A Summertime Warning

A King Enslaved

In all of Mark’s gospel – there are only 2 passages that are NOT about Jesus Christ. Both of them are about John the Baptist. The first announces his arrival on the scene as the one who comes to prepare the way for Jesus the Son of God. Our text this morning is the second and just like the first one – here John is going before Jesus again. His faithfulness to the ministry God has given him, leads him to suffering – and then to death at the hands of the earthly authorities – which is a foreshadowing of the pathway Jesus will walk himself.

The title for this morning’s message may seem a little strange to you: “A Summertime Warning?!” Why a warning on a beautiful summer day? If you’re having a challenge, trying to understand the connection

The title for this morning’s message may seem a little strange to you: “A Summertime Warning?!” Why a warning on a beautiful summer day? If you’re having a challenge, trying to understand the connection

Summertime is the season when we tend to relax a little bit. Many of the pressures of the busy routine of the school and work year are off - the weather is good, there’s more time for your family and friends … time for travelling or camping or even just sitting beside a lake, with an ice-cold drink in your hand … “The Lazy Days of Summer” we call them. And rightly so ...

… that’s a blessing - there is a time for everything, Ecclesiastes tells us - - - that includes a time to work and a time to rest.

My concern, this morning, is that in these days of relaxation and ease, there’s a temptation to let the guard down in our spiritual battle as well. The days of ease can be soul-destroying days. There is danger in the summertime. And I’m here this morning to beg you - don’t let your soul be destroyed.

A few years ago, there was a Brinks’ Armoured truck, crossing an overpass, in a poor section of Miami Florida. It was morning rush hour - cars and people everywhere. SUddenly, there was a mechanical failure with the armoured car. The brakes locked up, the vehicle flipped over and as it hit the ground, wheels up … the back doors flew open, sending money bags, dollar bills, and coins falling to the street below.

A few years ago, there was a Brinks’ Armoured truck, crossing an overpass, in a poor section of Miami Florida. It was morning rush hour - cars and people everywhere. SUddenly, there was a mechanical failure with the armoured car. The brakes locked up, the vehicle flipped over and as it hit the ground, wheels up … the back doors flew open, sending money bags, dollar bills, and coins falling to the street below.

A few years ago, there was a Brinks’ Armoured truck, crossing an overpass, in a poor section of Miami Florida. It was morning rush hour - cars and people everywhere. SUddenly, there was a mechanical failure with the armoured car. The brakes locked up, the vehicle flipped over and as it hit the ground, wheels up … the back doors flew open, sending money bags, dollar bills, and coins falling to the street below.

A few years ago, there was a Brinks’ Armoured truck, crossing an overpass, in a poor section of Miami Florida. It was morning rush hour - cars and people everywhere. SUddenly, there was a mechanical failure with the armoured car. The brakes locked up, the vehicle flipped over and as it hit the ground, wheels up … the back doors flew open, sending money bags, dollar bills, and coins falling to the street below.

The driver and other Brinks’ officer, were laying, bruised and bleeding in the wreckage of the truck … and meanwhile - a party broke loose outside of the truck as thousands and thousands of dollars blew in the breeze.

Motorists stopped dead, right in the middle of traffic, and jumped out of their vehicles to scoop up arms-full of cash, before getting back into their vehicles and continuing their morning commute to work. Thousands of crisp bills and shiny rained down from the overpass, down onto a poor neighborhood below. Mothers with babies started grabbing the falling bills and coins and stashing them in their strollers. An elderly woman filled a box … a young school girl dumped the books out of her backpack and loaded it up with coins and bills.

In interviews with the local tv and newspaper - people on the scene grabbing, and even some just watching - the people had plenty of justification for taking this money and making it their own.

In January 1997, a Brinks’ Armoured truck was driving on an overpass in a poor section of Miami, during morning rush hour when its brakes locked and it overturned. The truck's back doors flew open, sending money bags, dollar bills, and coins falling to a street below. "The truck literally split open like a sardine can," While the driver and a fellow Brinks’ officer lay bruised and bleeding, a festive atmosphere broke loose outside the truck as thousands of dollars blew n the breeze.

One resident of the neighborhood asked this question, “Which is more moral? To return the money and leave your children in poverty - or maybe send them to college and enrich the family for generations??”

Motorists stopped in rush hour traffic, then scooped up cash before resuming their commutes to the office. Thousands of crisp bills and shiny coins rained down an overpass onto a Miami neighborhood. Below, mothers with babies grabbed coins and piled them into strollers. An elderly woman filled a box. A young school girl dumped her book bag and loaded it with coins and bills.

Someone else was dancing with delight and shouting, “Santa Claus just came to the ghetto!”

Not everybody there responded in that way though.

Onlookers and participants had plenty of justifications and rationalizations for taking this money and making it their own.

Several people came forward and turned money over to the authorities.

Which is more moral,? asked one resident of the impoverished neighborhood, ?to return the money and leave your children improvised-or maybe send them to college and enrich the family for generations??

Herbert Tarvin, 11, came forward after his teacher at St. Francis Xavier elementary lectured students about making the right decision. He went to the police and handed over what he grabbed that day - it was a whole 85 cents.

Herbert told a tv reporter: “I knew it was wrong for me to keep anything. And I know if I kept it, I would have been stealing.”

A firefighter, named Manny Rodriguez, recovered a bag containing $330,000 in cash - and he had this to say:

“Santa Claus came to the ghetto”

There were some heroes on that day in Miami. Several people came forward and turned money over to authorities.

Herbert Tarvin, 11, came forward after his teacher at St. Francis Xavier Elementary School lectured students about making the right decision. He went to police with 85 cents.

“People were almost killed in that truck and people are calling it a blessing from God. That wasn’t a blessing; it was a test. The rich, the poor, the middle class-everybody should have a conscience.”

“I knew it was wrong for me to keep anything,” Herbert told a television reporter, “…and I knew if I kept it I would have been stealing.”

“Everybody should have a conscience”.

Manny Rodriguez, a firefighter who recovered a bag containing $330,000 in cash, summed things up pretty well.

“People were almost killed in that truck and people are calling it a blessing from God. That wasn’t a blessing; it was a test. The rich, the poor, the middle class-everybody should have a conscience.”

I want to ask you a question, this morning: “How is your conscience?” The story in our passage this morning is not just a history of John’s death … it’s actually a case study in the killing

I want to ask you a question, this morning, “How is your conscience?” The incident, in our passage this morning, is not just a history of John’s death – it is a case study in the killing of a conscience. What a gift from God is your conscience. It is one of the factors that makes you differ from monkeys and dolphins and computers. You are made in God's image and likeness, and one of the proofs that this is so is this divine monitor planted in your heart that commends you when you do right, and warns you when you do wrong. It is the voice of God. This section of Scripture is a case study in how to kill a conscience.

I want to ask you a question, this morning, “How is your conscience?” The incident, in our passage this morning, tells us about the death of John the Baptist. It’s a tragic story. BUT - the tragedy here is NOT John’s death - John the Baptist goes out triumphantly. No, the tragedy here is in Herod’s life. What we have here – is a case study in the killing of a conscience.

What a gift from God your conscience is. Here’s another pointer to the reality that we as Human beings, are not evolved from amoeba and apes … but we are the special creation of God - made in His image .... Every one of us is born with a conscience.

Animals don’t have that - Attacked by a dog .... does the dog sit in his pen afterwards mourning his poor actions?

No, you are made in God’s Image, friend - and one of the proofs of that is this divine monitor that God planted in your heart: It commends you when you do right .... it warns you when you do wrong. “I know I shouldn’t have done that ...”. That’s the voice of God - It’s His gift. And it can be destroyed.

Our text this morning is a case study in how to kill a conscience. And this summer morning - this is my warning to you: YOU CAN KILL YOUR CONSCIENCE … and here is my plea: “DON’T GO DOWN THIS TRAGIC ROAD.” In the lazy, carefree days of summer - don’t be lazy in keeping watch over this mark of DIGNITY that God has blessed you with.

Today I want to ask you how are things between you and your conscience, and I want to hold up before you a man who killed his conscience - and what happened to him. Four steps in the killing of a conscience:

Let me ask you a question, “How are things between you and your conscience?”

Let’s look at Herod - a man who killed his … let’s see what happened to him. Let me point out from our text - FOUR STEPS in the killing of a conscience:

The FIRST STEP in killing a conscience - WILLFULLY DISOBEY GOD’S WORD. That’s where Herod begins. To understand this story, you need to understand a little about this King Herod.

Let me give you a short, little glimpse into the life of Herod Antipas - and what a twisted, soap-opera life it is. The Herod in our text isn’t Herod the Great - the one who killed all the babies of Bethlehem after Jesus was born. This is one of his sons. This Herod Antipas had been married for over 20 years to the same woman. But he went on a visit to his brother Philip and fell in love with another woman - - Herodias .... who just happens to be his own brother’s wife (and Herod Antipas’ neice, as well - - you think our society is the only twisted one in history?!). Antipas and Herodias decide they want to get married - so Antipas divorces his wife, Herodias divorces her husband - so she can marry his brother .... and that’s exactly what happens.

In our text, Mark refers to this Herod as ‘KING’. He’s using irony when he does that. Herod WANTS desperately to be a king, he CALLS himself a king, but he isn’t a king at all. In fact, later on - after the events of our chapter - spurred on by his ‘nagging wife’ Herodias, who was jealous of another one of Herod’s brothers, who really was given the title, ‘king’ by Caesar, Herod sails all the way to Rome to ask Caesar, “Can I have the title of king .... pretty please?!” Caesar doesn’t trust him - doesn’t trust his motives, so not only does he NOT give him the title ‘King’, he even strips away the territory he does have … and he sends Herod and Herodias into exile - to Spain or maybe Northern France.

This is a twisted life - you can be sure that when this Herod seduces his neice, the wife of his brother, cheating on his own wife in the process - you can be sure he knows that ‘THIS IS NOT A MORALLY UPSTANDING THING TO DO’ .... but he IGNORES his conscience and willfully disobeys God’s command. That’s the first step in killing you conscience - Ignore it and walk willfully into sin. Do you know

Mark calls Herod ‘king’. He is using irony. The one who wants to be king, he calls himself a king, but he isn’t king at all. In fact, spurred on by his ‘nagging wife’ Herodias, who was jealous of another one of Herod’s brothers who really was given the title ‘king’ by Caesar, Herod sails to Rome to ask for the title ‘king’ for himself. Caesar doesn’t trust his motives and so, not only does he NOT give him the title, he also strips away the territory he does have and sends Herod and Herodias into exile, to Spain, or possibly Northern France.

he does have and sends Herod and Herodias into exile, to Spain, or possibly Northern France.

This is a twisted life – you can be sure that when this Herod seduces his niece, the wife of his brother, cheating on his own wife in the process – you can be sure that he knows this is not a morally upstanding thing to do. But he willfully disobeys God’s command.

THE SECOND STEP in killing a conscience is to ATTEMPT TO SILENCE IT. In case there was any possible way Herod did not realize his action with Herodias was wrong - God sends him a messenger. John the Baptist speaks the truth of God’s word to the man. Verse 18, “John had been saying to Herod, ‘It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife’.”

I don’t know everything that John said to Herod, but I am sure he would have taken him back to the OT book of Leviticus, which is clear about God’s view of what Herod’s lifestyle choices. , “Do not have sexual relations with your brother’s wife.” 20:21, “If a man marries his brother’s wife, it is an act of impurity - he has dishonored his brother.” John doesn’t tell him this just once …

Notice the wording in v. 18, “John HAD BEEN SAYING ...”. In other words, John is in Herod’s face with the Word of God. Herod is confronted by the truth ..... and his response?

He chooses to NOT listen. Instead he closes his ears. Verse 17, he … “sent and seized John and bound him in prison.”

And oh, how relevant is that response - it’s the same course of action that so many people follow when they are confronted by a sin they don’t want to give up.

See Herod’s conscience … writhing and wriggling on the ground. But it’s still squirming. It’s not dead yet.

That is the course of action that so many people follow when they are confronted with a sin they do not want to give up.

Look at v. 19, “Herodias had a grudge against (John) and wanted to put him to death. But she could not ...”. The new wife hates John - wants her husband to use his power to kill him, snuff out his voice. But Antipas won’t go for it. Verse 20 .... “Herod FEARED John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe.”

So Herod hates what John is telling him - doesn’t want to listen … but he keeps protecting him - even with the pressure of his wife to just silence this voice … Herod can’t bring himself to do it. There’s God’s grace in action.

The conscience is still alive – still squirming though. V. 19 says that Herodias wants John dead - - she is holding a grudge and prison is not enough. But Herod will not go for it. Verse 20, “Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man and kept him safe.”

You can fight the voice of conscience, you plug your ears … but in God’s grace - if you are a child of His - - - He will poke you … jab you with the voice of conscience: “KNOCK IT OFF”. It’s God’s gracious, merciful way of protecting you from destroying yourself. Are you listening?!!

We can fight the voice of conscience, we can try to turn it off, but you know that in God’s grace, He will poke you, like a pinprick, with the voice of conscience – “Knock it off” – It is His gracious, merciful way of protecting

We can fight the voice of conscience, we can try to turn it off, but you know that in God’s grace, He will poke you, like a pinprick, with the voice of conscience – “Knock it off” – It is His gracious, merciful way of protecting

THIRD STEP in killing a conscience is to PERSISTENTLY PUT OFF DEALING WITH SIN.

Did you notice the second half of v. 20 … “When Herod heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.” Isn’t that interesting?!

Regularly the door of John’s dungeon cell creaks open … his chains are unfastened … and he is led upstairs to the throne room, where Herod, the wanna-be king is waiting to hear more of his teaching.

It’s perplexing … it’s troubling … but it’s strangely fascinating - - - so he wants to hear more. I wonder how many times Herod brought John for a private session? ..... TEN TIMES? TWENTY? FIFTY TIMES? However many times it was - you can be sure that every single time John was dragged up, out of the dungeon, to stand before the man who could decide his freedom … John spoke the word of God every. Single. Time. He was unwavering.

And his message finds curious ears … what it doesn’t find - - is a soft heart. Herod was a ‘Buckley’s Mixture’ listener to John’s sermons. “Buckley’s Mixture” - you know about that. Buckley’s Mixture is that cough medicine that came up with a fantastic advertising idea. You know how cough medicine tastes - - gross. And so many cough medicines try to hide the bad taste … “Here - try ours … it tastes like cherry? Ours tastes like bubble gum ....” - - and the more they try to hide the taste .... the worse it gets.

Buckley’s fantastic advertising idea is to NOT PRETEND - - they don’t apologize for tasting horrible - they celebrate it: “Buckley’s - - it tastes bad … but it works!” People go for that. I go for that! You take a sip, your face goes into all sorts of contortions at the vile taste … and you keep coming back for more. You know that if it tastes this bad - it’s got to be doing something good.

His message found curious ears – but not a soft heart. There are “Buckley’s Mixture” Church goers. Buckley’s is that cough medicine that’s great advertising idea is not to apologize for tasting horrible - - but bragging about it. It tastes bad – but it works – People go for that - - I go for that. You take a sip and your face goes into contortions at the vile taste - -

His message found curious ears – but not a soft heart. There are “Buckley’s Mixture” Church goers. Buckley’s is that cough medicine that’s great advertising idea is not to apologize for tasting horrible - - but bragging about it. It tastes bad – but it works – People go for that - - I go for that. You take a sip and your face goes into contortions at the vile taste - -

Buckley’s church goers come to church - - and the message makes them do contortions on the inside … “It makes me feel so guilty”. By feeling guilty, they think they are somehow paying off some kind of debt to God. “It feels good to feel so bad!” But they never DO ANYTHING ABOUT THEIR GUILT.

Friend - Don’t be a Buckley’s church-goer … don’t be content to come here and listen to God’s Word … and feel the prodding of your conscience, as the Holy Spirit points out things, hidden deep inside, that you need to deal with. Don’t be content to feel the Holy Spirit’s poking … and go away … unchanged.

God wants more for you than that. Oh, He wants you to recognize the weight and the evil of sin … but He doesn’t want you to stay there!! He wants you to walk in the holy delight of confessing your sin and leaving it all behind. He wants you to walk in freedom. He wants you free of the chains of sin and self-righteousness.

FOURTH STEP. Verse 21. There’s a quick change in the situation. See verse 21, “But an opportunity came ....”. Stop right there. “Finally an opportunity came.” What’s going on here? Look at the rest of the verse … “Herod, on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and the military commanders and the leading men of Galilee.”

birthday, Herod gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee.” The food is lavish and the drinks are freely flowing. Just as now, so then - it doesn’t take long for the men to lose their inhibitions – The noise level increases as they laugh the empty laughter of sin.

Don’t be a Buckley’s church goer – don’t be content to wallow in guilt - - God wants more for you than that - - Oh, He wants you to recognize the weight and the evil of sin – but to not stay there – but to walk in the holy delight of confessing your sin and leaving it behind.

Don’t be a Buckley’s church goer – don’t be content to wallow in guilt - - God wants more for you than that - - Oh, He wants you to recognize the weight and the evil of sin – but to not stay there – but to walk in the holy delight of confessing your sin and leaving it behind.

It’s a birthday party fitting of royalty: The food is lavish. The drinks are freely flowing. Just as now, so then - - it doesn’t take long for the men to lose their inhibitions - - the noise level increases as they laugh the empty laughter of sin.

Fourth Step v. 21, the situation changes quickly. Finally, an opportunity came”. On his birthday, Herod gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee.” The food is lavish and the drinks are freely flowing. Just as now, so then - it doesn’t take long for the men to lose their inhibitions – The noise level increases as they laugh the empty laughter of sin.

On cue - into the torch-lit room, slips a female figure - it is the daughter of Herodias. She begins to dance. She spins and gyrates in a dance obviously intended to arouse the lusts of the drunken men ...

And the dance is successful.

Verse 22 tells us that this girl - ‘pleased’ Herod and the guests. That word ‘pleased’ carries sexual connotations. So, when the dance is done, the roar of approval rattles the room … and, as a typical drunken fool, in a moment of bravado - - - trying to show off for his guests … Herod makes a rash promise that he has no business making.

Verse 22, “Ask me for whatever you wish and I will give it to you.”

WHATEVER YOU WANT - JUST ASK AND IT’S YOURS:

Think about it - this is a girl, between 12 and 14 years old - this is Herod’s step daughter. And rather than to fiercely protect the innocence of this little girl under his protective care- he allows himself and his guests to be inflamed with lust by her dancing … this is NOT a man of character.

Can you hear the guests cheering him on?!

Herod, “You ARE the man! What a great party you throw!!!” There’s a problem though - - Herod has no right to give any land away

… He doesn’t OWN any land … not of his own. He’s not a king … He’s a puppet of Caesar. Everything he claims to possess … all belongs to Rome.

But He HAS made a promise. The girl will take Herod up on it … she goes to ask her mother.... “What shall I ask for?” “Half of the kingdom?!! Half of the gold? Half of the silver? How much land is half of the kingdom?”

Herodias has been waiting for this opportunity for a long, long time. She doesn’t even need a moment to think. There is no hesitation, no consideration - she doesn’t want jewels, she doesn’t want half of Herod’s lands - so that she can become wealthy beyond her wildest dreams. Here’s what she wants. Look at v. 24: “And she went out and said to her mother, ‘For what should I ask? And she said, ‘The head of John the Baptist.”

Verse 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.”

Here is the sad case of a child’s obedience to a wicked parental direction. The girl carries out her mother’s wish with a speedy compliance.

The head of John the Baptist? … on a platter?!! Way to kill the party vibe.

The carousing stops. Dead. The laughter instantly evaporates into an uncomfortable silence .... and you can be sure that Herod sobered up … on the spot.

Verse 26 tells us that the king was not just uncomfortable … “”And the king was exceedingly sorry ....!”

This is the day that Herod’s life will be defined.

By the decisions he has made - - Herod has spiraled further and further away from obedience to God … and downward. Downward into slavery to his lusts and passions. Here is one more chance .... he must decide. Will Antipas listen to his God-given conscience … which has made it clear to him that John is an innocent … holy man:

Here is the sad case of a child’s obedience to a wicked parental direction. the girl carries out her mother’s wish with a speedy compliance.

men. The dance is successful. Verse 22 tells us that she “pleased” Herod and the guests. That word ‘pleased’ carries sexual connotations. So when the dance is done, the roar of approval rattles the room – and as a typical drunken fool, in a moment of bravado, Herod makes a rash promise that he has no business making. V. 22, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I’ll give it to you.” “Whatever you ask me, I will give to you, up to half of my kingdom.

The carousing stops. The laughter instantly evaporates into an uncomfortable silence - and you can be sure that Herod sobered up … on the spot.

Verse 26 tells us that the king was not just uncomfortable - - - “He was exceedingly sorry!”

Think about it – This is a girl, between 12 and 14 years old – this is Herod’s step-daughter. And rather than fiercely protect her innocence - he allows himself and his guests to be inflamed with lust by her dancing - - This is not a man of character.

.... And will he protect him? Or, will he continue the downward spiral … now slipping from lust - down to the depth of murder?

This is the day that his life will be defined.

“And she came in, immediately,WITH HASTE to the king and asked, saying, ‘I want you to give me, right now, the head of John the Baptist, on a platter.”

Can you hear the guests cheering him on?! “Herod – You are the man - -What a great party you throw!” There is a problem though - - Herod has no right to give any land away - - He doesn’t have any of his own –He is not a real king, he is a puppet of Caesar – Everything he claims to possess all belongs to Rome.

Back to verse 26, “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.”

By the decisions he has made - Herod has spiraled further and further away from obedience to God … and downward.

v. 25, Sad case of a child’s obedience to a wicked parental direction. The girl carries out her mother’s wish with speedy compliance.

The promise has been made – the girl will take Herod up on it - - She goes to ask her mother - - “what shall I ask for? “ “Silver – gold, jewels? Land?” Herodias has been waiting for this opportunity for a long, long time. She needs not even a moment to think. There is no hesitation, no consideration – “The head of John the Baptist”.

The carousing stops. The laughter instantly evaporates into an uncomfortable silence - and you can be sure that Herod sobered up on the spot.

This is the day that his life will be defined. By the decisions he has made … Herod has spiraled further and further away from obedience to God and downward … downward … into slavery to his lusts and passions. Here is one more chance. he must decide. Will he listen to his God-given conscience - - which has made it clear to him that John is an innocent … holy man:

v. 25, Sad case of a child’s obedience to a wicked parental direction. The girl carries out her mother’s wish with speedy compliance.

Verse 26 tells us, that that king was not just uncomfortable .... “He was exceedingly sorry!”

This is the day that his life will be defined.

“And she came in immediately WITH HASTE to the king and asked, saying. ‘I want you to give me, right now, the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”

God – and downward, downward … into slavery to his lusts and passions - - - Here is one more chance. He must decide. Will he listen to his God-given conscience which has made it clear to him that John is an innocent – a holy man? And will he protect him? Or, wgill he continue the downward spiral – now slipping from lust down into murder?

The carousing stops – the laughter instantly evaporates into an uncomfortable silence – and you can be sure Herod sobered up on the spot. Verse 26 tells us – the king was not just uncomfortable - -“He was exceedingly sorry!”

Back to verse 26, “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 will he protect him? Or, will he continue the downward spiral … now slipping from lust … down to murder?

The carousing stops – the laughter instantly evaporates into an uncomfortable silence – and you can be sure Herod sobered up on the spot. Verse 26 tells us – the king was not just uncomfortable - -“He was exceedingly sorry!”

By the decisions he has made - Herod has spiraled further and further away from the obedience to God — - and downward … This is the day his life will be defined. By the decisions he has made, Herod has spiraled further and further away from obedience to God – and downward, downward … into slavery to his lusts and passions - - - Here is one more chance. He must decide. Will he listen to his God-given conscience which has made it clear to him that John is an innocent – a holy man? And will he protect him? Or, wgill he continue the downward spiral – now slipping from lust down into murder?

This is the day his life will be defined. By the decisions he has made, Herod has spiraled further and further away from obedience to God – and downward, downward … into slavery to his lusts and passions - - - Here is one more chance. He must decide. Will he listen to his God-given conscience which has made it clear to him that John is an innocent – a holy man? And will he protect him? Or, wgill he continue the downward spiral – now slipping from lust down into murder?

So, Herodias gets her trophy. According to tradition … when she got John’s head … she pulled out his tongue, drove a pin through it … and said: “That’ll teach John to speak to me like that.” Bitterness bears such nasty fruit.

Back to verse 26, “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.”

This is not a fairy-tale. This is history and what a tragic account it is that John, the one who loved God and loved Herod enough to tell him the truth and point him to his need for repentance - - - this John is murdered … for no greater reason than to save face in the presence of a teenage girl and a drunken crowd.

It’s the story of a conscience … persistently ignored … until the man who thought he was king … becomes ENSLAVED. That’s the FOURTH STEP TO KILLING A CONSCIENCE .... “To TRADE THE FEAR OF GOD … FOR THE FEAR OF MAN.”

This is not a fairytale – this is history and what a tragic account it is that John, the one who loved God and loved Herod his creature, enough to tell him the truth and point him to repentance – is murdered for no greater reason than to save face in the presence of a teenage girl and a drunken crowd.

It’s tempting to look at the persecutors who seem to have no conscience

It’s the story of a conscience, persistently ignored until the man who thought he was King .... because enslaved by fear. That’s the fourth step to killing a conscience ...’To trade the fear of God … for the fear of Man.”

It’s tempting to look at the persecutors who seem to have no conscience … and hurt and even murder God’s people … and to think … “the enemies of God are strong!”

It is the story of a conscience persistently ignored until the man who thought he was king became enslaved by fear. That is the fourth step to killing a conscience – to finally trade the fear of God - - for the fear of man.

The reality is that they are not powerful … they aren’t free at all. Here’s what I want you to take with you from God’s Word this morning: WHEN YOU PERSISTENTLY PUSH OFF AND TRY TO SHUT UP THE TENDER VOICE OF GOD’S HOLY SPIRIT - SPEAKING THROUGH YOUR CONSCIENCE … you become the opposite of free ....

You become enslaved in the worship of LESSER GODS … giving up progressively more and more control over your ability to choose what will bring you life … as you shrivel up into a dry and empty sack of lust-driven fear. Herod murdered John - not because of his freedom and power … He murdered him because he was AFRAID - - Afraid of what people would think.

Fast forward a year or two and Herod turns up one more time in the Gospels. records how, when Jesus is on trial before Pontius Pilate … the Roman governor cannot find anything wrong with him. He doesn’t know what to do - - so he sends Jesus to Herod Antipas.

It is tempting to look at the persecutors who seem to have no conscience and hurt and even murder God’s people – and to think - - - The enemies of God are strong!

, “When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him.”

How much more accurate it is to see them as enslaved in the worship of lesser gods - - - giving up progressively more and more control over their ability to choose what will bring them life – as they shrivel up into a dry and empty sack of lust-driven fear. Herod murdered John because HE WAS AFRAID – AFRAID OF WHAT PEOPLE WOULD THINK.

Herod has murdered John the Baptist … now he’s face to face with the only One who can save … the Lord of the Universe … but he doesn’t want to repent … he wants a show!! His conscience is now dead.

Jesus doesn’t play along - He gives no answer. Then Antipas reveals his heart - , “And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate.”

Herod rejects John’s preaching. He kills his conscience … and he ends his life ridiculing the One John lived his life for … gave his life for - pointing to this Savior.

And do you know what? This is the LAST we hear from Herod .... GOD HAS NOTHING MORE TO SAY TO HIM.

Fast forward a year or two and Herod turns up one more time in the Gospels. records how when Jesus is on trial before Pilate, the Roman governor cannot find anything wrong with him. He doesn’t know what to do – so he sends Jesus to Herod. 8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform some miracle.” Herod doesn’t want to repent - - he wants a show!

Jesus doesn’t play along. He gives no answer. Then the Herod reveals his heart: v. 11, “And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate.” He rejects John’s preaching. He kills his conscience – and he ends his life ridiculing the One John lived his life pointing toward.

He has traded conscience for quick gratification and the fear of man … and he ends up with silence from God. Back at the beginning of our passage in , Jesus’ fame is rising’. Look at verse 14, “King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known.” And notice Herod’s first reaction … verse 16, “But when Herod heard of it, he said, ‘John whom I beheaded, has been raised.’”

That is the last we hear from Herod. God has nothing more to say to him.

The man who supposedly has all the power - throws off the guidance of God … persistently rejects his conscience, and becomes a PRISONER … ENSLAVED with guilt for what he has done.

This man throws off the guidance of God, persistently rejects his conscience, threw is a prisoner of guilt for what he has done.

CONCLUSION

Traded conscience for fear and ends up with silence from God. Back at the beginning of our passage – in verse 14, Jesus’ fame is rising, Herod hears about the mighty deeds of this magnificent man – and notice his first reaction? “John, the man I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!” This man throws off the guidance of God, persistently rejects his conscience, threw is a prisoner of guilt for what he has done.

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In many ways, John is not much of an actor here - the actions seem to be done TO HIM. He is thrown in prison, he waits there, he is dragged out to speak to Herod whenever Herod wants to hear him. He is protected by Herod … and, at the request of a teenage girl, he is murdered. There is no power here, is there?

2. Strength in Weakness

In fact, some people would say that the only way John could have taken back some power over his own life would have been to keep his mouth shut and make nice with Antipas.

If that’s your conclusion about John - or any other persecuted follower of Jesus Christ - yourself even … then you are missing the point. John may have been in prison, but in following his God-given conscience .... he was FAR FROM POWERLESS. His message of correction is fearless. In fact, it struck fear into Herod himself.

The testimony of his faithful life has

In fact, some people would say that the only way John could have taken back some power over his own life would have been to keep his mouth shut and make nice with Herod.

If that is your conclusion about John – or any other persecuted follower of Jesus Christ - - yourself even - - then you are missing the point. John may have been in prison, but in following his God-given conscience, he was far from powerless. His message of correction is fearless. In fact it struck fear into Herod himself.

If that is your conclusion about John – or any other persecuted follower of Jesus Christ - - yourself even - - then you are missing the point. John may have been in prison, but in following his God-given conscience, he was far from powerless. His message of correction is fearless. In fact it struck fear into Herod himself.

The testimony of his faithful life has such power with the people, that after he is dead, and Jesus is moving through his ministry, doing mighty miracles – people struggle to understand how it could be that this man is able to do such magnificent things - - - the first conclusion Mark records for us in v. 14 - - “This is John the Baptist, raised from the dead.”

Herod could kill John’s body – but not his influence.

Several years ago - I read the novel by Randy Alcorn, titled, “Safely Home”. It’s a fascinating story that’s based on the true situation of the Christian Church in China. He tells about a Chinese Christian Bible teacher who was asked to speak at a gathering.

The Bible teacher knows that in the crowd there are many authorities waiting to arrest him as soon as he speaks about Jesus or His Church. He gets up to speak - - and there’s a glass of water beside him. Without saying a word - the teacher picks up the glass - throws it onto the floor and crushes it with the heel of his show. And the more violently he crushes it, the more the glass spreads.

Everywhere he put his foot down - glass spreads farther.

Then he sat down. The unbelievers thought he had gone mad - but the believers in the crowd understood perfectly. This was a sermon without words. The authorities didn’t arrest him. How could they? He hadn’t said anything.

The point of this word-less message was powerful - - In attempting to destroy the Church in China, the government has only been spreading it. Instead of holding Christianity safely in its hand … the state has lost control of it. The Church multiplies under Communism just like Israel multiplied under the tyranny of the Pharaoh of Egypt. China’s government officials are desperate to regain control over the Church. But the more they stalk it and stomp on it - the more they spread it with their own heels.

They lock people in prisons … and they take the gospel there.

The point of his wordless message was powerful: In attempting to destroy the church in China, the government has spread it. Instead of holding the church safely in its hand, the state has lost control of it. Because the church multiplies under Communism just as Israel multiplied under Pharaoh’s tyranny. China’s government is desperate to regain control over the Church. But the more they stalk it and stomp on it, the more they spread it with their own heels.

China’s government is desperate to regain control over the Church. But the more they stalk it and stomp on it, the more they spread it with their own heels.

They send women to correction farms in the country … and they take the gospel there.

The glass will not be controlled. It spreads everywhere. The same state that persecutes the Church is an instrument in God’s hands to make the Church grow.

They lock men in prisons, and they take the gospel there. They send women to correction farms in the country and they take the gospel there. The glass will not be controlled. It spreads everywhere. The same state that persecutes the Church is an instrument in God’s hands to make the Church grow.

You may be fighting a battle right now - because you’re not willing to go along with the pressure of the crowd - - - because you do fear God, rather than man. Because you are following your God-given conscience. And it may seem like such a futile fight. You’re weary. It looks as though the strong ones of this world are winning the day. This story is for your encouragement

— In a story where it seems like earthly Herod and Herodias are holding all the power in their hands … God is working out His plan … John the Baptist is triumphing. He stays true to His Lord - and even in his death, he foreshadows the loving, purposeful death of Jesus. .... Dying a death that He didn’t deserve … so that we could be set free.

You may be fighting a battle right now – because you are unwilling to go along with the pressure of the crowd - - because you do fear God, rather than man. And you may be here this morning – weary. It looks as though the strong ones of this world are winning the day. This story is for your encouragement as well. God used John the Baptist in a powerful way - Even in his death – he foreshadowed the loving purposeful death of

“The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.”

“The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.”

As you obey your God-given conscience – your God will bless your efforts and use them powerfully