The Gospel’s power challenges the
nation
Mark 6:1-30
Key verse: “They went out and preached that people
should repent. They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with
oil and healed them.” (Mark 6:12-13).
Introduction: How can we believe in someone? Especially
if we want to have a very personal relationship with them? Such as a marriage?
Some people enter into marriage after only a week of knowing each other. For others,
it takes several years before they even
become engaged. Even so, they may still be unsure if they can commit their
lives to each other. What if that relationship lasts for a lifetime or demands most
of one’s life? Should they take a longer period of time to test the other
person? There is something that makes us uneasy when it comes to forming a life
commitment. What is it?
Jesus came to earn your trust, a trust that is good
and strong enough for us to be able to entrust our lives into his hands. It is similar
to the commitment of marriage, but in some senses, it is stronger and more radical
than that. It is a life-giving, or life- sacrificing, commitment, similar to a
mother’s love for her little child.
Jesus came to us to earn such a trust from us, and
from all human beings. He wants our lives, not just part of them, but all of them.
In exchange, he offers us a better life, far better than we can imagine — eternity
in God’s kingdom. However, most of us are so comfortable and cozy where we are
now, that we do not want to take a risk on what Jesus offers; we are fearful of
committing our lives into his hands. Today’s passage will discuss three kinds
of people, who each trusted Jesus to varying degrees. I call them, the trying, the
doubting or lingering, and the rejecting. These also pertain to the responses people
still have to Jesus’ call today.
I pray that you may be among those who try to know
Christ personally, so that you may enter into a solid, permanent relationship
with him.
I. Men’s unbelief is rooted deeply in human life (the
people of his hometown rejected Jesus) (1-5)
Sometime before this, Jesus had called twelve men,
among his many followers, and appointed them as ‘disciples’ (Mark 3:13-18).
They were not any better than other people, but Jesus had a clear purpose for
them. He wanted them to be with him, so that they might learn from him and have
a trusting relationship with him. He also had a plan to send them out to preach
and give them the authority to drive out demons. With these three purposes,
Jesus took them with him wherever he went. Since then, the disciples experienced
four things.
First, he counted them as his brothers by saying,
“Here are my mother and my brothers!”
“Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” (Mark 3:34).
In this way, Jesus differentiated between his followers
and the other onlookers. They followed him in order to do God’s will, so they
were his family.
Next, he taught them the truth about the kingdom of
God. Because these truths were communicated through parables, they were almost
impossible to understand, but Jesus, when he was alone with his disciples,
explained the details about each parable and how it related to God’s kingdom. His
word was seed that contained tremendous power and potential to bear an abundant
crop, up to a hundred times what was sown. In this way, the disciples knew that
they were getting inside, privileged information about the kingdom of God.
There was a large crowd of hundreds, or even thousands, who were actively
following Jesus in those days, but, even among so many, these chosen few were
given exclusive knowledge.
Then Jesus took them away in a boat to a Gentile area.
This was an exclusive trip. During their travels, they saw Jesus rebuke the
raging waters and winds, which died down became clam. They had never imagined
or thought such a thing was possible, but, in that boat, they vividly
experienced Jesus’ amazing work, full of God’s power. Later, they saw Jesus
driving thousands of demons out of a crazy man, followed by two thousand pigs
rushing down the bank to be drowned, and the man becoming right-minded. For the
first time, they witnessed and experienced the immensity of Jesus’ power, the
power that can subdue Satan’s power.
Fourthly, a few disciples, along with her parents, saw
Jesus bring a girl back to life. To her father, Jairus, Jesus said, “don’t be
afraid, just believe!” They did not know how to put all of the pieces together from
all that they were seeing in a reasonable and cohesive way. One thing came to their
mind; Jesus’ words to Jairus - ‘just believe’. What did it mean? Today’s
passage stands out against the backdrop of this history.
Jesus then went to visit his hometown, Nazareth. Early
on in his ministry, Jesus had moved to Capernaum, about twenty-five miles from
Nazareth (Mark 2:1).
Since then, Capernaum and its vicinity had been the
main area in which he had ministered. After some time, Jesus went back to
Nazareth and began to teach in the synagogue. When the crowds heard him, many
were amazed at his teaching. This was a pleasant surprise for them, but they had
many questions and doubts.
Nazareth was a small village, far to the west of
Galilee. Capernaum and Bethesda were the main, larger villages that Jesus used
as the basis for his ministry. However, Nazareth was a very small village, with
a population of less than five hundred people, and did not receive much
attention from Jesus after he left there to begin his ministry. Even though the
disciples had heard many good things about Jesus, they had not actually seen him
do such remarkable things before.
For the first time in a long time, Jesus returned to
his hometown and preached to them in a synagogue. They were shocked to witness
his remarkable wisdom and miracles.
“Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom
that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? Isn’t
this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph,
Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” (Mark 6:2-3).
They heard Jesus’ teaching, which was filled with a deep
knowledge of God’s word. They heard about his miracles and recognized his
profound wisdom. [It is somewhat difficult to understand two conflicting
statements presented here: “What are these remarkable miracles he is
performing (v2)?” and “He could not do any miracles there, except lay
his hands on a few sick people and heal them.” (5) Luke provides us with a
better understanding. Jesus said to them, "Surely you will quote this
proverb to me: 'Physician, heal yourself!' And you will tell me, 'Do here in
your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.”" (Luke
4:23 NIV.)]
However, they still did not know what to make of all
these things, because he was not the man that they knew before. They knew him
as the son of Mary, a widow. They knew his brothers and sisters, none of whom
had achieved anything significant. He was from a plain and humble family from
the country, who worked as carpenters. The disciples could not trace any familial
evidence to support Jesus being a prophet. Some say that, if you want to know a
man, you must first know his parents and siblings. Most of the time, we may agree
with this, and often, simply by knowing one’s family background, we either
reject or accept them, in such cases as either marriage or friendship. However,
Jesus’ family did not provide any such support in understanding his identity,
especially in regards to his actions, which were so remarkable in their wisdom
and knowledge and so powerful to accomplish miracles.
What was the disciples’ attitude towards Jesus? Were
they willing to accept him as the Son of God, a prophet, or a man of God?
“And they took offense at him.” (Mark 6:3b).
They did neither accepted nor welcomed Jesus. It is
possible that, underneath their rejection, was a wish to see more of miraculous
works, as he had done in Capernaum. However, to Jesus, their mindset was unfit to
behold more miracles. Whatever their desire was, their rejection proved their
unbelief in Jesus as the Son of God. Why did they reject him? They trusted what
they knew about him and his family more than what they had seen and heard in
person. They chose to trust what they had known about him all along, rejecting
all that he had just taught and demonstrated to them in his power.
What does this tell us? They chose to believe what they knew about Jesus, his
childhood, and his family. They did not count what he accomplished before them
as worthy of their belief; instead, they viewed him and his family with
contempt, and refused to change their mind, even after witnessing Jesus’
teaching and power. All that they had seen and heard were evidence that he was
not of man, but rather of God. However, these people chose to believe the
things that were more comfortable for their minds to accept.
These people were comfortable with what they already had
and knew. Jesus called for a change and offered truth and life, but they
rejected all that they said, including Jesus himself, the Son of God.
We know how difficult it is to change someone’s mind or
beliefs. Beliefs are formed during our childhood. We pick them up here and
there, mostly from our parents, peers, and society. As time goes on, our beliefs
become firmer and more solidified. By our early twenties, most of us are set in
our beliefs, whether or not we are willing to admit it. Many great men have
said that their beliefs evolved as they aged; until they die, they continued to
learn and change, in their character, attitude, and understanding of life.
The fundamental tenet of a person’s life is well
formed by the time they become an adult. A man is either to marry or remain
single; he is sure that he shall marry, but others will say that he might marry,
if he finds the right girl. Or, he may have decided not to marry. Or he may let the future determine what will happen in
his eyes. Whatever you have chosen, at least it is set for now.
What is your decision regarding Jesus now? “I will see
how good he is.” “I want to know and am searching to know him well.” “As I am
comfortable with my current knowledge of him. This is good enough for me.”
Whatever you chose to say, outright rejection of Jesus is not good, for we all
have not known him enough. I do not want any of you to be like these people of
Nazareth. If we say we know enough and do not need to know more of him, then that
is pride and arrogance; this is not good. Not good at all! Even the disciples,
who followed Jesus for more than a year, realized that their knowledge of him
was just beginning. Their best opportunity for finding the truth for life was
slipping away!
Jesus wanted his disciples to be with him, and spending
time with him is still the best way to know him well. There was once a man who
said that he believed in Jesus, but he never attended Bible Study, prayer
meetings, or even worship services. His belief has no substance. Being with him
is learning what he is like in real life. Through this message, I pray that you
may spend much time with Jesus and learn from him.
How did Jesus feel?
“He was amazed at their lack of faith.” (Mark 6:6).
Jesus was unpleasantly surprised by their unbelief.
What would he do? [Here, the word ‘amazed’ (θαυμάζω; meaning intellectually
challenged or ‘wondered’, negatively surprised) is a different word from the
one used in v1 (πλησσω: utterly amazed or shocked by what they saw and heard:
passive voice)]. In other words, the fact that the people of his hometown took
offense at him in their unbelief was a challenging surprise, because he thought
they would surely believe him. Beneath this surprise were the questions: Why
did they not believe? Was all that Jesus had done and taught not enough to earn
their faith? What then should be done further?
Their rejection might have meant one of two different things.
First, their hearts may have been so calloused that they had difficulty
believing after only one or two teachings, or by hearing from third parties, even
if they contained God’s truth and power. If these
things were insufficient to open these people’s hearts, then he would have to
fill their hearts with God’s mighty works in love.
Second,
there were many pockets of smaller villages, tucked away like Nazareth, who had
never heard or seen enough of Jesus’ messages and works, and so remained in
unbelief.
To avoid such fallout, Jesus had to move and visit
them, as he had done in Capernaum and its vicinity, along with other regions
beyond Galilee, so that everyone might have a chance to see and hear the Lord’s
power and message.
In other words, Jesus faced a few challenges. How
could he bring the message of salvation to these callous-minded people? How
could he carry the message of God’s kingdom to the entire Israelite nation?
Lastly, how could he help his disciples to be firmly assured of the truth that
resided in himself?
II.
Jesus
sends out the twelve (6-13)
First, Jesus decided to go around teaching from
village to village.
Taking on these challenges, what did Jesus do?
“Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village.” (Mark 6:6b).
Therefore, he changed his way of serving people. Until
this time, he ran his ministry from a base camp, near Capernaum and let the
people of various surrounding regions come to him. Jesus’ ministry generated a
strong centripetal force, attracting people to himself from all parts of the
nation (3:7). His miraculous power and amazing teachings attracted people from
all over the nation and from neighboring Gentile cities (2:13; 4:1; 5:21).
There have been quite a number of similar ministries
in the United States. Even though they are not exactly the same, some charismatic
preachers have adopted this style. It worked for a short time, but then Jesus
himself sought after his sheep. He himself moved from village to village to
deliver the message of salvation to those who were still tucked into the small
villages of Israel. This was what he decided to do, because being with
them was the most important part of helping them to know the salvation that
came in and through him. Jesus came down to earth in flesh to be with
man.
Now Jesus was looking after everyone who was tucked in
the many small towns and villages nearby. This was because of his love and care
for men, whose hearts were calloused and could not be changed by simple news delivered
by a third party. In other words, the unbelief of the Nazarenes compelled him
to change how he ministered.
Was this itinerant mission an impromptu decision, just
for this occasion? In Greek, ‘teaching’ is a present participle, indicating an on-going
action for a period of time. This word was used in order to note not just a
single mission journey for this occasion only (all three synoptic gospels mention
the theme of Jesus’ itinerant mission). Rather, Mark described that, from
this point on, Jesus changed his ministry style from stationary to
itinerant (this is further supported by using the word, ‘began’, and there is
no Scriptural or historical mention made concerning any cessation of this way
of conducting ministry). Many great preachers supported itinerant
missionaries (the most well-known was John Wesley).
For this reason, sending the twelve disciples out into
the surrounding regions was necessary and an excellent solution. When and for how
long did this happen? Luke recorded two occasions of Jesus sending his
disciples on mission journeys (Luke 9:1-6; 10:1-20). The second one (Luke
10:1-20) was while they were on their way to Jerusalem (9:51-19:27). In this
way, Jesus’ desire to visit each individual village continued until he reached Jerusalem.
It is estimated that the time between the disciples’ confession at Caesarea
Philippi to the time of Christ’s crucifixion, was about six months.
The events of today’s passage happened sometime before
the disciples’ confession at Caesarea Philippi. This means that this journey
lasted at least six months or even a year of Jesus’ ministry. But how could he continue
to travel and minister to every village, since there were so many villages and such
large areas to cover?
“Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and
gave them authority over impure spirits.” (Mark 6:7).
V7 must be read in view of v6b. That is to say, Jesus’
decision to send out the twelve disciples was a result of his decision to go
around teaching from village to village. His intention was noted explicitly in
Luke 9:52; 10:1.
Second,
Jesus’ decision to visit each village was a result of his deep
understanding of human weakness, which was starkly revealed by the
rejection he received from the people of Nazareth. Jesus wondered about the
nature or reason for their rejection and unbelief. Their hearts were strongly anchored
in what they knew— specifically regarding Jesus’ family and their life. Grounded
in what they knew of him, they did not or could not see anything notable that
would give him credit as a prophet or a man of God, worthy to be accepted in
honor. Why could Jesus not remove such a preconceived idea?
The first purpose Jesus had for calling his disciples
was for them to be with him. To know him required spending enough time with him.
No one can know him well by only spending a few hours or days with him.
Invariably, those who believe in him will spend much time with him. Knowing
this, Jesus wanted to spend substantial time with all whom he loved and wanted
to save. This substantial time is translated into substantial experience with
God’s word and His power of healing and driving out demonic forces, which were
embodied within the essence of Jesus being the Son of God. He must show his
love enough in order to move their hearts. Only then, would they be able to
pass over from the power of death, and experience the salvation brought about
by his crucifixion and resurrection.
Not spending much time with him or not being with him
enough inevitably resulted in them not experiencing
enough of God’s power and His words. If God took more than a thousand years to
impound sinful minds and hearts with the truth, then how much will it take to soften
such calloused hearts? Out of this concern, came Jesus’ decision to visit every
village. In order to do so, he delegated this work to his disciples and
imparted his message and power to them.
Third, the disciples went out in obedience by faith
“Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and
gave them authority over impure spirits.” (Mark 6:7).
Up until this point, the disciples had been with Jesus
in everything that he had done and everywhere he went. By accompanying him,
they learned his message and came to trust him as their Lord. One thing that
they did not have and could not function effectively without was authority to overcome
impure spirits. Jesus entrusted this authority to them, so that they might
carry out what he would have done in each village that they would visit. This
was a temporary empowerment given so that their work might fully represent
Jesus (we know that, later, Jesus’ disciples struggled with driving out demons -
Mark 9:18).
How could the disciples’ work fully represent Jesus?
Jesus taught them more of what to do:
“These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a
staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. Wear sandals but not an extra
shirt.”” (Mark 6:8-9).
They were not to take any food, money, or clothing, which
were some of the basic necessities of life. They needed these things daily, but
Jesus told them not to take anything with them on the journey. Where or how
could they get what they needed? Jesus said to one man who wanted to follow him,
"Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no
place to lay his head." (Matthew 8:20 NIV).
Jesus lived by the daily provisions that God delivered
through those who received His grace (Mark 15:41). The disciples were likewise
to trust the Lord, not only with their daily needs, but also in all the work
they were doing in Jesus’ name. Jesus was saying that they had seen how he
lived in faith with his Father, so they must do as they had seen him do. In
this way, their hearts were connected to Jesus, and through him, to his Father,
God. How could they experience God’s guidance?
“Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town.”
(Mark 6:10).
The household who welcomed them would be the one to
whom God led them, and they were to stay there until they finished His work in
that village. These villages were unfamiliar to them, and the people who
welcomed them and those whom they were to teach were strangers. However, they had
to trust the Lord and His absolute will in and through Jesus along the way.
They must be comfortable with all of the uncertainties and strangers, for the
LORD WAS WITH THEM.
What was the key message they were to preach? Repent
and believe! The people must repent of their sins, repent of their unbelief,
repent of their hopelessness, because the Son of God had come to give them
life!
If some rejected their message, what should they do?
“And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that
place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” (Mark
6:11).
Rejection is not without cost. Many think that rejecting
the Gospel is harmless and that it will not affect their personal lives. They
say “I can carry on with my life in my own strength; I have done well so far,
and I can do it again in the coming days and years. No problem!” This is a
gross overestimation of oneself. This results in a fatal mistake, for they have
just missed the life and truth which transcend to eternity. If the disciples
and their message were rejected by a particular village, they were to dust off their feet against that
people or that town as they were leaving. The dust was dirty and unclean, so those
people would remain dirty and unclean, until the toll for such uncleanness comes
upon them.
In this highly civilized society, where many were
living well, without any undue stress, many think and behave as clean and
conscientious people. However, if one says, you are dirty or unclean, it
offends us greatly; why would they say this to me? What did I do that was wrong
or dirty? We all were, are, and will remain dirty and unclean in God’s eyes. To
hide this, many try to create an “artificial reality” by wearing nice clothes, driving
a nice car, having a clean house, and eating rich foods. This tendency is most
prominent among public figures, such as movie stars, politicians, and even
religious leaders. However, these are external signs; inside, their hearts are
full of envy, greed, jealousy, dissension, sexual immorality, lies, deception,
etc.! Many of us are masters in artificial reality, able to project our lives as
good, commendable, holy, and righteous. The true reality is in the Lord’s eyes,
as the creator of our lives, to whom we cannot hide our innermost being. Jesus
is the one who reveals who we are and is willing to make us truly clean, by
removing all dirtiness and uncleanness from our hearts.
The disciples were to deliver a clear message to those
who rejected Jesus, revealing their unclean state, so that they might reject
their false, man-made reality of self-righteousness.
What did the disciples learn?
They were not ready to be sent out for such a mission.
They did not know Jesus well enough; they lacked understanding (6:52; 7:18;
8:14–21), and even displayed a “hardened heart” (6:52; 8:17–18). Much of the
framework for their understanding was still within their own human likes, hopes,
and dreams. They were far too detached to the truth of life that Jesus wanted
to impart to them; however, Jesus sent them on this mission anyways. It
was a time of learning by living out the truth that they had learned by being
with him. They did this in obedience by faith in Jesus’ command.
Notwithstanding their weaknesses, one thing they did was to trust Jesus, obey him,
and preached the good news. By faith, even though they would be alone, they
were still with Jesus and/or learning to know and experience his presence with
them, just as much as the Father was with them.
So far, knowledge had come to them by being with Jesus,
as firsthand witnesses of the truth. Now, the truth that they learned would be
experiential. The truth that they learned by being a witness was good and far
superior to what the crowd learned from them as they came and went, but experiential
truth was far greater still. The truth in the realm of knowledge became the
truth of life.
We now experience the Covid 19 virus. This experience
cannot be forgotten easily, because we, our entire lives, are involved in it,
and it has affected all of our daily activities. I am sure that, even after fifty
years, many will still remember this. When God wants to impart His truth, He places
us into an existential reality, whereby we can learn His utmost will. One thing
I have learned through Covid 19 is that God can take the life of anyone on
earth in His will at any time. He can do so locally, nationally, globally. In
this way, He demonstrates that He is the Lord of life for all humanity. Men
boasted of their ability to extend life, create things, make life better, and survive
in a hostile environment.
Men came to understand what is in the sky, what is in
the depths of the sea, and what happens at the atomic level in our bodies. In
addition to these things, men created artificial intelligence, which can
comprehend the complexities of nature and attain the knowledge and abilities required
to manipulate them to meet human needs. Some say that artificial intelligence will
bring a new era of human civilization. Despite all of these advances, can any
of you add a single hour to your life by worrying? (Matthew 6:27 NIV). Jesus asked
this!
The real truth is better learned by obeying Jesus’
command to go and preach the good news! Many, or even all of us, are like these
disciples. They liked Jesus, loved his teaching, and were mesmerized by his
mighty powers. Likewise, he will enable us, even in our weakness and
hesitation, to go out in obedience and deliver the good news to many people.
This will also empower us to see and understand far beyond the things which our
intellectual knowledge alone can fathom.
III.
God’s
power of life challenged Herod’s evil (14-30)
There were a few different understandings among the
people, regarding Jesus’ identity: some said he was Elijah, while others said
that he was a prophet. This tells us that it was not the disciples themselves, but
rather the power of their message that caught the attention of so many. God’s
power, demonstrated through them, was evidence of Jesus, as well as God the
Father, being with them. In other words, the key message was that God had
come in power among them. Such overwhelming power from the Lord shocked
the entire region. How could the people understand this?
Recognizing his miraculous power, some even said that
John the Baptist had come back to life, since he had been executed by Herod. Mark,
the author of this book, recorded Herod’s the tetrarch, of Galilee, response,
after hearing about God’s works:
“King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known.
Some were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is
why miraculous powers are at work in him…But when Herod heard this, he said, “John,
whom I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!”” (Mark 6:14, 16).
In Herod’s mind, the power that came through Jesus’
disciples was fearful and overwhelming. It was all the more frightening for him,
since he had killed the prophet, John. If John had come back to life, then he
would almost certainly bring judgement down on Herod’s vile and savage act of murder!
He knew it was wrong, but he killed John in order to protect his honor and
dignity. In other words, he was afraid that God’s judgment was coming down on
him.
V17-28 describes how Herod arrived at his decision to kill
John. Mark was not interested in how Herod was to be judged and punished.
Instead, he detailed how he came to that grievous decision, which would come
under eternal judgment.
Herod was rebuked by John the Baptist. John’s primary
purpose in life was to turn Israel’s hearts to the Lord by delivering a message
of repentance to every segment of the Israelite community, including the
Pharisees and teachers of the Law. However, the king and all those who were
with him continued in their sinful ways. Herod and his associates remained
indifferent to John’s message as long as his ministry did not challenge Herod’s
authority and power.
Herod held absolute power over Israel; no one dared to
rebuke him, even though his ungodly life was well-known, because no one could
escape his anger. However, John, the last prophet of Israel, rebuked Herod for
his marriage, which was in violation of God’s law. By doing so, he carried the Lord’s
message to the top of the nation’s leadership, completing his mission to call the
entire nation of Israel to repentance. Herod had divorced his first wife and
married Herodias, the wife of his half-brother, Philip, while they were still married.
Herodias hated John and wanted to kill him, but she
could not do so, because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be
a righteous and holy man (20). He had some respect and fear of God and His
servant, John, but he was great in his own eyes and thought that the entire world
was under his control. This was fully shown when he was so pleased to see
Herodias’ daughter, dancing before his invited guests. He said to her, in full
view of all of the dignitaries:
“Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.” And he
promised her with an oath, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my
kingdom.” (Mark 6:22-23).
According to her mother’s wish, she asked for the head
of John the Baptist. This was a shock to Herod, but he could not take back what
he had said.
“The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his
dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her.” (Mark 6:26).
Though he feared the Lord, that fear was not important
enough to curb his pride. He gave an order for John, the Lord’s servant, to be
killed. The Lord’s judgment seared his heart. This sense of God’s judgment fully
flared up as he later heard all of the stories of God’s power working in all of
the villages where Jesus and his disciples visited.
All of the world’s authorities must submit to the
authority of the Son of God. However, that will not occur until they see the
blood of the righteous who condemn such arrogance against the Lord. This is the
essence of man’s sin. A glimpse of this was evidenced by the people of Nazareth.
Such arrogance and pride was also shown by King Herod Agrippa. It goes around
unchecked, for no one can challenge such absolute power. However, there is one
power, the power of salvation and God’s truth. No matter how powerful one
might be, the Gospel always pushes them to the edge of decision, whether to
choose the Lord in repentance or to choose their own pride and righteousness.
In this regard, John completed his job, before his
death; God would do the rest. The same would be true of Jesus. His suffering
and death were the content of the Gospel of salvation. This would challenge
Pilate, and all of the other religious authorities of Israel at the time. The Roman
emperors’ authority was challenged by Paul’s death, followed by Peter’s. The
death of more than two hundred thousand believers speaks powerfully to the corrupt
world of those leaders who caused such a large loss of life by their persecution.
How can one avoid such a fatal mistake? The series of
decisions that Herod made speak loudly as to where such mistakes begin and how they
bear fruit. Mark described this so that no one else would make such egregious
mistakes. His message is clear; when God speaks, humble yourself, listen, and
obey, for salvation is provided through His grace.
We all are kings to ourselves, and even to our
families at least. We love to play with such authority and power with our own assertive
wills. But remember to be humble when God speaks! Also, be humble when His
servant speaks, for, in his mouth, is the word of the Lord!
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