Mark 6:14-29 (2)

Silencing The Word Of God

Intro: An elderly couple go to church one Sunday. Halfway through the service, the wife leans over and whispers in her husbands ear, "I've passed gas saliently.” What do you think I should do?" The husband replies, "Put a new battery in your hearing aid."

Its a horrible thing not to be able to hear but its far worse to not be able to hear God speak to us. In our text today a man refuses to heed God’s word thus silences God’s word in his life.

I. Herod’s Conscience Was Guilty

A. John’s Message (18)

Lev. 18:16, 20:21

B. Herodias Grudge (19)

Grudge - enechomai = bear a grudge against

ILL: One day, two monks were walking through the countryside. They were on their way to another village to help bring in the crops. As they walked, they spied an old woman sitting at the edge of a river. She was upset because there was no bridge, and she could not get across on her own.

The first monk kindly offered, “We will carry you across if you would like.”

“Thank you,” she said gratefully, accepting their help.

So the two men joined hands, lifted her between them and carried her across the river. When they got to the other side, they set her down, and she went on her way.

After they had walked another mile or so, the second monk began to complain. “Look at my clothes,” he said. “They are filthy from carrying that woman across the river. And my back still hurts from lifting her. I can feel it getting stiff.” The first monk just smiled and nodded his head.

A few more miles up the road, the second monk griped again, “My back is hurting me so badly, and it is all because we had to carry that silly woman across the river! I cannot go any farther because of the pain.”

The first monk looked down at his partner, now lying on the ground, moaning. Have you wondered why I am not complaining?” he asked. “Your back hurts because you are still carrying the woman. But I set her down five miles ago.”

C. Herod’s Conscience (16)

Said - legō = speak {Imperfect } *Kept Saying

ILL: WHen we think of conscience we think of Jiminy Cricket who was assigned to Pinaccho by the Blue Fairy to lead him to do what is right.

Conscience (31x NT) Syneidesis - Moral Sensitivity (Romans 2:15)

ILL: A man consulted a doctor, “I’ve been misbehaving, Doc, and my conscience is troubling me,” he complained. “And you want something that will strengthen your willpower?” asked the doctor. “Well, no,” said the fellow. “I was thinking of something that would weaken my conscience.”

II. Herod’s Compromise Was Costly

Herod was man of compromise and it lead to a deadly downhill slope that ultimately lead him into a snare which seemingly he saw no way out

A. He was Trapped by the cunning of his wife (21)

B. He was Trapped by the lust of his heart (22-25)

Half my Kingdom - hyperbole shows his Greatness and Generosity

C. He was trapped by the pride his life (26-27)

Exceeding Sorry - perilypos = very sad, overwhelmingly sorrowful; greatly distressing (Mark 14:34)

He was exceeding Sorry but not willing to lose face

Con: Herod silenced the word of God when he killed John, he had every opportunity to repent but refused, thus searing his conscience.

1 Tim 4:2

With his conscience seared he silenced the word of God. Luke 23:7-10

Exceeding Glad (vs 8), But Jesus answered Him nothing.

*Call to examination*