This event happens in the midst of the disciples going out in Mark’s gospel.
The actions of faith shake the very tops of society, you can see that happening today! They cause those outside the faith concern. I’ve said this before a committed Christian is the most dangerous person in our culture, you can’t be bought or sold. They’re literally in some churches according to public releases sending in secret agents to listen in, like they do in China.
Your faith even if you feel it’s small can do large things if you trust Jesus.
Implications:
Implications:
King Jesus causes fear in the kings of earth
King Jesus causes fear in the kings of earth
In Mark you see that Herod is called king
Mark The Death of John the Baptizer (6:14–29)
One of the things that must have troubled someone like “King Herod” (6:14) is that Jesus and his disciples were proclaiming the kingdom of God. It boils down to the simple message: God is king, and Herod (and anybody else) is not. Matthew 14:1 and Luke 3:19; 9:7 refer to Herod’s title correctly as tetrarch. Mark’s designation of him as a king may reflect a less technical, popular usage, or it may be intentionally ironic. The emperor Augustus specifically refused Herod that royal title when his father, Herod the Great, died, and his former kingdom was sliced up and parceled out to the surviving sons.11 Allegedly, his wife, Herodias, was so jealous when his nephew, Herod Agrippa, received the title king from the emperor Gaius Caligula in A.D. 37 that she egged on her husband to request the title for himself. His petition ultimately led to his dismissal and exile when opponents reported that he had stashed away a stockpile of weapons.12 Mark may be scornfully mocking Herod’s royal pretensions by giving him the title he coveted and that led to his ruin.13
1 Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying, 3 “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” 4 He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. 5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, 6 “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.” 7 I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. 8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” 10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. 11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
This week 3 major events happen to Christians in this country.
In this city I went to college in an elder from a like minded church went to the city counsel to advocate against the abortion clinic in the city. I remeber the location because It was near the college I attended in the very poor section of town. So it could service those in that area and the college students. That man was loving and clear and the internet and his church got tons of backlash from the message of Christ.
Last Sunday at 4:40 PM In Indiana a man named Michael Gulley was arrested by the police for sharing the gospel in a public area on public property. When he asked the police officer for the ordinances that he was violating and instead of giving it him the information the officer arrested him. The gospel in America makes those that uphold the law have to act violatently to withstrain it.
And Lastly a major political advisor, Lizzie Marbach, in Ohio Shared
“There's no hope for any of us outside of having faith in Jesus Christ alone”.
This could have been left alone, but a congressman from her state of Jewish faith said in response
“This is one of the most bigoted tweets I have ever seen. Delete it Lizze. Religious freedom in the United States applies to every religion. You have gone too far.”
This was a republican, Lizzie mentioned nothing about establishing the faith or of the sort, but was called a bigot for saying Jesus is Christ is our hope alone. He was latter joined by a democrat of the same background who agreeded with him that this basic gospel truth is bigoted.
Herod Trembled at the thought of John coming back.
Jesus is the true king regardless of the heathen nations and their plotting.
God has given the nations to his son Matt. 28:18-19
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Just as Psalm 2:8
8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.
Said God would.
Petty Tyrants, nations, magistrates must bow to Jesus. They should serve him or Psalm 2:9-12
9 You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” 10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. 11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
Resurrection was tied to God’s coming judgment. (v16)
Resurrection was tied to God’s coming judgment. (v16)
At the time the Resurrection was thought to be a prelude to the coming judgment of God. So when you read this text you can almost hear the fear in Herods voice. The text then goes on to explain what had happened in (17-29)
You have to understand that the judgment of God is indeed coming. The Resurrection has happened and the next thing is the return and judgment of God.
Now Jesus said in Revelation 22:7
7 “And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”
Now you have to put this into God’s timescale so I personally don’t think I’m going to see it happen. His faithful to a thousand generations Deut. 7:9
9 Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations,
Is how I translate that text. We aren’t close to that number at all. We aren’t even have half way to the half way mark. Yet I know no other prophecy needs to be fulfilled. So maybe Jesus will just roll in and set up his kingdom, whenever he does will be the right time.
What you need to know is that God will judge you and I for or sins and out actions.
Herod must have trembled because He not only killed one of God’s Prophets, he also killed him in response to God through John calling out Herod’s sin on incest!
About the Final Judgment
About the Final Judgment
There is will be a judgment for our actions the great White throne Judgement Some hold to 2 Judgements, some three I take the 1 perspective that The Great white throne Judgment is it.
I hold this position in part because of Rev. 6:9-11
9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. 10 They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.
So we can say that this hasn’t happened yet. That number is currently not complete.
This is what the text says about that judgement
11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done.
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.
Salvation Belongs to the Lord: An Introduction to Systematic Theology The Eternal State
After that comes God’s final judgment (Matt. 10:15; 11:22, 24; Acts 17:30–31; Rev. 20:11–15). It is a judgment of both the righteous and the wicked. Those who do not believe in Christ will be judged according to their works (Rom. 2:5–8; Rev. 20:12–13). Note how thorough the judgment is: every work, indeed every thought, will receive God’s judgment (Eccl. 12:14; Matt. 12:36). All secrets will be made known (Luke 12:2–3), and God will judge them (Rom. 2:16). Of course, nobody’s works, words, or thoughts are perfectly acceptable to God. So, God’s judgment on those outside of Christ is invariably negative, and the punishment is death—in this case, eternal death, eternal punishment, eternal separation from God.
The final judgment includes believers also. Paul says, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil” (2 Cor. 5:10; cf. Matt. 25:31–46; Rom. 14:10, 12). Of course, because of Christ, we have no fear of eternal condemnation. For his sake, our sins are forgiven; so, as Paul says in Romans 8:1, there is no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus. Indeed, Jesus says in John 5:24 that those who believe in him, even here in this world, already have everlasting life. That life will not be taken away from us at the final judgment. Rather, God will affirm that life which Jesus has bought for us with his own blood.
Some Observations
Some Observations
1. Jesus is the judge 2 Tim. 4:1
1. Jesus is the judge 2 Tim. 4:1
1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:
26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man.
Application:
Application:
This is comforting because he is a perfect judge and will not get it wrong.
2. Unbelievers will be judged. Herod’s fear was founded.
2. Unbelievers will be judged. Herod’s fear was founded.
12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.
36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,
Everything done will be made known.\
2 Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 3 Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.
Application:
Application:
This is a comfort because God will avenge wrongs done. Evils being commited by the Herods of our day will be righted. Justice will come to us, an etneral justice, a perfect justice. The scales will be righted, there is no selective enforcement with God.
3. Angels will be judged
3. Angels will be judged
4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment;
6 And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day—
10 and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
The devil’s judgment
Good angels judgement
3 Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life!
Application:
Application:
It seems that both Good and bad angels will have to give account.
So the massive spiritual evil that you may have suffered under knowingly or not will be avenged. God will make Satan’s ilk pay for the evils and murders they have done. Have you had a family memeber or friend taken in by something, enslaved by an idea or substance God will make that pay.
4. Believers will be judged
4. Believers will be judged
10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God;
12 So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
This judgement is one in which Christians will receive their rewards.
18 The nations raged, but your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.”
Your Rewards will be based on your actions
12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
Your actions Christian will dictate your station in the world to come. Will all will receive our rest, but their will be degrees in which we receive our reward. This is not a competition, we have an infinite God, but are actions will either glisten our burn up.
Application:
Application:
So forgive eagerly, quickly, and freely. God will right the wrongs perfectly. Rom. 12:19
19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
Live like a Christian, live rightoeuosly, lay uop treasurses in heaven for yourself
20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
Share the gospel - every decision in this life has an eternal impact. Every day that the Lord gives is a mercy to those who yet believe 2 Peter 3:9
9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
GIVE THE GOSPEL
GIVE THE GOSPEL