At Odds with the World

Context

Summer Series: The Life of Faith. Focus: Faith Awakened. Basic building blocks of relationship with Jesus. This week: being at odds with the world.

Last week. Mark chapter 6:1-13. Jesus sent his disciples out to preach his message. Came back with success. Healings, miracles, people eager to meet Jesus.

Word of Jesus’ ministry and that of his disciples soon reaches the ears of Herod Antipas, “king” in Galilee.

Mark the Gospel writer, Josephus the ancient historian, and modern scholars offer different details about Herod Antipas, Mark’s basic picture is this:

When Herod the Great died he divided the kingdom among 4 of his sons. Two are named in today’s story: Antipas and Philip.

Philip, was married to a woman named Herodias. They had a teenage daughter named Salome.

Herod had an affair with Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. Eventually, Herodias divorced Philip. Herod divorced his wife. Herod and Herodias married each other. An arrangement in violation of Mosaic law.

John the Baptist, who preached repentance from sin and preparation for the ministry of Jesus, called out Herod and Herodias’ illicit relationship. Eventually Herod threw John into prison and executed him. (Luke 3:18)

This is the story of how it all happened.

Text

Mark 6:14–29 ESV

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.” But others said, “He is Elijah.” And others said, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.” 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. For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, 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. But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 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.” And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” And she went out and said to her mother, “For what should I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” 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.” And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

Introduction

An example of being a traveler. Try not to stand out as an American. Can make you a target for pick pockets, etc.

Don’t wear athletic clothing — like sweatpants — when you aren’t working out.

Don’t eat/drink and walk at the same time.

Don’t be so loud.

In other words, blend in.

Christians we may adopt the strategy of blending in. To avoid being a target.

Mark inserts the story of John the Baptist’s death right on the heals of the disciples first mission to challenge that idea.

Ancient Problem

John in the prison of Herod.

Herod recognized John as a prophet. A righteous and holy man. John stood out among everyone else who was too afraid to speak the truth to power.

Herod had arrested John because Herodias had a grudge against him, for denouncing her marriage to Herod.

Herod liked to listen to John. He was perplexed…not sure what to do about what he heard. Other historians say that Herod Antipas was in some respects indecisive.

But Herod did this: he protected John from Herodias. Prison bars like a buffer between John and Herodias.

Until..Herod threw a party. And Herodias saw an opening.

Herod parties known for drunkenness and showing off. His birthday even more. Herod wants to impress all his political and social allies — nobles, commanders, and leading men. Drinking, congratulating, posturing. Volatile, unstable situation.

So, in the midst of the party, Herodias sends in Salome to dance. Usually a suggestive, titillating dance that for the men. Certainly not for a princess or for a daughter-in-law. But mom, bent on revenge, sends her in…to get what she eventually obtains.

Salome comes in and dances. The men are all “pleased.”

Herod wants to show his power, “I’ll give you anything you want up to half my kingdom.”

probably did not expect her to come up with anything too grand.

But Salome goes out to her mother… Herodias, has her opening. Ask for the head of John the Baptist. Finally, my revenge. Shut that prophet up!

Salome goes in immediately and with haste, as if she were already primed for the plan. Give me the head of the baptist on a platter.

King is sorry, but doesn’t want to lose face. Prophet or his guests? His kingdom or the kingdom of God? He makes his choice. Send the executioner to get the head.

John the Baptist in prison these many months.

Living on Jesus’ words. Matthew 11:4–5 “And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John in prison what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk,..and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.”

The executioner comes in, probably no explanation given. Just thrown onto the block and beheaded. His body cast aside.

Executioner brings the head on a platter (how grotesque), gives it to the girl, she gives it to her mother.

Thus died the great John the Baptist.

Current Problem - Discipleship may lead us to suffering

The historical details emphasizes that the death of John the Baptist happened in the real world at the hands of real people with real weaknesses, passions, and agendas.

The story of John the Baptist inserted here after the mission of the 12 disciples, is placed here to make us reckon with the fact, that if we stand out as Christians we may encounter opposition and persecution…not abstractly, but really and in our real, lived experience.

A church member who was open about being a Christian, he was okay with people thinking him a bit prudish or conservative. But it was scary when someone else got selected for a project because they were (in his words) “more corporate and less Christian.” It cost him money. It cost him lifestyle for his family. Anxiety: I could get phased out, need a job.

News: Christian doctors struggling with ethical concerns in practice…mandated to prescribe certain medicines or not/offer certain kinds of advice or have to perform certain procedures…if I don’t, I could lose my career.

The World Watch list (https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cdp-2024-0017.) (accessed 7.11.2024) is an annual report published by Open Doors, an NGO which supports Christians worldwide, and lists the fifty countries in which Christians face the “most extreme persecution”. — loss of property, imprisonment, death. The report for 2023 said that:

Around 365 million Christians are subject to “high levels of persecution and discrimination” (333 million USA citizens…so, the entire population of our country)

1 in 7 Christians are persecuted worldwide. (out of 100, pick 7 people, lost job, lost a family member, lost house or property…)

it would be nice to live in a world where this did not happen.

The experience of John the Baptist and experience of brother and sister Christians shows us that this world is not yet that.

Hinge

The good news, is that because Christians suffer does not mean there is something wrong with them…but something that needs to be healed in the world.

John the Baptist chose to stand out on purpose, even though it meant suffering.

Ancient Solution

John was killed, but he was not merely a victim. He was a martyr. Martyr means witness. His life and his death pointed toward truth — the Kingdom of God is real: there is justice and righteousness and Jesus is the Christ who brings it.

Before his birth, the angel Gabriel promised: He will go before Christ in the spirit and power of Elijah, to make ready a people for the Lord. (Luke 1:17) John was faithful to that.

At his birth, his father Zechariah prophesied: you child shall be called the prophet of the most high, to prepare his ways, to give the knowledge of salvation and the forgiveness of sins. (Luke 1:76) John was faithful to that.

At the river, as a grown man, John preached: “there is one greater than I coming, his winnowing fork is in his hand, repent of your sins!” (Luke 1:16; Mark 1:4) He was faithful to that.

When John saw Jesus he said, “Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29) John was faithful to that.

When his own disciples went after Jesus, John said, “My joy is complete. He must increase, and I must decrease.” (John 3:29-30) John was faithful to that to the point of execution.

John by submitting to prison and death fulfilled his prophetic vocation/calling.

John prefigured Jesus’ death. Jesus would stand before Pilate who, like Herod, would not make a decision to protect Jesus but would surrender him to the murderous demands of the others. Jesus, like John, went to his death believing God would raise him up.

And Jesus was raised from the dead on the third day.

This is the reversal of the gospel.

Blessed are you when you are persecuted for righteousness sake, for yours is the kingdom of heaven.

Strangely, we might expect the good news would have been that John was spared prison and death. But rather, the good news is that John died — for Christ, in Christ, like Christ, and therefore shared in his resurrection.

Romans 6:5 “For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.”

So John’s disciples came and took John’s body and buried it. It is a calm, sad, and hopeful event. For Jesus, learning of John’s death said, None greater has arisen than John the Baptist…yet even the least in the Kingdom of God is greater than he.” (Matt 11:11) John has handed on the message to all who will believe and stand out.

Current Solution

We are part of the company of disciples who believe and have received John’s testimony.

It wasn’t easy for John to stand by his faith. But he did it.

The same can be true for us.

We suffer for the things that are most important to us.

If you are committed to education, you suffer to learn. And that shows it is important to you.

If married, suffer to stay married.

If you have a job, you suffer to keep it.

If you want health, you suffer to keep it.

If you want the Kingdom of God, through our suffering, we show this is important. If we pay the ultimate price, we say this is supremely important.

Jesus is not asking us to simply be victims, to stand out for not good reason. To be like tourists who offend the locals by being insensitive or even rude.

Jesus invites us to stand out for a good reason: to be be witnesses to the truth.

When we became Christian, the love of God flooded our hearts and we know God loves everyone with that same unconditional love…we can stand out for that.

people all around us, need to know they are loved. Even if others say, no, you are just a face in a crowd.

There is love because there is Jesus…and I’ll take a hit for that.

As we have grown in Christ, we have experienced the power of God to help us quit sinning and grow in goodness..stand out for that.

There are people who are looking for a better way of life…even if others say, do whatever you can get away with.

There is a straight and narrow because there is Jesus and I will take a hit for that.

As we have aged in Christ, increased hope for life eternal, that in the end there is joy not grief, we can stand out for that.

those who still walk in the shadow death need that light, even if some will say stop comforting people with fantasy!

There is resurrection because there is Jesus, and I will take a hit for that.

When speak these kinds of messages, even if it results in opposition from those who just don’t want to change, who don’t want the Kingdom to interfere, we show ourselves, and everyone else what is really important.

John was blessed by Jesus for being faithful, even though, and especially because, it was sealed in his suffering. He was great in the kingdom of God.

The same can be true for us.

Philippians 3:10–11 O “that I may know Jesus and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that … I may attain the resurrection from the dead.”

When the day of our death comes, our lives will be assessed. Let us not be “blessed” so-called because we never suffered (as if that were possible) but let us be blessed because because we suffered for the for the kingdom of God.

Conclusion

Tourist warnings to blend in. End result, that the locals never even knew an American was there.

The gospel call is to not blend in. To stand out. So that everyone knows Christ is here.