John the Baptist Part 4: His Death
John was almost too good at his job.
His message--repent!--was not one most people wanted to hear. It usually meant pointing out sins in others and encouraging them to stop.
We don't really like the message today, either. When your friend calls you out on something you know you shouldn't be doing your first response is usually to think, "How dare she tell me what to do?" Even if you eventually see she was right, you really don't want to hear someone else point out your sins.
Yet somehow John delivered the message and not only managed to get people to listen but even got somewhat popular and had some followers. He had called the normal people to repent. He had called the Pharisees to repent.
Then he called Herod to repent. And that's when the trouble started:
"But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of Herodias, his brother's wife, and all the other evil things he had done, Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison," (Luke 3:19-20).
You've probably heard of Herod before, the horribly evil man who ruled Jerusalem at the time of Jesus birth. He was the one who had all the baby boys killed when he realized he'd been double-crossed by the Wise Men (Matthew 2).
This isn't that guy.
The Herod in Luke 3 is his son, Herod Antipas, who is also referred "Herod," their family name. Much like his dad, Herod Antipas was a piece of work. He had a wife, but divorced her in order to marry his own niece, Herodias , who just happened to also be his brother's wife.
Yikes.
And John, who never backed down from delivering his message, confronted Herod: "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife," (Mark 6:18). Scripture tells us that Herodias herself was very upset by this confrontation and wanted her husband to kill John. But "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," (Mark 6:20).
Now pause right there and consider that: Herod had been confronted by John and mad enough to arrest him. But he still feared and protected John because he realized he was righteous and holy. Not only that, but he "liked to listen to him." John was willing to demonstrate love as he preached repentance. He showed respect as he pointed out sin.
Still, there was a serious problem: John had done everything in his calling, everything he was supposed to do, and had devoted his life to preparing people for the Messiah.
And where did he end up because of that? Prison.
So I don't think we're out of line to picture John suffering and struggling in prison, wondering, "Did I miss it? Was I wrong? Was this really the guy? Isn't this my calling? WHY AM I HERE?"
It would be tough to know you had done it right and given your all, only to find yourself in prison for doing exactly what you were supposed to do.
So he sent a few of his disciples to Jesus to ask, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?" (Luke 7:19). Jesus was preaching and teaching but didn't really look like the Savior they had expected. John had prepared the way for Him only to end up locked in a cell. It was only human for him to basically ask, "Are you really Him?" Pitiful.
But Jesus was completely the Messiah, and so He answered:
"Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor," (Luke 7:22).
Jesus didn't just answer John's question; He proved that He was The One. He let his power over the physical body, from healing to raising from the dead, speak for Him.
He also managed to quote a few Old Testament passages that foretold His coming:
"In that day the deaf will hear the words of the scroll...the eyes of the blind will see," (Isaiah 29:18).
"Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy," (Isaiah 35:5-6).
"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor," (Isaiah 61:1).
Basically: I'M DOING IT. I'm Him.
And Jesus sent this final word with John's disciples to deliver to him:
"And blessed is the one who is not offended by me," (Luke 7:23, ESV).
The result of John's obedience had been prison. Surely that was not what he expected. And many of us would be very offended: Come on, God. Really?!?! This is what I get for all I've done for you?
You've probably said it:
Come on, God! I'm living a pure life and my great reward is that not a single guy looks at me?
I've followed you on this path and right now I am the loneliest I've ever been...
I trusted you enough to follow you into ministry but I'm so stressed and broke I don't know how much longer I can keep this up...
"Blessed is the one who is not offended by me."
Sister, I don't know what you thought following Jesus would get you, but the promise was never butterflies and rainbows. (I started that idea two blogs ago, here.)
It's loneliness. Persecution. Pain. Heartache.
But in the midst of all the difficulty it brings, we know His peace. We dwell in His presence. We see His face. We hear his voice.
And we are blessed.
When we're not offended.
John never left prison. Herodias finally got her wish and had him beheaded with the help of her daughter (Mark 6:21-29).
Jesus became greater; John became less, even to the point of death.
Does that offend you?
We never hear John's response to Jesus. We don't know if he was offended by Christ's words or if he took them as encouragement.
So instead I ask you: Are you offended by Jesus?
Can you handle it when your faith doesn't take you down the path you thought it would? Or do you trust that He is with you no matter where the path takes?
Is Jesus living up to who you thought He would be? Or are you seeking Him for who He really is?
Do you trust Him enough to live a holy, righteous life (like John!) even if it means ending up dead?
Believers around the world do it every day. They know following Jesus likely means following him to an untimely death.
And they are not offended.
Are you?
@leslienotebook
myleslienotebook@gmail.com
His message--repent!--was not one most people wanted to hear. It usually meant pointing out sins in others and encouraging them to stop.
We don't really like the message today, either. When your friend calls you out on something you know you shouldn't be doing your first response is usually to think, "How dare she tell me what to do?" Even if you eventually see she was right, you really don't want to hear someone else point out your sins.
Yet somehow John delivered the message and not only managed to get people to listen but even got somewhat popular and had some followers. He had called the normal people to repent. He had called the Pharisees to repent.
Then he called Herod to repent. And that's when the trouble started:
"But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of Herodias, his brother's wife, and all the other evil things he had done, Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison," (Luke 3:19-20).
You've probably heard of Herod before, the horribly evil man who ruled Jerusalem at the time of Jesus birth. He was the one who had all the baby boys killed when he realized he'd been double-crossed by the Wise Men (Matthew 2).
This isn't that guy.
The Herod in Luke 3 is his son, Herod Antipas, who is also referred "Herod," their family name. Much like his dad, Herod Antipas was a piece of work. He had a wife, but divorced her in order to marry his own niece, Herodias , who just happened to also be his brother's wife.
Yikes.
And John, who never backed down from delivering his message, confronted Herod: "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife," (Mark 6:18). Scripture tells us that Herodias herself was very upset by this confrontation and wanted her husband to kill John. But "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," (Mark 6:20).
Now pause right there and consider that: Herod had been confronted by John and mad enough to arrest him. But he still feared and protected John because he realized he was righteous and holy. Not only that, but he "liked to listen to him." John was willing to demonstrate love as he preached repentance. He showed respect as he pointed out sin.
Still, there was a serious problem: John had done everything in his calling, everything he was supposed to do, and had devoted his life to preparing people for the Messiah.
And where did he end up because of that? Prison.
So I don't think we're out of line to picture John suffering and struggling in prison, wondering, "Did I miss it? Was I wrong? Was this really the guy? Isn't this my calling? WHY AM I HERE?"
It would be tough to know you had done it right and given your all, only to find yourself in prison for doing exactly what you were supposed to do.
So he sent a few of his disciples to Jesus to ask, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?" (Luke 7:19). Jesus was preaching and teaching but didn't really look like the Savior they had expected. John had prepared the way for Him only to end up locked in a cell. It was only human for him to basically ask, "Are you really Him?" Pitiful.
But Jesus was completely the Messiah, and so He answered:
"Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor," (Luke 7:22).
Jesus didn't just answer John's question; He proved that He was The One. He let his power over the physical body, from healing to raising from the dead, speak for Him.
He also managed to quote a few Old Testament passages that foretold His coming:
"In that day the deaf will hear the words of the scroll...the eyes of the blind will see," (Isaiah 29:18).
"Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy," (Isaiah 35:5-6).
"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor," (Isaiah 61:1).
Basically: I'M DOING IT. I'm Him.
And Jesus sent this final word with John's disciples to deliver to him:
"And blessed is the one who is not offended by me," (Luke 7:23, ESV).
The result of John's obedience had been prison. Surely that was not what he expected. And many of us would be very offended: Come on, God. Really?!?! This is what I get for all I've done for you?
You've probably said it:
Come on, God! I'm living a pure life and my great reward is that not a single guy looks at me?
I've followed you on this path and right now I am the loneliest I've ever been...
I trusted you enough to follow you into ministry but I'm so stressed and broke I don't know how much longer I can keep this up...
"Blessed is the one who is not offended by me."
Sister, I don't know what you thought following Jesus would get you, but the promise was never butterflies and rainbows. (I started that idea two blogs ago, here.)
It's loneliness. Persecution. Pain. Heartache.
But in the midst of all the difficulty it brings, we know His peace. We dwell in His presence. We see His face. We hear his voice.
And we are blessed.
When we're not offended.
John never left prison. Herodias finally got her wish and had him beheaded with the help of her daughter (Mark 6:21-29).
Jesus became greater; John became less, even to the point of death.
Does that offend you?
We never hear John's response to Jesus. We don't know if he was offended by Christ's words or if he took them as encouragement.
So instead I ask you: Are you offended by Jesus?
Can you handle it when your faith doesn't take you down the path you thought it would? Or do you trust that He is with you no matter where the path takes?
Is Jesus living up to who you thought He would be? Or are you seeking Him for who He really is?
Do you trust Him enough to live a holy, righteous life (like John!) even if it means ending up dead?
Believers around the world do it every day. They know following Jesus likely means following him to an untimely death.
And they are not offended.
Are you?
@leslienotebook
myleslienotebook@gmail.com
Comments
Post a Comment