No Rest for the Wicked / Mark 6:14-29

When I was in middle school there was a popular song called, “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked.” The lyrics aren’t just catchy, they’re captivating.

Check out the chorus,

"Oh, there ain't no rest for the wicked

Money don't grow on trees

I got bills to pay

I got mouths to feed

There ain't nothing in this world for free

I know I can't slow down

I can't hold back

Though you know

I wish I could

Oh, no there ain't no rest for the wicked

Until we close our eyes for good"

The wicked live restless lives. Tonight we’ll learn of an evil couple who did a wicked deed to an innocent man.

In the end, I hope this true story serves as a warning to avoid the wicked and avoid becoming one.

Here are four realities about the wicked.

The wicked are blind to the truth.

Two weeks ago we learned from the story when Jesus sent his disciples out on a mission to expand his kingdom. That mission worked. As the disciples cast out demons, healed the sick, and preached in homes, Jesus was becoming more famous. So popular that the top leaders in the land were hearing rumors of this famous teacher from Nazareth. And so our story begins...

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.”

The Herod mentioned in this story was the son of Herod the Great. When his dad died, Rome split the leadership of the land into sections. Herod had leadership over the area where Jesus was doing ministry.

As an insecure political leader, he might have felt threatened by any single figure becoming too popular. So he and his people attempted to understand Jesus’ identity.

Some thought he was John the Baptist raised from the dead.

Some thought he was a re-incarnation of an Old Prophet.

All of them were wrong.

(The same scenario is happening today. Jesus Christ, the historical man who lived approximately 2000 years ago is still popular. People, and political leaders still feel threatened by him.

Some think he was just a good moral teacher, but not God

Some think he was just a good example, and nothing more.

All of them are wrong.

Consider this question, is it better to get information about a person from rumors or the person themselves? How many times have you said an unintentionally offensive claim about someone only for them to respond, “What? I didn’t say that?”

In the gospel, God didn’t just tell us about his nature by giving us a prophet, an angel, or a book. He came. Jesus cam as an human and spoke clearly about his true identity.)

Some were wrong because of misinformation in their head. Herod was wrong because of guilt in his heart. He was responsible for the death of John the Baptist. And John’s death haunted him. His guilt over John’s death made reality blurry.

Once Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” A pure heart is like clean glasses. It helps you see God clearly. But the opposite is also true, when your heart is wicked, it is hard to see God clearly. When it’s cloudy, though you may still feel the sun, it is harder to see the sun.

Some of you feel far from God, not because he is distant, but because you are living in sin. Let his grace replace your guilt. Then you will be able to see him clearly.

Herod’s guilt made him blind to the truth. But guilt was fitting when you learn of why he killed John.

The wicked fear people over God.

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.”

Even though speaking unpopular truth to Herod ended up getting John killed, he valued truth over Herod’s reaction. He wanted to please God instead of of pleasing people.

The emperors clothes story.

Herod divorced his wife in order to marry his brother’s wife. He didn’t care about his family. He didn’t care about God. He just wanted his way. But amazingly, even though he had no fear of God, he was afraid of his new wife.

Whatever you fear has control of you. Herod was not true leader of this land, Herodias was.

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.

Herodias was not the only one Herod feared, he also feared John. He could tell from John’s life and teaching that he was different. And yet, though he was interested in hearing John. He remained perplexed. He was confused instead of convicted. He feared John, but he never learned to hear John’s God.

This is why I will continue to warn: Christianity is the true faith, but a terrible hobby. It’s great to enjoy coming to church. It’s great to have an interest in hearing about Jesus, but has all that hearing ever led to faith in Jesus?

It didn’t for the Pharisee’s. Listen to Jesus’ conversation with them:

39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. 41 I do not receive glory from people. 42 But I know that you do not have the love of God within you. 43 I have come in my Father's name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him. 44 How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?

Seeking glory from man, and seeking to glorify God, are two pursuits heading the opposite direction. Which direction are you going?

Herod was going the wrong direction and it would lead to an innocent man’s death.

The wicked use people and abuse Christians.

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. The popular crowd was in the room that night. 22 For when Herodias's daughter Herod’s relative. 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.” Sin makes you stupid. The companion of fools will suffer harm. If you place yourself in envirmoments of sin, don’t be surprised when you leave with regret.

But that doesn’t answer the question, “what motivated this girl to come into this room in the first place? Verse 24 may be our answer, 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.”

Herodias didn’t have to think long about what she wanted. She hated John from the moment she heard his teaching. She hated John because she hated his God. And this hatred for God led to abuse in her family. She was willing to pawn off her own daughter to kill off God’s prophet.

When you stand for God there will be people who want you silenced. What should you do if you are around some of these people? Or worse, are used by these people?

A pastor used a phrase regarding manipulative people in a recent sermon that has stuck with me, “If you tolerate, they will dominate.”

“Can you do me a favor?”

“Herod, offer her your land.”

“If you do this for me, i’ll give you this in return.”

Don’t tolerate the wicked. Correct and avoid.

Sadly, because John was in prison, he was unable to avoid. It was going to cost him his life, but the cost for Herod would be much greater.

The wicked will be sorry.

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.

Truth encourages you to slow down and think. Sin wants you to speed up and act. Look at the pace of this conclusion: immediately, haste, at once, he went.

When you are out with your friends, if your conscience raises a red flag when everyone around you is rushing into foolish actions. Press pause and get out of there. It will save you a world of regret.

Herod was sorry that he gave a promise to kill John, but ultimately he loved his reputation over John’s innocent life.

At the end of this story, it seems like John lost. But the real loser was Herod and Herodias. History informs us that Herod sought power beyond what he was granted. A relative told on him, so Rome exiled him an Herodias to a foreign land. While their they committed suicide. It is said that guilt over John’s death haunted him all his days.

The song we began with had the lyric, “Oh, no there ain't no rest for the wicked Until we close our eyes for good" Sadly, this isn’t true. For God’s word tells us that when the wicked close their eyes, rather than finding rest, they find judgment.

Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm. Maybe you need new friends. Maybe your goal this year will be becoming less popular, as you speak the truth and commit to befriending others who do the same.