The Cost of Faithfulness

Intro

Good evening students! I am thankful to be back with each of y’all. Jesse and I enjoyed a week at the Southern Baptist Convention last week where we were able to discuss important issues with other pastors and messengers. Now, we are back and ready to continue our series through the Gospel of Mark.

Over the past few weeks in Mark, we have seen Jesus be rejected by His own hometown. Afterwards, Jesus then calls His disciples together and calls for them to be sent out in pairs to share the Gospel and perform miracles in His name. As the disciples were going out and doing all these things, the name of Jesus began to grow in popularity, and others were becoming interested in who Jesus was. This happened to the point in which a king named Herod was informed of Jesus and had his own thoughts.

With that being said let’s take a look at Mark 6:14-29

Mark 6:14–29 ESV

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.” 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.” 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. 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. 22 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.” 23 And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” 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.” 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.

Pray.

This passage of Scripture is very real and revealing in regards to our current culture. This is first century Israel, and we can see the absolute sinfulness that was running rampant at this very time. Then, we fast forward to current day and we see the very same vile sinfulness taking place today. What makes this passage of Scripture scary to me is that sinfulness always leads to the suffering of the righteous. From this passage of Scripture we will draw out three things: The message of Jesus Christ cannot be contained; Speaking biblical truth comes at a cost; and The demands of culture call for the death of the righteous.

The message of Jesus Christ cannot be contained.

Mark 6:14–16 ESV

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 last time we were in the Gospel of Mark, Jesus commissioned His disciples to go out in pairs preaching for people to repent. Likewise, the disciples were going about performing healings and casting out demons in the name of Jesus. Because of this, Jesus was beginning to grow in popularity. People were hearing this name and seeing the sick be healed and the demon possessed be free. This caused for the people to be drawn to consider who this Jesus is. The very name of this man has the power to cast out demons and heal the sick. Not only that, Jesus was walking the face of the earth continuing to do ministry as well. So, His disciples are spreading the Good News all the while Jesus is still moving place to place teaching, preaching, and performing miracles. Because of this, it is evident that more and more people would begin to talk about the teaching or signs in which they saw. Moreover, those who were healed and had demons cast out of them were probably telling everyone they came in contact with about how Jesus had healed them.

Jesus’s name was spreading like a wildfire across the region. It even went as far as the region leader Herod. Herod heard of Jesus which caused him great distress as we will see momentarily. Herod Antipas was the particular Herod mentioned in this particular passage. According to John MacArthur, “Herod Antipas existed in the grip of lust, luxury, and laziness.” Herod was a very vile and sinful man. He had heard of Jesus and immediately he claimed that Jesus was John the Baptist raised from the dead. This is very interesting.

John the Baptist was the prophet that came before Jesus and prepared the way. If you remember the Christmas story, you will remember that John the Baptist was born to Zachariah and Elizabeth in their old age. John was in Elizabeth’s womb when Mary visited her. Upon Mary’s visit you will remember that John the Baptist leaped in Elizabeth’s womb because he was filled with the Holy Spirit upon meeting Jesus. John was the prophet in the wilderness proclaiming that Jesus was coming. Now, John the Baptist has been imprisoned and killed.

John the Baptist was killed by Herod as we saw in the verses following. Now, as Herod is listening and hearing these reports of Jesus and the mighty work that He is doing, Herod is in great fear. Herod is scared and fearful because He believes that John as been raised from the dead and that is how these miracles are being performed. Herod had a pagan worldview which would call for some form of resurrection of John in order for these things to be true. Herods own superstition was leading him to think in such a way. He was denying that Jesus is the Son of God and out of fear and dread, he found the only possible solution was that John had been raised from the dead.

Others in the region were claiming that Jesus was Elijah as according to Malachi 4:5

Malachi 4:5 ESV

5 “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.

This is pointing to John’s preparing for Jesus. These making this claim had failed to realize that John the Baptist had already accomplished this task. Therefore, they were claiming that Jesus was the prophet to precede the Messiah. Meanwhile, others merely claimed that Jesus was just another prophet like the ones of old which would have been Elijah and Elisha who could perform miracles.

What we see here is that Jesus was gaining popularity throughout the region and more and more people were hearing about Him. This is the way in which the Gospel spreads. Today, when a person repents and believes in the Gospel, this oftentimes results in others hearing about the change within a persons life. We have all seen it happen. Whenever a person places their faith in Jesus Christ, at their baptism we will see family members and friends show up to support them. As that believe enters the baptismal waters they are proclaiming their faith in Christ Jesus. This is a testimony to those in attendance.

Likewise, the message of Jesus Christ will always be spread. The Gospel cannot be contained. Likewise, if you are a Christian and can contain the message of Jesus Christ within you, you may need to consider your faith in Him. As we reflect and celebrate what Jesus has done for us, we will be drawn to share that with others. Be sure you are sharing Jesus with others. I encourage each and everyone of you to be thinking about 1 person that you can pray for and share the gospel with. Don’t just dismiss this challenge either. Be intention about it.

Likewise, our culture seemingly disregards Jesus at every turn. With that, society and our community is growing and becoming more and more closed off to the Gospel. However, within history, the church grew the most during time of persecution. This is because the Gospel cannot be contained. Even in countries such as China where the church is under constant attack, the Gospel continues to spread because it cannot be contained by man.

We are not currently being persecuted which is probably a large part of the reason why we do not evangelize like we ought to. However, a time is coming and is soon in which we will have to choose which side we are on. Are we with Christ or are we with the world. We must choose Christ and in doing so, we must be faith to reach the lost with His Gospel.

Speaking biblical truth comes at a cost.

Mark 6:17–20 ESV

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.” 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.

As we see Herod has this superstition that Jesus is John the Baptist raised from the dead, we understand where that superstition come from. Herod had imprisoned John the Baptist because John had spoken the truth of Scripture to Herod regarding his marriage.

Herod married his brother’s wife, Herodias. Herodias, much like Herod, was a wicked woman. She was married to Herod’s brother Philip; however, she divorced him in order to be with his brother Herod Antipas. This is perverse and wicked. Scripture speaks clearly regarding this matter.

Leviticus 20:21 ESV

21 If a man takes his brother’s wife, it is impurity. He has uncovered his brother’s nakedness; they shall be childless.

Therefore, John the Baptist being a righteous man confronted Herod about this marriage which resulted in his imprisonment and a grudge from Herodias. It is believed that John’s imprisonment took place shortly after the baptism of Jesus in chapter 1 (MacArthur 304). John was sent to Herod’s dungeon in Machaerus were he was imprisoned for speaking biblical truth. As MacArthur states, “John was fearless in his willingness to confront sin, even in the most powerful and threatening leaders.”

John the Baptist did not care who he was speaking to; instead, John the Baptist cared about who he was speaking for. As a prophet, John was speaking on behalf of God.

As Christians, we are to be little Christ’s in this sin-fallen world. Therefore, we must not care about who we are speaking against. Instead, we must be concerned who we are speaking for. Oftentimes, we are easily overwhelmed as we consider the consequences that will follow a statement. Understand that if you speak standing up for God’s Word and standing on God’s Word persecution will come. For John the Baptist this meant imprisonment. John was imprisoned for speaking the truth of Scripture into the life of Herod. Likewise, Jesus spoke the truth of God’s Word which resulted in persecution and His death. Therefore, we as Christians standing upon the Word of God are guaranteed to face persecution and pushback for speaking the truth of God’s Word. Speaking Biblical truth means that you and I will stand in opposition to the world. The world despises truth especially the truth of God’s Word.

Romans 1:24–25 ESV

24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

This is the truth regarding the culture we are currently entrenched in. We live in a society that champions the worship of the creature, man, above the Creator, God. Our society calls for us to submit to the authority of humanity at every turn. We see this each and every day. Movements that stretch all across our land call for the worship of man above God. This is evident in the LGBTQ community. They have exchanged God’s design of marriage for their own. This is evident in the court system. The law of the land no longer acknowledges the Creator God and His Law. Instead, they deem and desire to do what is right in their own eyes. Our school system teaches theories and worldviews that are totally in opposition to the message of the Gospel.

Man’s chief problem is sin. We are all sinful. The only solution to that problem is the cross of Jesus Christ. Jesus paid for our sin on the cross of Calvary to save us from our sin. Anytime that we speak of Scripture and display this glorious truth that is the Gospel, opposition may come just as it did for John. However, there is hope in that the lost will repent and be saved. There is hope in that we are the ones called to stand on God’s Word. We are the ones that God has saved, and He has called us to faithful follow and serve Him.

That call is to be faithful in the face of opposition. John faced imprisonment for speaking the truth of Scripture. We must be willing to face the same fate all for the sake of honoring Jesus Christ above all else.

I encourage each of you in this room to take time to read and understand Scripture. If you read something and do not understand it, sent me a text message and I will try my best to help answer any question you have regarding the Bible. That is what I am here for.

Understand this, we are called to be a people of the Word. May we seek to know God’s Word in order to take a stand for Scripture and live according to Scripture. If the church is not standing on the Word of God then no one will be.

The demands of culture call for the death of the righteous.

Mark 6:21–29 ESV

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. 22 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.” 23 And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” 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.” 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.

As Herod had John the Baptist imprisoned, John’s death would soon follow. John had spoken the truth of God’s Word to Herod and Herodias which resulted in a grudge taking place from Herodias. So, when it came time for Herod’s birthday party, Herodias in her sinfulness placed her daughter before Herod at the party. Within pagan culture, it was normal for birthday parties to place in which sinful practices such as gluttony, sexual immorality, and drunkeness would take place. Herodias as a sinful woman had no concern for her daughter as she had her dance before Herod and the other men that would have been present. As it pleased a more than likely drunk Herod, he offered her a reward up to half his kingdom. As this was all the plan of Herodias, the daughter went to ask her mother what she should ask for. Herodias had organized this event in order to have John the Baptist killed and her marriage to Herod sealed. Therefore, she asked for John the Baptist’s head. Herod was saddened because he had to choose between killing John or losing his reputation in front of his friends. Of course, culture won out and John was executed.

John the righteous man paid the price for standing upon Scripture and calling sin sin. This is the hard truth. Culture is sinful and seeks for righteousness to be done away with. In this case, Herodias wanted John gone because in her mind that meant that her marriage was no longer in jeopardy. Likewise, as we take a stand for Christ, culture will seek to silence us and push us aside. This is tough to accept; however, it is the truth. Culture loves sin and wants to live in sin without consequences. Culture seeks for man to be exalted above all else. Likewise, it seeks for man’s ways to stand above God’s ways.

Likewise, the reason in which you will see people so offended when sin is pointed out is because the law is written on the hearts of humanity. Therefore, they know they are sinning. As they recognize it, they want to deny the Creator, God, in order that they may continue in sin.

Whenever we speak the truth of Scripture into the life of others they will either thankfully and repentantly receive such truth. Or, they will be angered and despise such truth much like that of Herodias. However, the truth remains culture wishes to see the righteous done away with.

Cancel culture is bad and running rampant in our society. If you make one mess up or say one think that is wrong, you get cancelled. You want to know the quickest way to get cancelled? Stand on the truth of God’s Word. We see that this resulted in John’s cancellation. It will also result in ours.

The new religion of the world is cancel culture. It is paganism. It calls for the worship of man and the idolization of sin. This is why sin continues to increase. Paganism seeks to deny God at every turn and that is exactly what is taking place in our culture. It started with the theory of evolution in which the Creation narrative of Genesis 1 was under attack. Now, it continues to attack marriage and sexuality. And it is coming for the younger generation. We are the ones that have to stand strong in the face of opposition.

You see, we have to stand on the truth of God’s Word understanding that this comes at a dear cost. This calls for us to forget about ourselves and live for Christ above all else. I encourage each individual Christian in this room to stand with Christ Jesus just as John the Baptist did. While it may have cost John his life, it may cost us popularity and cause us to get cancelled. However, the truth of Scripture cannot be cancelled because it is the very Word of God. No matter what the world says, God has spoken and we must decide where we stand.

You see, John stood with Christ. John stood with Jesus the very Son of God. The One who loved and lived perfectly according to the law. Jesus never sinned. He healed people, cast out demons, and taught the truth regarding the Kingdom of God. Though He did this, the world sought to cancel Him as well. Cancel culture is not new. It was attempted on Jesus Christ, but Jesus died for our sins to be forgiven and to raise from the dead after three days. They could not cancel the Christ. Likewise, every attempt to cancel Christ will still fall flat because He is coming again and every knee will bow and confess that Jesus is Lord.

Where do you stand? With Jesus or with the world?