• Today's passage, though lengthy, reads like a script from a soap opera.
• Though all the sorted details are not specifically mentioned in Luke, they are alluded to as part of the story.
• The twisted nature of man without God can be seen clearly in the intoxication of power, the cruelty of blind ambition, the power of lust, the crippling affect of alcohol or drugs, misguided promises, dysfunctional families, and imbalanced craving for the approval of others.
• What more could daytime drama fans ask for than Mark 6:13-29.
• Let's read our launch text, ask God's blessings and power, and then work through the text.
• Mar 6:25 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."
• Prayer.
Mar 6:13 And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.
• Just prior to today's reading, the disciples were sent out by Jesus and we see the great results.
• but those results were not only seen, but talked about, and word of it came to high places.
Mar 6:14-16 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."
• There was a lot of talk about Jesus' disciples' miracles in Galilee.
• The people said the one who had granted the ordinary men such powers must be a prophet.
• Perhaps He was Elijah.
• However, King Herod Antipas, Tetrarch of Galilee and one of six ambitious sons of Herod the Great, fears something else: John the Baptist risen from the grave.
• Why would he jump to such a wild conclusion.
• It turns out he was haunted by his past and a guilt that kept him awake at night.
• He would see John the Baptist in anything at this point as he regretted poor dicisions.
• Mark now flashes back to explain how Herod killed John.
Mar 6:17-20 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.
• One of Herod the Great's sons, a half brother of Herod Antipas, had a daughter, Herodias.
• Another son of Herod, Philip, married his half-neice.
• Josephus, the great Jewish historian emplies that Herodias was not satisfied with the marriage because Philip was not ambitious enough.
• She had her eye on someone who was smart, devious, desirous, ambitious, and one who would surely gain power and position by whatever means possible.
• Although she had had a daughter from him, Herodias divorced Philip and married another uncle, Herod Antipas.
• To marry Herodias, Herod Antipas had to divorce his first wife.
• This was not done in the dark, but publicly and with much flair.
• John the Baptist, however, was not blinded by the Hollywood style glitz and glamor.
• He publicly preached that it was a sin for Herod to marry Herodias.
• Lev 18:16-17 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother's wife; it is your brother's nakedness.
• Lev 20:21 If a man takes his brother's wife, it is impurity. He has uncovered his brother's nakedness; they shall be childless.
• Herodias resented John's preaching and sought to kill him.
• Herod was intrigued with John's preaching, but never fully embraced it.
• There was something about John that Herod liked and feared, recognizing he was a "holy and righteous man."
• In an attempt to compromise to please his wife and protect John from his wife, he put John in prison.
• But Herodias was not to be deterred. She conceived a plot to kill John the Baptist.
Mar 6:21 But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee.
• Now we are invited into the palace for a birthday bash that has promised to be the event of the year.
• Everyone who is anyone was invited, and be certain, they would be there.
• There were several good reasons why you would not want to miss this event.
• First, you knew Herod was so self-indulgent, only the best would be served.
• Second, if you could gain his favor, after a few drinks, he might give you anything.
• Third, you didn't want to gain his disfavor by ignoring the invitation.
• He was also known for his revenge on those who did not favor him.
• The food came out in abundance. The wine began to flow, you know, the good stuff.
• Soon, all were drunk, well fed, and wanting entertainment.
Mar 6:22-24 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."
• I smell a set up. Salome, Herodias' 16 year old daughter, Herod's step daughter was the entertainment.
• With a provocative dance, she aroused Herod's sensuality to the point of him losing touch with his other ambitions.
• In that moment of weakness, he made an oath before everyone.
• "Whatever you want, up to half of my kingdom, I will give you if you but ask."
• You can see young Salome looked contemplatively at Herod.
• She walked over to her mother and asked, "What shall I ask, mom?"
• Without thought, indicating premeditation, she said, "John the Baptist's head."
Mar 6:25 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."
• Salome flitted across the room to stand right in front of Herod.
• "I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter."
• I can see her batting her eyes, using all of her feminine charms to get her and her mother's wish.
• Like mother, like daughter.
Mar 6:26-29 And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. Mar 6:27 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.
• Herod was not so drunk and blinded by lust he could kill John without regret.
• Yet, he had made an oath and others would think bad of him if he broke it.
• It was before too many witnesses, so he had John beheaded.
• Moments later, the executioner comes in with a head on a platter.
• Herod averts his eyes and points to Salome.
• She takes it, marches over to her mother and lays it on her table.
• The look in her eyes as she looks at Herodias is, "You will owe me for this. I will call in my marker."
• The scene shifts to some sad disciples of John.
• They quietly go to the prison, obtain the headless body of their leader and bury him.
• There are some lessons underlying this twisted, sorted story.
22 - Don't get yourself into a compromising situation.
• Look at the balancing act Herod took on.
• To rule in peace, he to be popular with the Galilean people, so he remodeled cities and did several important construction project.
• He consulted with the Pharisees, Saducees and scribes on construction and rebuilding needs.
• But he also had to be popular with the Roman government.
• He ruled with their authority, and one shift in the Roman's view of his ability to rule and he was not only out, but probably executed.
• The people of Israel resented the Roman rule and held a resentment against anyone from Jewish background who would "sell out" to the Romans.
• It is easy to see that Herod walked a tight line in his daily activity.
• Now, add his lust. His insatiable appetite for food, drink, and worldly pleasure.
• This lust was not looked favorably upon by the Romans (know for their discipline) or the people of Galilee (know for their righteousness).
• Yet, in a moment of lust, he was willing to give up favor of the Romans (by turning over half of his rule to a teenage girl) and the favor of the people (who would not want to be ruled by a teenage dancer).
• But Herod was free of the pressure of the government and the pressure of the people for an evening.
• Do you see how? Alcohol. And that freedom was not good.
• He was not free, however, from the worse temptations of his flesh.
• He was captive to them. You know why? Alcohol.
• Alcohol is a substance that must be considered with caution.
• Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.
• An abundance of wine caused Herod to forsake all he considered as important in favor of what was desired but was forbidden.
• Drunkenness caused Herod to compromise the little reasoning he had to make a promise that led to the death of God's faithful servant.
• Substance abuse caused Herod to surrender to his passions enough to kill someone he respected.
• Those secret lusts that you either refuse to consider or deal with will be your king when you get to the bottom of the bottle.
• Proverbs 23:29-35 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? Those who tarry long over wine; those who go to try mixed wine. Do not look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly. In the end it bites like a serpent and stings like an adder. Your eyes will see strange things, and your heart utter perverse things. You will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea, like one who lies on the top of a mast. “They struck me,” you will say, “but I was not hurt; they beat me, but I did not feel it. When shall I awake? I must have another drink.”
26 - Don't get yourself in to a continuous slide.
• Herod lived a life of compromise.
• He had turned from the God of his people by following his father's example.
• He had lusted after his brother's wife.
• When he married his brother's wife.
• He was known as one who surrounded himself with luxuries, beauty and pleasures, often illegally obtained, but without hesitation.
• He lived without self-denial, even at risk of losing it all.
• He lived for pleasure with a willingness to give it half away for one night of fun.
• Then he was asked to kill a man who was loving enough to tell him the truth.
• I have heard it and I have said it before:
• Sin will take you further than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay and cost you more than you want to pay.
• This was true with Herod.
• A little sin today, without repentance, will be a huge sin tomorrow.
• Sin is a slippery slope. None of us can handle a small willing sin.
• Many of us have compromised in a small area only to find that we opened up the floodgate.
• We have sown our wild oats, and the only thing we can think to do is pray for crop failure.
• Illustrating, the pond dam.
• Now, like Herod, everything in life reminds us of our failure.
• Unrelated events are darkened by that passing memory.
• I have great news for us today.
• Regardless of your past, your practices, your habits, your addictions, your current bad attitude, Jesus has forgiveness and healing for you.
• But you must come to Him in repentance.
• Ill. Saved a little at a time? Stole $1500. Steal only 1000 next year, $500... if caught, explain.
• Invitation call.
• Ill. Wabush, a town in a remote portion of Labrador, Canada, was completely isolated for some time. But recently a road was cut through the wilderness to reach it. Wabush now has one road leading into it, and thus, only on one road leading out. If someone would travel the unpaved road for six to eight hours to get into Wabush, there is only way he or she could leave---by turning around.
• Each of us, by birth, arrives in a town called Sin. As in Wabush, there is only one way out--a road built by God himself. But in order to take that road, one must first turn around. That complete about face is what the Bible calls repentance, and without it, there's no way out of town.
