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The Pilgrim Path (7-16-2020)

The Pilgrim Path---Mark 6: 21-29

But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 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.” And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” And she went out and said to her mother, “For what should I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” And she came 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.” And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in prison and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

BIRTHDAY / DEPARTURE DAY

---v. 21---Birthday’s may get out of hand: The day did not “go” as Herod had planned. He wanted to impress quite a few of the leading men under his charge. Whenever you live to “please” people---you are probably in for all sorts of trouble…

---v. 22---Behind the scenes: There is often more going on in Life---than we are ever aware of. Herodias sent her daughter into the Birthday Bash “to do” a very suggestive dance for the men. Herodias knew Herod very, very well. Oh, I forgot to mention Herod put his own wife “away” so he could “take” his brother’s wife (Herodias), and make her---his own! Sultrier and more scheming than a NETFLIX original series. All that to say: Herodias had no love for John the Baptist (preacher of righteousness and adherence to God’s Truth). Ole Herod liked to listen to John the Baptist speak (see Mark 6:19, 20). “How could that be?” you ask. Well, Herod was probably surrounded by so many “Yes” men---he enjoyed hearing somebody tell the truth every now and then!

---v. 23---Bold words from Herod: “I’ll give you up to half my kingdom!” Maybe he could have saved himself by saying, “I’ll not reward a request that is illegal” ---but you must consider who we are dealing with. Herod could not “shame” himself---he made a promise…

---v. 24---Back to Mother she goes: “What should I ask for MOM?” Of course, Herodias had contemplated the likely path of these party ends---she knows what she wants. Well my dear---this is what you say, “The head of John the Baptist.”

---v. 25---Behold the Depravity of Man: Immediately she comes, no hesitation…right to the king, “I’ll take the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”

---v. 26---Because of His oaths, His rash words, His fear of man---Herod did not break his word to the young woman (The king was exceedingly sorry---but not enough to do the right thing)

---v. 27---By order of the king---the executioner goes to the prison and beheads John the Baptist. And he must bring the head of the executed man to the royal residence (it seems this was a delivery duty he was not normally tasked with)

---v. 28---Behold---The forerunner of Messiah, John the Baptist--- is slain due to Birthday treachery. We would never have envisioned such a demise for a man of the Kingdom…

---v. 29---Borne away by the disciples: the body of the Baptist --- laid in a tomb…

From J. C. Ryle: How little reward some of God’s best servants receive in this world. An unjust imprisonment and a violent death were the last fruit that John the Baptist reaped, in return for his labor. Like Stephen and James, and others, of whom the world was not worthy, he was called to seal his testimony with his blood. Histories like these are meant to remind us, that the true Christian’s best things are yet to come. His rest, his crown, his wages, his reward, are all on the other side of the grave. Here, in this world, he must walk by faith, and not by sight; and if he looks for the praise of man, he will be disappointed. Here, in this life, he must sow, and labor, and fight, and endure persecution; and if he expects a great earthly reward, he expects what he will not find. But this life is not all. There is to be a day of retribution. There is a glorious harvest yet to come. Heaven will make amends for all. Eye hath not seen, and ear hath not heard the glorious things that God has laid up for all that love Him. The value of real religion is not to be measured by the things seen, but the things unseen…”Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (Romans 8: 18).

“My counsel is, that ye come out and leave the multitude, and let Christ have your company. Let them take clay and this present world who love it: Christ is a more worthy and noble portion: blessed are those who get him.” Samuel Rutherford

Jesus, lead Thou on

Till our rest is won;

And although the way be cheerless,

We will follow calm and fearless:

Guide us by Thy hand

To our Fatherland.

Nicolas Von Zinzendorf (1700-1760)

Translated by Jane Laurie Borthwick (1813-1897)

Grace and Peace in Jesus Christ Our Risen LORD, Pastor Jason