11- Avoidable Tragedy: Mark 6:14-29 - Mike Olynyk, Meadows Church

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:02

You're listening to audio from Meadows Church in Langley, BC. For more information about Meadows Church, go to Meadowschurch.ca. God, we thank you so much. We thank you so much that you died on the cross and that you rose from the dead. And that you sent your Holy Spirit to fill us up with peace and love and joy. Jesus, that we can live life to the full because of what you did, what that song talks about. That you defeated sin and Satan and death once and for all. Praise you, O King. You are so good, Jesus. We worship you. Amen. Amen. Like I said before, this is our last Encounter Jesus talk for a couple weeks because of spring break and then Palm Sunday and Easter in there. We are going to be in it today, and then we'll put it aside. And what I love is that it seemed to work that Mark puts aside the encountering Jesus part of it, and we encounter two other characters today. So we're going to look at John the Baptist and his not-so-buddy Herod. So that'll be today. First, John the Baptist shows up a number of times in Scripture, and he's a predominant figure in the life of Jesus. He starts out, he gets his claim to fame as the fetus that jumps. Mary comes to visit Elizabeth, and Elizabeth is the mother of John the Baptist. When Mary comes with Jesus in her tummy, suddenly John leaps in Elizabeth's tummy. And so from the very start, John the Baptist is already heralding Jesus as the Messiah. The next time we hear of John, he is found preaching in the wilderness and baptizing people. And so we'll look at that. And we get this idea of who John the Baptist is and how he was dressed. And if you've seen the chosen, you know that he is not the most well-kept man that's in society. His clothes, Mark one says, were woven from coarse camel hair. And he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food he ate locust and wild honey. The question I have is who has had locust and wild honey before? Has anybody? I think I need to have that experience. Because you know that I like to experience scripture so uh I just want to smell and taste it. So uh at some point I have to have some locusts and honey. And just to experience, which I'm sure I'm not gonna like it. I'm sure it's gonna be crunchy. This is what he lived on. This was his bread and butter. By the number of people flocking to hear him, thousands upon thousands coming, hearing, and getting baptized, we know that John's words are powerful. Jesus uh asked John to actually baptize him. This is the next scene that we know of John. And as Jesus comes up to John and asks, he is dumbfounded, but Lord, I should be baptizing you. And Jesus says, You got to do this because it's gonna fulfill what's happening. It needs to happen. Because Jesus was our ultimate example. And so John baptizes Jesus in that moment. Well, after the baptism of Jesus, the last we hear of John is in Mark 1.14, which says this later on, after John was arrested, we're gonna hear more about that. Jesus went into Galilee where he preached God's good news. So let's pick up the story. We want to know why he was arrested, we want to know what happens to him, and it's all happening in Mark 6, verse 14. Uh, and let's read it together. So it says in Mark 6, verse 14, Herod Antipas, the king, that is a very loose term. We're gonna we're gonna understand that in a second. Not not so much a king. Ruler, maybe, uh, but but definitely didn't wasn't given the full power. Uh Herod Antipas the king soon heard about Jesus because everyone was talking about him. Some were saying, this must be John the Baptist raised from the dead. That is why he can do such miracles. Interesting? People have a ton of different ways of describing Jesus. Then others said, well, he's the prophet Elijah. And still others said he's a prophet like the other great prophets of the past. Herod apparently was guilt-ridden, full of shame and guilt, because verse 16, when Herod heard about Jesus, he said, John, the man I beheaded has come back from the dead. Hmm. We're gonna leave that for a second. If you've never heard that story before, we're gonna get into it. Uh but first, I want to say that that by the way, these are two separate people. So you have uh Herod Antipas, and then you have Herod the Great. And you'll know Herod the Great from the Christmas story. This is where the wise man went to Herod, and then they go off to see Jesus and they go a different route so that they don't have to tell Herod where Jesus is. And uh it's also the Herod, Herod the Great, who commits mass genocide against the Jewish people. All kids, all males that were two years old and under were were killed. So he has Herod the Great has some some some dark sides to him. He is power hungry. He did not want this kid king that was prophesied about to take his power. That is not who we're talking about, though. We're talking about his son, Herod of Annipaz. And and can I just say that that like somebody should be making millions off of the TV show Lifestyles of the Rich in Herod. Uh it it is a disastrous royal, I don't think that would be the name that I would use, but uh disastrous royalty. Herod the Great is on his deathbed, and his sons are vying for the crown. And so uh in Game of Thrones fashion, each of them are trying to suck up to him while in the back end they are backstabbing him, they're backstabbing each other. It is brutal. He has set two people to take his throne instead of one at this time. It's Ari and Alex, and they are his sons. And they're up for the crown until Herod hears something that he doesn't like and changes the kingship to be this dude, Annipater. Well, fearing that they were gonna lose all of their wealth and all of their status, these two plot to kill their father and are found out, and they are executed for treason. Herod briefly changes his mind before they know, but then they're caught. He changes his mind back to Ari and Alex, when then Antipater is caught trying to poison Herod because he just lost the throne. So he's executed. And begrudgingly, Herod the Great has to choose Antipas. Herod the Create doesn't trust him, though, and so he actually splits his kingdom into four. These are all his sons, except for Queen Solome, who's a daughter, Archaeolus, Philip, and Antipas are all, they become the rulers of his territory, which you can see here, green being Queen Solome's, and the rest is kind of easy to see. So his kingdom is split into four. This is the kingship now. That's why I said when they said Herod uh Antipas was king, it was very, very loose. He was the ruler. He had the power of Herod the Great only in select territories. And it's why it's called a Tetriarch, because there are three men that are in rule of most of the land. Are you starting at the picture of Herod, though? And I I know I dug in here a bit, I geeked out on the I I think this is good though. We need to get into the political landscape because this is about Herod and John the Baptist. He is jealous, he is an underperforming person, and he is just not enough. There is this like, daddy, that's not fair kind of vibe coming from Herod Antipas. He is prideful. This is the snapshot of Herod Antipas. Sorry, it actually gets worse, though. Because while on a trip to Rome, he stays at his half-brother's house, Herod II, also known as Philip, not this Philip, another Philip. Uh, and how does he repay his wonderful hospitality in Rome? Well, Herod Antipas sees his half-brother's wife, Herodias, who is Antipas' brother's daughter. Just to give you the the skinny on that. He lusts after her, and after unmentionable things, Antipas steals her and marries her. I'm talking like this is a great TV show that could go far. It gets worse because Herod is already married to Phizalis. I totally butchered that name. His first wife. And it was out of a political move. You see, what they would do is they would uh the Herod the Great married off his sons to create ties to other countries. And so he's married to Phizalis and then divorces her. Well, then King Aretas IV hears about it and declares war against Herod of Antipas, and he pays heavily for it as he invades his areas and the areas of other Herod Herod the Great areas. Do you see it? I'm telling you, great TV. It is. This is the landscape then that Herod of Antipas is at, where we see our story. And by the way, can I say something? I think it's also important that I share this because the Bible is real. This is real. This is in the history books. And the beautiful thing, a part of it, is the interlocking of the Bible and history. It just proves once again that this is not mythology, that this is the truth, this is the word of God. Okay, how are we doing? Is that okay to take a little history loop? So I feel like a history teacher there, but I think it was good for us to be able to get the landscape for what's about to happen. Because you're thinking in your head, especially if you don't know the story, why is John beheaded? Did you forget about that? So we're out of lifestyles of the rich and famous scandal edition, and we're back to our story. Herod is convinced that John the Baptist is coming back to haunt him. And Mark goes on to share the backstory of this. The writer Mark wants this in the gospel, which is the story of Jesus. Verse 17. For Herod had sent soldiers to arrest and imprison John as a favor to Herodias. She had been his brother Philip's wife, but Herod had married her. Again, Bible and actual historical details. Combined, it's both. You can find that information in both areas. John had been telling Herod, it's against God's law for you to marry your brother's wife. So Herodias bore a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But without Herod's approval, she was powerless. Like this is the powerful kind of in that area. Powerful Roman official, right? Not king, but a Roman official. Herod could have killed John in a second, but he didn't do that. There was conviction there. There was guilt. There's probably some fear of God. Fear that John's disciples, who were many, would revolt against Rome, probably in there too. There was just so much going on. I think the biggest part though tells us why he didn't is in verse 20. You see, Herod respected John. And knowing that he was good a good and holy man, he protected him. Herod was greatly disturbed when he talked with John. Even so, he liked to listen to him. I found that intriguing. That he did not like. He was greatly disturbed whenever John spoke. Yet he wanted to listen to him. I think about the ways that sometimes our own hearts are like, I don't really want to hear this. I know it's good for me, but I don't want to hear. I feel like that's that moment. Let's keep going though. Verse 21. Herodias' chance finally came on Herod's birthday. He gave a party for his high uh government officials, army officers, and the leading citizens of Galilee. Then his daughter, also named Herodias. This could also be and is most likely, if you're reading the Greek, it is actually Herodias' daughter, Solome II. That is probably who this is, if you look at the translation. So, but she came in and she performed a dance that greatly pleased Herod and his guests. This is a woman that is at the age of betrothal, anywhere from 14 to 16. And she's doing this provocative dance to Herod and his guests. Well, the dance greatly pleased Herod and his guests. Ask me for anything you like, the king said to the girl, and I will give it to you. Verse 23. He even vowed, I will give you whatever you asked up to half my kingdom, which again is very symbolic because he didn't have the kingdom, but he was going to give her what she wanted. Verse 24. She went out and asked her mother, What should I ask for? Her mother told her, Ask for the head of John the Baptist. Huh, okay. So the girl hurried back to the king and told him, I want the head of John the Baptist right now on a tray. This is in front of all of the government officials after he had just said, I will give you anything you want, including half the kingdom, if you want half it. And she asked for this small thing. Just mind. Just, you know, somebody who's in prison. Just kill him and bring the head. Then the king deeply regretted what he had said. But because of the vows he had made in front of his guests, he couldn't refuse her. So he immediately sent an executioner to prison to cut off John's head and bring it to him. The soldier beheaded John in the prison, brought his head on the tray, and gave it to the girl who took it to her mother. And I'm sure they didn't eat anything once the tray came. All food was done. When John's disciples heard what had happened, they came to get his body and buried it in a tomb. This is quite a moment. We lose one of Jesus' friends in this moment. And it's such an avoidable tragedy. As Herod liked John, he respected John. He even feared John. And yet he's probably drunk on wine and he has tons of pride, and he oopses, and it becomes the demise of John. Yet out of the two characters, I think the tragedy here is actually Herod Antipas. You see, Mark opens this pericope by talking about how the word on the street is all about Jesus. And everyone has an opinion on Jesus. And Herod is haunted by the fact that he murdered John in payment of a provocative dance by his wife's daughter, no less. A provocative dance and a prideful boast to high-ranking officials. And as Herod thinks of Jesus, he is determined that he is John the Baptist, brought back to life and coming to haunt him. And it is pride and it is lust and it is power that blinds Herod from seeing Jesus who he really is. Herod's reign doesn't actually end well. I'm going back to the history books here. In a real life example of the proverbial pride comes before the fall. The history books tell us that Herod Antipas was full of pride and hungry for power, and he's actually caught being disloyal to Rome, and his sentence is to be shamed as a leader and to be banished from the Roman Empire forever. And that is the last anyone hears of Herod Antipas. That's the end of his story. From the world's standard, that's a really harsh end to a leader. But I think the lag uh the biggest tragedy actually happens later in the gospel. It is when he has his last interaction with Jesus. You see, first in Luke 13, verse 31, it tells us that Herod Antipass would be so blinded by sin that he would actually scheme with his followers to try and kill Jesus. Herod would do that. And he passed. And it gets worse. He meets Jesus, the one who can bring him freedom from the baggage that his life has, and it has extensive baggage. He clearly has daddy issues. He has shaken identity. He's made some really poor decisions in his life. It's weighing on him. Jesus can take it from him, heal it, and bring life to the full. And that man stands in front of him in his court in Luke 23 8. Hours before Jesus would be crucified. You see, Pilate sends Jesus to Herod Antipas to try and offload the decision to Herod. Herod gets his chance to meet Jesus in Luke 23, 8. Herod was delighted at the opportunity to see Jesus because he had heard about him and had been hoping for a long time for him to perform a miracle. He asked Jesus question after question, but Jesus refused to answer. I just kind of think, like, is there a little bit of like you kinda beheaded my one of my good friends? Could that have been something in there? Part of me goes, Jesus loves everybody, and so that probably wasn't the reason. It might have been more Miranda rights. In the sense that there was a certain way that he needed to be on trial with Pilate and he needed to be there? I think I don't know. You gotta think that Jesus had some feelings towards Herod, though. Because he was truly human. Meanwhile, the leading priests and the teachers of the religious law, during this time, when he's trying to ask him questions, stood there shouting their accusations. Then Herod and his soldiers began mocking and ridiculing Jesus. Finally, they put a royal robe on him and sent him back to Pilate. Jesus, the Messiah, whom Herod had heard about all the stories, and he was standing right in front of them. And Herod's heart wasn't to be a pupil. He needed to keep his image, he needed to be all together in front of his people. No, Herod was the powerful king, and he wanted to be entertained. To see Jesus perform miracles like some kind of supernatural clown. The last moment with Jesus, Herod mocks and ridicules Jesus. And the final mockery being a royal robe that's put on Jesus in mockery of the fact that he was being called the King of the Jews. That is the last moment that Herod Antipas has with Jesus. I love that when we read the Bible and we dig into the story, that God always n nudges our hearts towards something. What pops out to you in this story? I want to tell you that God is right there with you and He's on the journey with you personally. What stands out to you in this story? As I think of Herod Antipas, it begs the question. He had such solid and thick blinders on his eyes that prevented him from experiencing the love and the hope and the freedom that Jesus offers. And instead, he embraces the world. He goes after pride and he goes after lust and power. And in the end, friends, he loses everything. Jesus calls you and I to something. In Scripture it says, He says, Come to me, all who are weary and heavy burden, and I will give you rest. In Revelation 3.20, he welcomes us to open the doors of our hearts so that he could come in and eat with us and connect on a deep level with us. That is the God we serve. That is the Jesus that stood before Herod. And the question I have for you is Is there something creating blind spots in your life that is keeping you from seeing Jesus clearly? We're going to go into a time of reflection. I'm just going to give you a nudge on something to think of, and then we're going to sing a closing song called Good Shepherd. And just as we're in this time of reflection, asking the question about blind spots, at the very base level, maybe there is pride or lust or power, and you are just clinging to control over the ship that seems to be going down. You know what I'm talking about? Like relationships are not going good or something, and you just don't have control, even though you want it. And I want you to know that Jesus is reaching out his hands and wants to offer you everything, life to the full, love, hope, and peace. Maybe your blind sparts are within your Christian faith. You've been a Christian a long time. And Jesus has like these amazing plans for your life and you know it. And there's like divine appointments. He has people that he wants you to talk to at the grocery store or neighbors, or he wants you to love somebody well when it comes to mind. All those nudges of the Holy Spirit. The question is, have you put things in the way so that you are stopping from hearing him or following him? Well, this world is crazy and chaotic. And I've talked about Herod, but but I feel like that we also need to embrace John in this moment. And I think what we can take out of this, if you have those blind spots, if we look to John and his experience, John died being faithful to God. He died being faithful to God because John's eyes looked heavenward. And although his death is tragic by the world standards, John has eternal life with God. There is comfort and knowing that when we remove the blinders and when we stay true to God, that life to the full that he offers now becomes life eternal. That is the ultimate hope, friends. And it's one of the many reasons that I am a Christian. I've put my hope in Jesus. We have a heavenly trajectory to look at. Where's that for you? Well, God, I just want to pray over my friends. I pray, God, that that you would in this response time meet us where we're at. Help us to see you clearly. If there are things that we need to put off, may we do that. And if there are things that we need to take on, maybe it's you, Jesus. We we've been pushing you aside for too long, and we need to embrace you fully. God, would would that decision happen today in our hearts and our minds? God, thank you for the story of Herod. Thank you for the story of John. God, may it impact our hearts as we close with this song, but also as we just think about it during the week, that you would point us closer to you. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen. We're so glad you chose to join us today. To find out more about Meadows Church and how you can get involved, connect with the pastor or how you can partner with us in ministry. Go to Meadowschurch.ca.