The Death Of John The Baptist Series

The Great Commission

Part 7 – John the Baptist

Pastor Bruce A. Shields

House of Faith – www.PS127.org : www.TruthDigest.org

WELCOME

† The Sermon on the Mount.

† He and his Disciples and Apostles begin to travel from Galilee to Capernaum.

† Jesus heals the Centurion’s servant.

† He then has dinner in a Pharisees home where He was anointed by a sinful woman who had repented.

† Jesus then returns to Galilee preaching along the way.

† Jesus Calms the Storm.

† A Prophet without Honor in His hometown

† Jesus send out the Twelve

SCRIPTURE READING

Mark 6: 14 – 16

14 King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known. Some were saying, "John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him."

15 Others said, "He is Elijah."

And still others claimed, "He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago."

16 But when Herod heard this, he said, "John, the man I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!"

I. Jesus’ name becomes well known

a. Some thought John the Baptist had been raised from the dead.

i. But it was Jesus really Jesus.

b. Some thought it was Elijah.

i. But it was Jesus.

c. Some thought He was a prophet, like one from long ago.

i. It had been over 400 years since Malachi.

d. Herod believed Jesus was John the Baptist raised from the dead.

We can see from the scriptures that Herod felt troubled, and had a guilty conscience for putting John to death.

But Herod was convinced that Jesus was John the Baptist brought back to life.

II. John the Baptist died serving God

a. Many have died serving the Lord.

There are many accounts of those who have died for serving the Lord.

Their message of God and His saving grace and love, caused their demise.

Millions of Christians died during the Crusades because they were considered enemies to the Pope.

b. Many die even today.

China has martyrs die daily.

Millions of Christians have been murdered in the Sudan, and Darfur, Sudan’s West Region.

c. Yet we are afraid to speak of the only name on which we are saved.

We are afraid…someone may laugh at me.

Someone may not like me any more.

Someone may make fun of me for my beliefs…

Matthew 16:24 - 25

"If anyone would follow me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.”

Does this mean we must die a martyr to be saved? No.

It means that to be a Follower of Christ, you must deny yourself…

DENY YOURSELF

† Anything that starts with “I”

I want, I need, I think, I will…

Deny yourself and YOUR WILL.

Jesus says if YOU try to save your life, you are going to lose it.

But if you deny yourself “FOR CHRIST”, for His Names Sake, you will find “LIFE”

Life eternal!

Denying yourself is humility.

BUT, it must be for Christ!

There are many humble people in the world who have sacrificed SELF for the greater good of others. This denying of self that was not done in the name of Christ, although helpful to others, still lead to eternal death.

There are many who live humbly, who give to the needy, who help those around the world.

But this is not what saves people.

None of those “things” removes sin.

Those “works” can not save.

Romans 10:13

for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Acts 4:12

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

Only what is done in the name of Jesus, counts to Jesus.

And Jesus Himself tells us:

Romans 10:6 – 13

“…righteousness that is by faith says: … "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: 9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11 As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."