The Death of John the Baptist

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Psalm 73:23–26 ESV

Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

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Reading

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.

Sermon

Previously: Jesus sends out the 12 Disciples

Last Week: Messengers from John the Baptist

The exact order of events in the Gospels is hard to define

Likewise the exact passage of time is also hard to determine

Mark 6:14–15 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.”

King Herod hears of Jesus’ sending out of the 12 Disciples

Herod was the son of Herod the Great, and the title of King is used very loosly

The Palace was some distance from the Capernium (NW) and Sea of Galillee

Herod hears of Jesus and is perplexed

Mark shares of this situation and then in following verses provides the back story for the reader

Responses:

“John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.”

“He is Elijah.”

“He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.”

Mark 6:16 ESV

But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.”

Herod with a guilty conscience and a morbid feverish imagination declares to his servants

It is at this point Mark recognises he has not informed his readers of the Death of John the Baptist and receeeds to provide the back story.

Mark 6:17–18 ESV

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.”

Herod had a brother, Philip

Herod married Philip’s wife, called Herodias

John the Baptist, had said to Herod that it was not lawful for him to do so

John called the people to repentance and he declared the message bravely to even the rulers

Mark 6:19–20 ESV

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.

Herodias held a grudge against John and wanted him put to death

Herod feared John, recognosing that he was a righteous and holy man

“Kept Safe” - John was held in the palace as a prisoner

Mark 6:21 ESV

But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee.

Herodius sought every opportunity

Herod’s birthday occurs and he has a banquet for his nobles, military commanders and leading men of Galilee

Mark 6:22–25 ESV

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.”

Herodias daughter danced for Herod and his guests

Herod offers her what ever she would wish for (showing off)

She returns to her mother and asks what she should ask for

Herodius says “The head of John the Baptist”

Her daughter promptly returns to Herod with the answer

Mark 6:26 ESV

And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her.

Despite clear opportunity to reject her request … e.g.

I promised a gift, not a promise to commit a crime

I promised you, not your mother

Herod was unhappy with the reply but didn’t want to lose face in front of his guests, or break his word

Mark 6:27–28 ESV

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.

Herod instructs the executioner, who goes to John who is resident in the prison

John’s head arrives in the banquet hall on a platter and is given to the girl, who in turn gives it to her mother

Mark 6:29 ESV

When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

John the Baptist’s disciples take his body and lay it in a tomb

Things we can take from this:

When we sin there is a price to pay

Our conscience will be plagued with guilt

Personal Grudges lead to greater sin

Beware of speaking rashly

Avoid compromising situations

Prepare for Persecution

Put God in the Centre of your family home

Stay true to your spouse

Keep yourself pure

Hymn - O HOW GOOD IT IS (1264) - Stuart Townend, Keith & Kristyn Getty, Ross Holmes

Closing Prayer

Doxology