The Tragedies and Triumphs of Witnessing Mark 6

The Tragedies and Triumphs of Witnessing (Mark 6: 14 -29)

Tragedies and Triumphs 17 For Herod himself had sent and had John arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, 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 Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death and could not do so; 20 for Herod was afraid of John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. And when he heard him, he was very perplexed; but he used to enjoy listening to him.

Tragedies and Triumphs 21 A strategic day came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his lords and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee; 22 and when the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you want and I will give it to you. ” 23 And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask of me, I will give it to you; up to half of my kingdom. ”

Tragedies and Triumphs 24 And she went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for? ” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist. ” 25 Immediately she came in a hurry to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter. ” (Mark 6: 17 -25)

Characters Herod the Great: Herod Antipas : Herod Agrippa II: Time of Christ’s birth Herod the Great’s son Book of Acts (first half) Heard Paul’s defense (Acts 25)

Characters

Herod Antipas • Married to a woman who was the daughter of the Nabatean king, Aretas IV (2 Cor. 11: 32) • Herod then seduced his half-brother’s wife, Herodias (the wife of Philip) • Herodias was Philip’s and Herod’s niece • Herodias agreed to divorce Philip if Herod would divorce Aretas’ daughter • Herod married his sister-in-law and niece • Herod was the husband, brother-in-law, and the uncle of his wife Herodias!

John the Baptist “Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. ” (Matthew 11: 11)

News Spreads And King Herod heard of it, for His name had become well known; and people were saying, “John the Baptist has risen from the dead, and that is why these miraculous powers are at work in Him. ” (Mark 6: 14)

News Spreads 12 They went out and preached that men should repent. 13 And they were casting out many demons and were anointing with oil many sick people and healing them. (Mark 6: 12 -13)

An Uneasy Conscience But others were saying, “He is Elijah. ” And others were saying, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old. ” 16 But when Herod heard of it, he kept saying, “John, whom I beheaded, has risen!” (Mark 6: 15 -16)

The Flashback 17 For Herod himself had sent and had John arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, 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. ” (Mark 6: 17 -18)

Unlawful “You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother’s wife; it is your brother’s nakedness. ” (Leviticus 18: 16) “If there is a man who takes his brother’s wife, it is abhorrent; he has uncovered his brother’s nakedness…” (Leviticus 20: 21)

Jesus’ Words 11 And He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her; 12 and if she herself divorces her husband marries another man, she is committing adultery. ” (Mark 10: 11 -12)

Nursing a Grudge 19 Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death and could not do so; 20 for Herod was afraid of John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. And when he heard him, he was very perplexed; but he used to enjoy listening to him. (Mark 6: 19 -20)

A Strategic Day and Sensuous Dance 21 A strategic day came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his lords and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee; 22 and when the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you want and I will give it to you. ” 23 And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask of me, I will give it to you; up to half of my kingdom. ” (Mark 6: 21 -23)

A Warning “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? ” (Mark 8: 36)

A Prophet’s Death 24 And she went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for? ” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist. ” 25 Immediately she came in a hurry 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 although the king was very sorry, yet because of his oaths and because of his dinner guests, he was unwilling to refuse her. (Mark 6: 24 -26)

A Prophet’s Death 27 Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded him to bring back his head. And he went and had him beheaded 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 about this, they came and took away his body and laid it in a tomb. (Mark 6: 27 -29)

The Point? : Discipleship and Death “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. ” (Mark 8: 34) 30 “He must increase, but I must decrease. 31 He who comes from above is above all, he who is of the earth is from the earth and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. ” (John 3: 30 -31)

The Point? : John’s Death Foreshadows Jesus’ Cross Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. (2 Timothy 3: 12) … “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. ” (Acts 14: 22)

The Point? : God’s Unstoppable Kingdom The kingdom of God can’t be stopped by human opposition Though the King’s messengers may be stopped, the King, His message, and His kingdom can’t be.

The Tragedies and Triumphs of Witnessing (Mark 6: 14 -29)