Stand Out On The Journey

So this is a story that you’d expect to see on Dr. Phil or Jerry Springer instead of in the Bible. A guy marries his brother’s wife, who is also his niece, and then he beheads a dude who doesn’t like it. Crazy! But this messy story shows us a few things that we can expect in our lives as disciples (followers) of Jesus. It shows us how we’ll stand out on our journey of following Jesus.

DISCIPLES ARE WELL KNOWN IN THEIR COMMUNITY
Check out Mark 6, verse 14: “King Herod heard about it, because Jesus’s name had become well known. Some said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that’s why miraculous powers are at work in him.” But others said, “He’s Elijah.” Still others said, “He’s a prophet, like one of the prophets from long ago.” So the first thing we see in this story is that these guys’ had made a name for themselves. Jesus and his disciples were talking about the kingdom, living lives that demonstrated the kingdom, and people in the community took notice. Even the king of the region, Herod Antipas, heard about Jesus and his followers and what they were up to. Disciples are known in their community. They’re known for being disciples of Jesus.

Who in your community knows that you follow Jesus? Does anybody know? Or do you just kind of blend in, like anyone else at work, or in your neighborhood, or in your family. If you’re follow Jesus the way he wants you to, that’s how you’ll be known to those around you.

DISCIPLES ARE BOLD
Now look at verse 16: “When Herod heard of it, he said, “John, the one I beheaded, has been raised! ” For Herod himself had given orders to arrest John and to chain him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because he had married her. John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” So Herodias held a grudge against him and wanted to kill him. But she could not, because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing he was a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard him he would be very perplexed, and yet he liked to listen to him.”

King Herod was a guy who decided to marry his brother’s wife, who actually was also his niece, when he himself had divorced his own wife. Now this all broke a few Old Testament laws about how God wanted people to live, so John the Baptist, a follower of Jesus, spoke up and was honest with the king about how broken and wrong this all was. He wanted the king to do what was right and pleasing to God. But Herodias, the woman Herod married, hated John for saying this. She wanted him dead. Herod didn’t go so far as to kill him, but he arrested him and threw him in prison.

Man, do you know how easy it would have been for John to loosen what he believed about marriage? I mean, it would have been much easier to make an “exception” for Herod and Herodias; or to look the other way and not get involved. Maybe he could have just stayed busy with other things and convince himself that it would be better for him to stay out of prison. But instead he’s bold and honest. Not just once, it says in verse 18 that he “had been telling Herod.” He kept telling Herod that this was wrong.

Disciples of Jesus are super bold. They’re honest about who God is, what sin is, and what the Bible says.

Are there any parts of the Bible that you’re embarrassed about? Things that you won’t bring up around your friends? Things that you’re terrified that they might ask you and you might have to explain. Maybe you need to take a stand and be bold about something you’ve never been bold before.

DISCIPLES ARE DEVOTED TO JESUS
But now, we’ve got to know where that boldness might take us. Look at verse 21: “An opportune time came on his birthday, when Herod gave a banquet for his nobles, military commanders, and the leading men of Galilee. When Herodias’s own daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask me whatever you want, and I’ll give it to you.” He promised her with an oath: “Whatever you ask me I will give you, up to half my kingdom. She went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for? ” “John the Baptist’s head,” she said. At once she hurried to the king and said, “I want you to give me John the Baptist’s head on a platter immediately.” Although the king was deeply distressed, because of his oaths and the guests he did not want to refuse her. The king immediately sent for an executioner and commanded him to bring John’s head. So he went and beheaded him in prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother.”

John’s boldness took him to prison, and then to his death. All he had to do was change his mind about what he believed about God, and he’d probably keep his head. But what we see in the life of John is that Jesus’ disciples are devoted to him. In spite of imprisonment and death, John never watered down what the Bible said. He never softened his stance on marriage. He never modified what he believed. He was so devoted to Jesus, that he was willing to give him his life. In fact, we know of about 3 years that John was preaching and teaching about Jesus. But for about two of those years he was in prison. Two thirds of his time being a follower of Jesus were spent in prison. What could make him so devoted to Jesus?

DISCIPLES ARE SECURE
We see a hint of it in verse 29: “When John’s disciples heard about it, they came and removed his corpse and placed it in a tomb.”

Why bother to go get the body of a guy who was beheaded, who spent two years in jail, and bury it in a tomb? Here’s why: disciples of Jesus are secure. They’re the most secure people in the world. They know that no matter what happens to them in this life, even if they die, that there’s something after death. God promised that their bodies will be raised and be made new and they’ll spend forever with him. John must have had this deep, deep confidence that his future was secure. That’s what allowed him to hold his life so loosely. We don’t hear about him complaining that he spent so much time in prison. We don’t see him changing his mind about marriage once he finds out that he’s going to be killed. He knew how secure he was, and it changed how he lived his life. In fact, listen at what Jesus says in Matthew about John the Baptist: “Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one greater than John the Baptist has appeared.” A man who spent most of his time following Jesus in prison is the greatest man other than Jesus ever to live.

Herod was extremely insecure. He cared more about pleasing the other people at his party than doing what’s right. Herodias was insecure. She couldn’t handle John saying that she was displeasing God. But John? John was secure. He knew the security of Romans 8: “Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

That’s security! That’s how secure your future life with Jesus is if you follow him. Nothing in all the earth can separate you from God’s love. That’s what John knew.

ARE YOU GROWING IN THESE AREAS?
Are you standing out in these ways as you journey with Jesus? God promised that if He started a good work in us (if he saved us through Jesus), He’d bring that good work to completion. He’s working in our lives and growing us in all these ares as we follow Jesus. But one way He might chose to grow us is by us confessing that we don’t do these things well. We fall short of following Him like we should. He wants us to be honest and see how we don’t follow Him well, and to trust in Him to change us.

Another way He might grow us is through each other. Look at Hebrews 10: “And let us watch out for one another to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other.” We meet together to propel each other forward in each of these areas. It’s why we launched our journey groups during this sermon series, to be more focused on what God’s doing in each of our lives and help each other along the way. It’s why we meet mid-week as community groups, so that we can support each other on this journey of following Jesus.

Thank God for the ways you’ve seen Him working in your life in these areas.

Confess your failure in areas you need to grow in, and ask Him to keep working in your life as you journey with Him.