Countryside Vineyard Church
Mark - The Death of John the Baptist Pt. 33
  • I Raise A Hallelujah
  • In the Secret
  • The More I Seek You
  • I Will Follow

      • Mark 6:7-9ESV

      • Mark 6:10-12ESV

      • Mark 6:13ESV

  • Introduction

    Good morning and welcome to the Countryside Vineyard, my name is Joe Fager one of the Pastor’s here.
    We are working verse by verse through the Gospel of Mark.
    Last week Merlene taught that Jesus sent out His disciples to begin emulating His ministry.
    And outwardly, things seem to be moving fast and powerfully.
    People are being healed. Demons are being cast out. Captives are being set free. The kingdom of God is advancing.
    And now the disciples themselves are out preaching repentance, healing the sick, and casting out demons.
    What an incredible moment this must have felt like.
    But right in the middle of all that momentum… Mark suddenly slams on the brakes.
    He interrupts the story with a dark and tragic account about John the Baptist.
    And it feels almost out of place at first.
    The disciples are out ministering successfully… and suddenly Mark starts talking about a prophet sitting in prison, a corrupt king, a bitter woman, and an execution.
    Next week we’ll see the disciples come back and report all their success to Jesus, but now Mark takes a dark turn and starts talking about John.
    What’s even more striking is that by the time Jesus sends out the twelve John has been dead for for months or even a year.
    This is old news.
    So why interrupt the story now?
    Why stop a successful ministry narrative to remind us about a faithful prophet who lost his life?
    Because John is not just the forerunner of Jesus in life.
    He also becomes a preview of what faithful witness to Jesus can cost.
    John announced the coming King… and then lost his head for refusing to compromise truth.
    And Mark intentionally places this story right here as a warning to anyone who wants to follow Jesus seriously.
    We as Americans have lived with a level of comfort and freedom that many Christians throughout history never experienced.
    But the Bible never promises us safety.
    In fact, Jesus repeatedly warned His followers that faithfulness to Him would bring opposition, suffering, hatred, and sometimes even death.
    And whether America remains free or not, the church must understand this:
    Our hope has never ultimately rested in political power, cultural acceptance, or legal protection.
    The church has survived empires before.
    What matters is whether Christians will remain faithful when following Jesus actually costs something.
    We must stand arm in arm as followers of Christ first, even when we strongly disagree politically.
    Because there is a spiritual darkness at work in this world that cannot merely be voted away.
    And Mark 6 forces us to wrestle with that reality head on.
    This passage is not warm. It is not comfortable. It is not sentimental.
    Mark simply lays the truth before us.
    Faithful people may suffer greatly for the name of Jesus, even 21st Century Americans.
    And yet the kingdom of God continues advancing anyway.
    Today we are in Mark 6:14–29, the death of John the Baptist.
    Before I begin to walk through this passage, let’s pray.

    I. Expect That Some Will Fear You

    Mark 6:14–16 ESV
    14 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.”
    The first question I want to answer is what did Herod hear?
    Herod heard about Jesus’ ministry exploding in his territory, the Galilee.
    Real quick backstory -
    Herod the Great - the one who killed all the Bethlehemite baby boys when Jesus was 2 or 3 years old. 37 BC - 4BC
    Herod had a few sons all with different wives, but the one we are talking about in this event is Herod Antipas. Da
    Dad had all of Israel plus some, this Herod had only Galilee. He was not a King but a Tetrarch Puppet king figure head no real power. Mark calls him King almost certainly as a slight not an actual title.
    He reigns from 4 BC to about 39 AD when his treachery and adultery catch up to him, as his former Father-in-Law defeats him.
    Put this into perspective Jesus was born in about 3 BC.
    Ok, this guy now hears about Jesus’s success and hears that people are calling him Elijah, one of the prophets or even worse for Herod John the Baptist come back from the dead.
    Herod says yep that’s got to be the answer. I killed John and now he’s going to make me pay; he’s haunting me. He came right back to my territory and he’s gonna start causing me more problems.
    He didn‘t likely literally think Jesus of Nazareth was John Baptist, but likely thought literally that he had the Spirit of John the Baptist. Like Jesus was possessed by John the Baptist. It was a somewhat common belief of the time.
    Anyway, this is the point:
    Herod is terrified.
    Not because Jesus attacked him politically. Not because Jesus raised an army. Not because Jesus threatened Rome.
    Herod is afraid because guilty people fear truth.
    John may be dead, but Herod’s conscience is still alive.
    And now everywhere Herod turns he keeps hearing about another man preaching repentance, performing miracles, and stirring the people.
    So Herod immediately assumes judgment is coming for him personally.
    “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.”
    You know what is fascinating about that statement?
    Nobody else in the text says that.
    The crowds are speculating: Maybe Elijah. Maybe a prophet. Maybe John.
    But Herod is absolutely convinced.
    Why?
    Because guilt has a way of making everything feel personal.
    A guilty conscience hears footsteps in the dark. It looks over its shoulder. It fears exposure. It wonders when judgment is finally coming.
    And honestly, we all know what that feels like.
    When we live in sin… when we compromise… when we refuse to repent… we become spiritually paranoid.
    We wonder: “Am I okay with God?” “Is this finally catching up to me?” “Am I being exposed?” “Is God trying to get my attention?”
    That is exactly what is happening to Herod.
    And here is the irony:
    John is dead… but Herod still cannot escape his message.
    That is the power of truth.
    You can silence the preacher, but you cannot silence the truth once God drives it into the conscience.
    And church, if you follow Jesus faithfully, some people will fear you for exactly that reason.
    Not because you are dangerous politically. Not because you are smarter than them. Not because you are trying to ruin their lives.
    But because light makes darkness uncomfortable.
    A holy life is convicting. Truth is convicting. Faithfulness is convicting.
    Sometimes people are not actually reacting to you at all.
    They are reacting to the conviction of God pressing against a conscience that does not want to surrender.
    And by the way, this is where the gospel becomes such good news.
    Because Jesus did not merely die to forgive guilty people.
    Herod is a picture of what guilt does to a person.
    His conscience torments him.
    But the gospel says something amazing.
    Hebrews 9 says the blood of Christ can “purify our conscience from dead works.”
    Hebrews 10 says our hearts can be “sprinkled clean from an evil conscience.”
    That means Jesus does not merely forgive you on paper while leaving you trapped in shame.
    He cleanses you.
    You do not have to live your whole life spiritually looking over your shoulder like Herod.
    In Christ there is forgiveness, cleansing, reconciliation, and peace with God.
    After fear comes silence.

    II. Expect That Some Will Silence You

    Mark 6:17–20 ESV
    17 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.
    Now for some backstory.
    Explain the Graphic:
    Herod divorced his wife, stole his brother’s wife, and married his own niece.
    Talk about some scandal.
    Anyway, that’s what John is preaching against.
    John is publicly confronting Herod’s sin and calling him to repentance.
    And understand how dangerous this is.
    John is not rebuking some random guy in the marketplace.
    He is confronting the most powerful political figure in Galilee.
    He is standing in front of power and saying:
    “What you are doing is sinful before God.”
    And Herod hates it.
    Not necessarily because John is wrong…
    but because truth threatens the life Herod wants to keep living.
    That is important.
    People often do not hate truth because they think it is false.
    They hate truth because it exposes what they love.
    And so Herod does what powerful people often do when confronted with truth:
    He tries to silence the messenger.
    He arrests John. Locks him away. Removes him from public view.
    “Fine. You can keep believing what you believe… just stop saying it publicly.”
    And honestly, the world still works that way.
    Darkness does not mind private religion nearly as much as public truth.
    You can worship quietly. Pray quietly. Believe quietly.
    But the moment truth starts confronting idols publicly… opposition begins.
    And yet verse 20 is one of the strangest verses in the whole story.
    Herod feared John.
    He knew John was righteous and holy.
    He protected John.
    And apparently he would bring John out from time to time just to listen to him speak.
    Think about how strange that is.
    Herod imprisons the very man he secretly knows is telling the truth.
    And Mark says:
    “When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.”
    What a terrifying picture of a divided heart.
    Herod wants the pleasure of sin… while still wanting proximity to truth.
    He wants to hear John… without actually surrendering to John’s message.
    And church, that is still incredibly common today.
    People will listen to preaching. Listen to podcasts. Watch sermons. Talk theology. Discuss truth.
    All while refusing to repent.
    Because hearing truth is not the same thing as surrendering to truth.
    Herod enjoyed listening… right up until truth threatened the life he wanted to keep.
    And eventually that tension becomes unbearable.
    Because eventually every person must decide:
    Will I silence the truth… or surrender to it?
    And now the story turns truly dark.
    Fear led to imprisonment.
    But eventually imprisonment was not enough.
    Because darkness does not peacefully coexist with truth forever.
    Eventually one of them must give way.

    III. Expect That Some Will Kill You

    Mark 6:21–29 ESV
    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. 22 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.” 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.” 26 And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. 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.
    This entire scene feels filthy.
    A drunken ruler. Powerful men gathered around a table. A young girl dancing to entertain them. A reckless oath. A bitter woman manipulating events from behind the scenes.
    Everything about this banquet reeks of corruption.
    And right in the middle of all of it stands the silent testimony of John the Baptist.
    A righteous and holy man sitting in a prison cell because he refused to compromise truth.
    John dies because Herod fears people more than God.
    That is the real issue.
    Not lack of evidence. Not lack of conviction. Not lack of opportunity to repent.
    Herod knows John is righteous.
    But public pressure matters more to him than obedience to God.
    That is the tragedy.
    Verse 26 is terrifying.
    Herod does not want to kill John.
    But he also does not want to look weak in front of his guests.
    So image wins over righteousness.
    Pride wins over conviction.
    And a prophet dies because a ruler fears men more than God.
    This is why the fear of man is so dangerous.
    The fear of man will make people betray their conscience. Compromise truth. Remain silent when they should speak. And eventually participate in evil they never imagined themselves capable of.
    And here is the reality Mark forces us to face:
    Faithful followers of God have always lived in hostile territory.
    John lost his life because he told the truth.
    The prophets before him suffered.
    The apostles after him suffered.
    Jesus Himself would soon suffer.
    And Christians throughout history have suffered for the name of Christ.
    This is just a reality, look at Iran right now, one of the fastest growing and most persecuted churches in the world.
    Nigeria thousands killed there in the last few years for claiming Jesus as their King.
    Maybe you remember the scene from about a decade ago, 21 people in orange jumpsuits, lined up on the beach praising Jesus as they are being summarily executed by ISIS just for following Jesus.
    It sounds unreal and fictional to us, but I tell you it’s not impossible that this could become a reality right here in America.
    Listen to me...
    Do not be Herod.
    Do not spend your whole life hearing truth, feeling conviction, being stirred emotionally, maybe even admiring Jesus from a distance… while never actually surrendering your life to Him.
    Herod heard John gladly.
    But hearing truth is not the same thing as surrendering to truth.
    And some of you may be in that exact place today.
    You know enough truth to feel conviction. You know enough about Jesus to know He is calling you. You may even enjoy church, worship, preaching, and Christian things.
    But deep down you know there are still parts of your life you refuse to surrender to Him.
    Please hear me:
    Jesus did not go to the cross merely to make you religious.
    He died to save you.
    To forgive your sin. To cleanse your conscience. To reconcile you to God. To free you from condemnation. To give you everlasting life.
    And unlike Herod, you are still breathing today.
    That means mercy is still being extended to you right now.
    But eventually every person must decide what they will do with Jesus Christ.
    Not politics. Not culture. Not religion.
    Jesus.
    The same Jesus John preached about… the same Jesus Herod feared… the same Jesus who Himself was executed under corrupt political power…
    The same Jesus… who walked out of the grave alive.
    And today...
    He offers forgiveness, mercy, reconciliation, and life to anyone who will turn to Him in repentance and faith.

    Conclusion

    As the worship team comes up, I want to leave you with a couple of thoughts...
    Because today’s message is heavy.
    John the Baptist stood faithfully for truth, and it cost him his freedom, his reputation, and eventually his life.
    And church, passages like this force us to wrestle honestly with something many American Christians are not used to thinking about:
    Following Jesus has always cost something.
    This weekend we celebrate Memorial Day in America, and rightly so. We honor the men and women who gave their lives serving this country and protecting freedoms many of us take for granted.
    But as I prepared this message this week, I found myself thinking about another kind of remembrance.
    The countless Christians throughout history who stood faithfully for Jesus Christ in the face of persecution, torture, imprisonment, and death.
    Brothers and sisters who refused to deny Christ. Who would not compromise truth. Who endured suffering with their eyes fixed on Jesus.
    Maybe the church needs moments like this sometimes.
    Moments where we stop and pray for persecuted believers around the world.
    Moments where we remember that following Jesus is not casual.
    Moments where we honestly ask ourselves:
    “Is Jesus truly worth everything to me?”
    And according to Scripture, the answer is yes.
    Jesus Himself said in Matthew 10:22:
    “You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”
    And in Revelation 2:10:
    “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.”
    Church, that is not defeat.
    That is victory.
    John lost his head… but he gained a crown.
    The world may fear you. Silence you. Even kill you.
    But if you belong to Jesus Christ, death is not the end of your story.
    Because Jesus Christ walked out of the grave alive.
    And one day every faithful believer will rise with Him.
    1 Corinthians 15:51–55 ESV
    51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
    1 Thessalonians 4:14–18 ESV
    14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
    So whether you have followed Jesus for decades… or whether you know right now your life is far from Him…
    today is a moment to surrender again.
    Not halfway. Not casually. Not culturally.
    Fully.
    Stand firm. Stay faithful. Keep your eyes on Jesus.
    Because He is worthy of everything.
    In Jesus’ Name… Let’s pray!

      • Mark 6:14–29ESV

      • Mark 6:21–29ESV

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