Don’t you love a big barbeque? I remember as a kid going to Hooker Oak Park for barbeques and seeing all the people playing and having a good time and smelling the steaks and stuff.
Well, today, we are going to attend two feasts, two large get-togethers. And we’re going to see two kings preside over these events. One thinks He has life under control and has everything he wanted – only to see his inner weakness and depravity come back to haunt him. The other king will start out with nothing, but turn to his subjects to partner with Him in providing everything they need, and more. And we’ll learn lessons about how we can be feast-givers too.
14:1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, 2 and he said to his attendants, "This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him."
Notice how many people misunderstand Jesus? The Pharisees thought he was a demon, others demanded a sign, His family thought he was crazy, and even the people of his hometown rejected Him. Now Herod thinks He is the resurrected John the Baptist.
People will say all kinds of things about Jesus without really understanding Him. Our job is to go back to the basics – Son of God, born a man, died for sins, resurrected for life.
Just because someone says the name of Jesus doesn’t mean they understand Him, so don’t take that for granted. There’s a lot of God-talk going around, but very little of it is correct. You can be sincere, and be sincerely wrong.
What Herod said might seem ridiculous, but this man was so full of sin and lies that his guilt and shame might have actually brought about delusion. Herod, if you remember, is the son of Herod the Great. He is also known as Herod Antipas. He was well known for his political ambitions and his debauchery. He married his brother’s wife who was also his sister in law and niece.
Herod apparently liked John – which is unusual because John publicly criticized Herod for marrying Herodias. But John was probably one of the only people that spoke the truth to Herod.
You know people like that – people in places of power that when they say “jump” you say “how high.” Your boss, a policeman, a judge, a powerful politician – all hold authority and are thus honored and feared. So of course most people would tell Herod what he wanted to hear – that he was wonderful, magnificent, wise – etc. But John laid the cards right out on the table.
We should be that kind of people – no, not blasting everyone’s sins in public, but willing to speak the truth, even if it means retribution. Being straight with someone – saying “you know, there really is only one way to God and it’s through Jesus” doesn’t mean you judge them – it’s a matter of fact.
By the way, how good are you at hearing the truth – from God’s Word, from other believers? Do you react defensively when called on the carpet or even reminded of a truth? We need to practice accepting the truth – not lying down like a door mat to get stepped all over – but taking it to God and seeking His forgiveness and healing for those things that are true.
Anyway – Herod was very conflicted because John spoke truth, but it was a truth that hurt – so eventually Herod put him in prison to shut him up and probably to keep him alive – or so he thought.
3 Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, 4 for John had been saying to him: "It is not lawful for you to have her." 5 Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered him a prophet.
So this sets the stage for us – a politically charged situation with a life at stake. Herod has a political enemy that he wants to destroy, even though there may be some admiration there too. So Herod puts John in prison.
Kings in those days could do such things – when they wanted someone arrested, they were arrested. As I’ve mentioned before – Herodias was both Herod’s sister-in-law and his niece. Marrying her wasn’t illegal under Roman law – but it was certainly against God’s law.
Lev 18:16 "’Do not have sexual relations with your brother’s wife; that would dishonor your brother.
But since Herod didn’t really care about the Jews that much, even though he claimed to be one – he tried to hide his political adversary away in a prison – Josephus tells us it was Machaerus, a fortress (combination palace and prison) near the barren northeastern shore of the Dead Sea in the region of Moab.
And although what happens next is horrible and cruel and gross – it shouldn’t surprise us given the nature of this family.
It was really Herodias that was so against John – listen to Mark 6:18-20
So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to, 20 because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him.
I won’t get into the details, but suffice it to say that today’s soap operas were nothing compared to the real life incest, intrigue, and infighting of this family. So, putting John in prison wasn’t enough to mollify Herodias.
6 On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for them and pleased Herod so much 7 that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked.
Herod’s birthday – the celebration of birthdays was a Hellenistic custom, not a Jewish one – and Herod had invited many military, civil and governmental officials to the party. There, Herodias’ daughter by her marriage to Herod’s brother Phillip, danced and Herod offered her a reward. Josephus tells us that the daughter was named Salome and was in her middle teens.
It’s likely that this dance was very sensual in nature for the probably all male audience. This would have gotten a big reaction from the group – but we see the real reason for it, and the power behind the dance as Salome makes her request.
This was not what Herod was expecting at all – perhaps she would ask for jewels or something. She asks for something much more.
8 Prompted by her mother, she said, "Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist." 9 The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted 10 and had John beheaded in the prison.
Herod made a rash promise to Salome. Now he suffers the consequences. We should keep our promises – but when keeping them means we violate God’s law then it’s better to suffer embarrassment at the hands of those we want to impress than suffer the consequences of sin.
11 His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. 12 John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.
It’s an unbelievably grotesque scene – and shows just how barbaric humans can be. You might think – this could never happen today. Trust me – it could. I’ve heard men from their own mouths admit to similar things (in parole hearings). Sin does indeed lead to corruption.
I’m sure it was with great anguish that John’s disciples came and buried their master and their friend. Just imagine what it must have been like then to have taken the news to Jesus.
13 When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns.
There was a close tie between Jesus’ ministry and John’s. John was also likely related to Jesus so the grief was close and heart felt. Besides – Jesus knew a lot more about the depravity of man than we do, and wept with the tears of God over this tragedy.
But look what happens – He tries to get away and just a movie star, wherever there is a “sighting” of Jesus, the crowds gather. But look at Jesus’ response:
14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
I want to point out two things here:
1. Jesus mourned
Did you notice that? I think its important because we tend to think that God is somehow untouchable by the events and struggles of our lives. Not so. God cares about what you care about – He feels the things you feel – cries when you cry even. God is not the dispassionate being we sometimes think He is because He lets tragedy happen.
God could have stopped the beheading of John – but He didn’t. Even with Jesus right there physically on earth He let it happen. God is bigger than the worst thing that can happen to you – and is able to bring about great good from terrible wrong – He is that big.
2. Jesus let His feelings be channeled into love.
The word “compassion” comes from a Greek word that comes to us as “spleen.” The idea is that his inward parts were affected, moved, touched, when He saw the people there – waiting, watching, expecting – wondering perhaps how He would react.
Many of us in Christ’s place might have reacted in anger – “you humans are so brutal and full of sin – why did I even come here!”
Some might have reacted by pushing them away – “Something terrible has happened and I just need to be alone.” But He didn’t. Instead He healed – He reached out and blessed them.
Jesus knew the real enemy wasn’t Herod, or the people – the enemy was sin – and its effects on the people.
It’s important for us to keep this perspective in mind. When bad things happen can we see beyond the circumstances and let the love of God shine through us as well?
It doesn’t mean we don’t feel – it doesn’t mean we just shut out our grief and pain – but allow God’s Holy Spirit to funnel grief into giving, coldness into compassion. Just a thought.
15 As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food."
16 Jesus replied, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat."
17 "We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish," they answered.
18 "Bring them here to me," he said. 19 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.
We read this and say – oh right – the Feeding of the 5,000 – and its importance diminishes. Imagine yourself one of the disciples – they are looking around, realizing it is getting late, perhaps planning and scheming about what to do, and finally they’ve got to stop Jesus teaching – once again the Master is out of control – doesn’t He realize how late its getting?
I remember one time I was in charge of a TV program – the broadcast of an Easter service – and I had to keep the show on time – but the pastor just kept going and going and going and I thought for sure he was going to go over the time allotted. I fretted and tried to get his attention – but the funny thing the Lord must have been in control because the guy bowed his head and prayed and said “amen” just as the credits needed to roll.
Here the disciples can’t take it any longer and they tell Jesus what needs to happen as if He didn’t know. Instead of arguing with them, Jesus turns it right back around and says: “they don’t need to go away, you feed them.”
There are several important spiritual lessons we can learn from this to apply to our own lives. I’m going to give you 7 of them today.
1. Jesus supplies our needs
Sometimes we forget that He knows what you need – emphasis on need and will supply it if we seek Him.
2. Jesus loves in specific, concrete ways
Jesus isn’t just concerned about your spiritual growth – He also shows His love by providing sustenance when we need it, protection when we need it, even blessing us with a financial bonus when He just wants to show His love.
3. Our dead end is His open door
Notice how often Jesus brings His disciples, and us, to the point at which we can do nothing else but trust Him – it’s almost as if He does this on purpose ;-). When our door closes, then He can open His.
4. Jesus involves others in His miracles
Jesus wants to partner with us – He doesn’t have to, but He wants to let us be involved – so be a hand, be a mouth, be a provider – be willing to be used in His work. Don’t just be an observer, get in the game.
5. Jesus won’t ask you to do anything without providing the means
We don’t need to break our backs to make the Lord’s work happen. If you pray and something isn’t working, don’t sweat it. He won’t ask you to do something without providing a means to do it in His way.
6. Jesus takes what we have, breaks it, then multiplies it
Notice the pattern – we give up to Him what we have, our talents, our personality, our means – and then He breaks it – breaks us if necessary – then multiplies what we have to others. Be willing to give who you are to Him, then be willing to see yourself broken before He uses you.
7. Give God what you have, then give to others what He gives back to you
This last point is similar to the one I just mentioned – but I want to focus on something here – take what He gives back. What you get back from God may not be what you thought you were going to get back.
For instance, you may give Him your incredible wisdom and knowledge, and He gives back an assignment to teach Sunday school. Maybe you are a gifted stock trader and you are destined for Wall Street. When you give that to God He gives back an opportunity to help an elderly woman balance her checkbook.
The point is – we don’t belong to ourselves anymore. We are in a new kingdom. Our King will provide for us, but it is His mission, His goals, His kingdom we are serving – so your feast might not be what you expected, but it will be filled with joy as you obey Him.
