John the Baptizer’s Death Points Us to Jesus based on Mark 6:14-29

Let us pray: Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. Amen.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The life of John the Baptizer was dedicated to getting people ready for the One who would come after him. Mark 1:1-5 begins Mark’s Gospel with these words, “1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, 3 the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’ 4 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.”

John baptized people and they came to be baptized from all over the region of Judea and the city of Jerusalem. They confessed their sins. John baptized them as they repented of their sins for the forgiveness of those sins. The main reason John the Baptizer was born and lived was to point people to Jesus.

Mark 1:6-8 continues, “6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And he preached, saying, ‘After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’”

John the Baptizer knew that someone mightier was coming after him. He knew that he baptized people with water, but Christian baptism would be with the Holy Spirit. John the Baptizer knew that he must decrease and that Jesus would increase in popularity. When Jesus started His earthly ministry of preaching and teaching and doing miracles, John the Baptizer was put in prison.

The verses right before today’s Gospel lesson in Mark (6:12-13) tell us about the result of Jesus sending out His twelve closest followers, “12 So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. 13 And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.”

Herod heard about Jesus and His student disciples. He began to think John the Baptizer had been raised from the dead. Then, Mark’s Gospel tells us about Herod’s part in the death of John the Baptizer. This Herod was a son of Herod the Great who had tried to kill Jesus in Bethlehem not long after Jesus had been born. This Herod had divorced his wife and married Herodias, the wife of his brother. John the Baptizer had told him that he was doing something unlawful by marrying his brother’s wife. Herodias had a grudge against John for his preaching of the Law of God and she had urged Herod to put John in prison. Herod liked to listen to John’s words, but Herod was perplexed by John’s words. One day during Herod’s birthday celebration with many guests the daughter of Herodias danced for them. Herod was so pleased that he offered the girl whatever she wished. She asked her mother about this and she was told to ask for the head of John the Baptizer. She did something even more cruel and requested the head of John on a platter right away. Herod was sorry about his promise, but he did not change his mind. Herod did not want to look bad in front of his guests, so he had John’s head brought to her on a platter. Herod was haunted by that day. Herod had sinned by allowing his promise to the daughter of Herodias to end in the death of John the Baptizer.

Do you have any sins that still haunt you? Have you done something cruel in the past that you wish you had never done? Have you said something hurtful to someone in the past that you wish you had never said? Have you wondered if God could really forgive those sins and wrongs you have committed in the past?

Each sin you commit makes you guilty before God. Each wrong you do makes you in need of forgiveness. Maybe your family is more important to you than God is. Maybe your hobbies are more precious to you than God is. Maybe you look out mainly for yourself rather than doing what God wants you to do. Maybe you think you are a good person without any help from God. Sin and wrongdoing cause us to need mercy from God.

Herod was wrong about thinking that Jesus was John the Baptizer who had been raised from the dead. John the Baptizer’s death points us to Jesus though. Jesus is the One who had sent out His student disciples to go two by two to teach people to repent in sadness over their sins and wrongs. Jesus gave His twelve student disciples the ability to cast out demons and heal people of their illnesses. Jesus Himself also taught people to repent of their many sins and wrongs. Jesus Himself also cast out demons and healed people of their illnesses.

One day Jesus would be killed as John the Baptizer had been killed. The death of Jesus was to pay in full for the sins and wrongs of the people of the entire world. The death of Jesus was to redeem all the people of the world from their sins and wrongs. The death of Jesus was a once for all sacrifice for the sins and wrongs of all people.

No matter what sin or wrong of the past might haunt you this morning. No matter what you have said or done that you wish you could take back. No matter how small your faith might be this morning. Repent in sadness over your many sins and wrongs and ask God for forgiveness. I have good news for you. God loves you and He sent Jesus to show you His great love for you. God has mercy on you for the sake of Jesus who gave His precious life for you. God gives you peace because of the peace Jesus won for you by dying in your behalf. God forgives you for the sake of Jesus.

Herod was wrong in thinking John the Baptizer had come back to life again. We are glad that Jesus not only suffered and died for us. Jesus also came back to life again on the third day for us. Jesus ascended to heaven for us. Jesus continues to bring us to repent in sadness because of our sins and wrongs. Jesus continues to give us forgiveness in His saving name. Jesus continues to help us know the love and peace of God. In our baptism into the Christian faith we are made into adopted and loved children of God. In the Lord’s Supper we are forgiven anew and strengthened in our faith in the Lord. In the pages of the Bible we are shown our sins and shown our Savior in Jesus. Through faith in Jesus we no longer need to be haunted by the sins and wrongs of the past. Through faith in Jesus we know that we are loved by God now and forever. Through faith in Jesus we serve God and serve those around us in Jesus’ name. Amen.

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.