Tragedy Strikes, Compassion Remains

August 7, 2022 · New Testament in Chronological Order

Scripture referenced 8 passages

The passage this message was preached from, in full, with every other passage it reached for.

1 Corinthians 13 covered the previous week at the fair, the love chapter

1 If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don’t have love, I have become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal.
2 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but don’t have love, I am nothing.
3 If I give away all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but don’t have love, it profits me nothing.
4 Love is patient and is kind; love doesn’t envy. Love doesn’t brag, is not proud,
5 doesn’t behave itself inappropriately, doesn’t seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil;
6 doesn’t rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will be done away with. Where there are various languages, they will cease. Where there is knowledge, it will be done away with.
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part;
10 but when that which is complete has come, then that which is partial will be done away with.
11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child. Now that I have become a man, I have put away childish things.
12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, even as I was also fully known.
13 But now faith, hope, and love remain—these three. The greatest of these is love.

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Matthew 14

one of the parallel gospel accounts used for the main sermon passage

1 At that time, Herod the tetrarch heard the report concerning Jesus,

2 and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptizer. He is risen from the dead. That is why these powers work in him.”

3 For Herod had laid hold of John, and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife.

4 For John said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”

5 When he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

6 But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced among them and pleased Herod.

7 Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatever she should ask.

8 She, being prompted by her mother, said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptizer.”

9 The king was grieved, but for the sake of his oaths, and of those who sat at the table with him, he commanded it to be given,

10 and he sent and beheaded John in the prison.

11 His head was brought on a platter, and given to the young lady: and she brought it to her mother.

12 His disciples came, and took the body, and buried it; and they went and told Jesus.

13 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat, to a deserted place apart. When the multitudes heard it, they followed him on foot from the cities.

14 Jesus went out, and he saw a great multitude. He had compassion on them, and healed their sick.

15 When evening had come, his disciples came to him, saying, “This place is deserted, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves food.”

16 But Jesus said to them, “They don’t need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

17 They told him, “We only have here five loaves and two fish.”

18 He said, “Bring them here to me.”

19 He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass; and he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, broke and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples gave to the multitudes.

20 They all ate, and were filled. They took up twelve baskets full of that which remained left over from the broken pieces.

21 Those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat, and to go ahead of him to the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.

23 After he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into the mountain by himself to pray. When evening had come, he was there alone.

24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, distressed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.

25 In the fourth watch of the night, Jesus came to them, walking on the sea.

26 When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It’s a ghost!” and they cried out for fear.

27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Cheer up! It is I! Don’t be afraid.”

28 Peter answered him and said, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the waters.”

29 He said, “Come!” Peter stepped down from the boat, and walked on the waters to come to Jesus.

30 But when he saw that the wind was strong, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”

31 Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

32 When they got up into the boat, the wind ceased.

33 Those who were in the boat came and worshiped him, saying, “You are truly the Son of God!”

34 When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret.

35 When the people of that place recognized him, they sent into all that surrounding region, and brought to him all who were sick;

36 and they begged him that they might just touch the fringe of his garment. As many as touched it were made whole.

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Mark 6

one of the parallel gospel accounts used for the main sermon passage

1 He went out from there. He came into his own country, and his disciples followed him.

2 When the Sabbath had come, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many hearing him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things?” and, “What is the wisdom that is given to this man, that such mighty works come about by his hands?

3 Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judah, and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” They were offended at him.

4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and among his own relatives, and in his own house.”

5 He could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people, and healed them.

6 He marveled because of their unbelief. He went around the villages teaching.

7 He called to himself the twelve, and began to send them out two by two; and he gave them authority over the unclean spirits.

8 He commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, except a staff only: no bread, no wallet, no money in their purse,

9 but to wear sandals, and not put on two tunics.

10 He said to them, “Wherever you enter into a house, stay there until you depart from there.

11 Whoever will not receive you nor hear you, as you depart from there, shake off the dust that is under your feet for a testimony against them. Assuredly, I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!”

12 They went out and preached that people should repent.

13 They cast out many demons, and anointed many with oil who were sick, and healed them.

14 King Herod heard this, for his name had become known, and he said, “John the Baptizer has risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him.”

15 But others said, “He is Elijah.” Others said, “He is a prophet, or like one of the prophets.”

16 But Herod, when he heard this, said, “This is John, whom I beheaded. He has risen from the dead.”

17 For Herod himself had sent out and arrested John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, for he had married her.

18 For John said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”

19 Herodias set herself against him, and desired to kill him, but she couldn’t,

20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and kept him safe. When he heard him, he did many things, and he heard him gladly.

21 Then a convenient day came, that Herod on his birthday made a supper for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee.

22 When the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced, she pleased Herod and those sitting with him. The king said to the young lady, “Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you.”

23 He swore to her, “Whatever you shall ask of me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.”

24 She went out, and said to her mother, “What shall I ask?” She said, “The head of John the Baptizer.”

25 She came in immediately with haste to the king, and asked, “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptizer on a platter.”

26 The king was exceedingly sorry, but for the sake of his oaths, and of his dinner guests, he didn’t wish to refuse her.

27 Immediately the king sent out a soldier of his guard, and commanded to bring John’s head, and he went and beheaded him in the prison,

28 and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the young lady; and the young lady gave it to her mother.

29 When his disciples heard this, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb.

30 The apostles gathered themselves together to Jesus, and they told him all things, whatever they had done, and whatever they had taught.

31 He said to them, “You come apart into a deserted place, and rest awhile.” For there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.

32 They went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves.

33 They saw them going, and many recognized him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to him.

34 Jesus came out, saw a great multitude, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things.

35 When it was late in the day, his disciples came to him, and said, “This place is deserted, and it is late in the day.

36 Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages, and buy themselves bread, for they have nothing to eat.”

37 But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” They asked him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread, and give them something to eat?”

38 He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go see.” When they knew, they said, “Five, and two fish.”

39 He commanded them that everyone should sit down in groups on the green grass.

40 They sat down in ranks, by hundreds and by fifties.

41 He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed and broke the loaves, and he gave to his disciples to set before them, and he divided the two fish among them all.

42 They all ate, and were filled.

43 They took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and also of the fish.

44 Those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.

45 Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat, and to go ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he himself sent the multitude away.

46 After he had taken leave of them, he went up the mountain to pray.

47 When evening had come, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and he was alone on the land.

48 Seeing them distressed in rowing, for the wind was contrary to them, about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea, and he would have passed by them,

49 but they, when they saw him walking on the sea, supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out;

50 for they all saw him, and were troubled. But he immediately spoke with them, and said to them, “Cheer up! It is I! Don’t be afraid.”…

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Luke 9

one of the parallel gospel accounts used for the main sermon passage

1 He called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.

2 He sent them out to preach God’s Kingdom and to heal the sick.

3 He said to them, “Take nothing for your journey—neither staffs, nor wallet, nor bread, nor money; neither have two coats each.

4 Into whatever house you enter, stay there, and depart from there.

5 As many as don’t receive you, when you depart from that city, shake off even the dust from your feet for a testimony against them.”

6 They departed, and went throughout the villages, preaching the Good News, and healing everywhere.

7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him; and he was very perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead,

8 and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the old prophets had risen again.

9 Herod said, “John I beheaded, but who is this, about whom I hear such things?” He sought to see him.

10 The apostles, when they had returned, told him what things they had done. He took them, and withdrew apart to a desert region of a city called Bethsaida.

11 But the multitudes, perceiving it, followed him. He welcomed them, and spoke to them of God’s Kingdom, and he cured those who needed healing.

12 The day began to wear away; and the twelve came, and said to him, “Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding villages and farms, and lodge, and get food, for we are here in a deserted place.”

13 But he said to them, “You give them something to eat.” They said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless we should go and buy food for all these people.”

14 For they were about five thousand men. He said to his disciples, “Make them sit down in groups of about fifty each.”

15 They did so, and made them all sit down.

16 He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to the sky, he blessed them, and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the multitude.

17 They ate, and were all filled. They gathered up twelve baskets of broken pieces that were left over.

18 As he was praying alone, the disciples were with him, and he asked them, “Who do the multitudes say that I am?”

19 They answered, “‘John the Baptizer,’ but others say, ‘Elijah,’ and others, that one of the old prophets is risen again.”

20 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “The Christ of God.”

21 But he warned them, and commanded them to tell this to no one,

22 saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up.”

23 He said to all, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.

24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever will lose his life for my sake, the same will save it.

25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits his own self?

26 For whoever will be ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed, when he comes in his glory, and the glory of the Father, and of the holy angels.

27 But I tell you the truth: There are some of those who stand here, who will in no way taste of death, until they see God’s Kingdom.”

28 About eight days after these sayings, he took with him Peter, John, and James, and went up onto the mountain to pray.

29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became white and dazzling.

30 Behold, two men were talking with him, who were Moses and Elijah,

31 who appeared in glory, and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

32 Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they were fully awake, they saw his glory, and the two men who stood with him.

33 As they were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let’s make three tents: one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah,” not knowing what he said.

34 While he said these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered into the cloud.

35 A voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him!”

36 When the voice came, Jesus was found alone. They were silent, and told no one in those days any of the things which they had seen.

37 On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great multitude met him.

38 Behold, a man from the crowd called out, saying, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child.

39 Behold, a spirit takes him, he suddenly cries out, and it convulses him so that he foams, and it hardly departs from him, bruising him severely.

40 I begged your disciples to cast it out, and they couldn’t.”

41 Jesus answered, “Faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.”

42 While he was still coming, the demon threw him down and convulsed him violently. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.

43 They were all astonished at the majesty of God. But while all were marveling at all the things which Jesus did, he said to his disciples,

44 “Let these words sink into your ears, for the Son of Man will be delivered up into the hands of men.”

45 But they didn’t understand this saying. It was concealed from them, that they should not perceive it, and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.

46 There arose an argument among them about which of them was the greatest.

47 Jesus, perceiving the reasoning of their hearts, took a little child, and set him by his side,

48 and said to them, “Whoever receives this little child in my name receives me. Whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For whoever is least among you all, this one will be great.”

49 John answered, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he doesn’t follow with us.”

50 Jesus said to him, “Don’t…

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John 6

three additional verses added to the parallel accounts, setting up the feeding of the five thousand

1 After these things, Jesus went away to the other side of the sea of Galilee, which is also called the Sea of Tiberias.

2 A great multitude followed him, because they saw his signs which he did on those who were sick.

3 Jesus went up into the mountain, and he sat there with his disciples.

4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand.

5 Jesus therefore lifting up his eyes, and seeing that a great multitude was coming to him, said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, that these may eat?”

6 This he said to test him, for he himself knew what he would do.

7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that everyone of them may receive a little.”

8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him,

9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these among so many?”

10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in that place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.

11 Jesus took the loaves; and having given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to those who were sitting down; likewise also of the fish as much as they desired.

12 When they were filled, he said to his disciples, “Gather up the broken pieces which are left over, that nothing be lost.”

13 So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with broken pieces from the five barley loaves, which were left over by those who had eaten.

14 When therefore the people saw the sign which Jesus did, they said, “This is truly the prophet who comes into the world.”

15 Jesus therefore, perceiving that they were about to come and take him by force, to make him king, withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea,

17 and they entered into the boat, and were going over the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not come to them.

18 The sea was tossed by a great wind blowing.

19 When therefore they had rowed about twenty-five or thirty stadia, they saw Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing near to the boat; and they were afraid.

20 But he said to them, “It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

21 They were willing therefore to receive him into the boat. Immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.

22 On the next day, the multitude that stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, except the one in which his disciples had embarked, and that Jesus hadn’t entered with his disciples into the boat, but his disciples had gone away alone.

23 However boats from Tiberias came near to the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks.

24 When the multitude therefore saw that Jesus wasn’t there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats, and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.

25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?”

26 Jesus answered them, “Most certainly I tell you, you seek me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves, and were filled.

27 Don’t work for the food which perishes, but for the food which remains to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For God the Father has sealed him.”

28 They said therefore to him, “What must we do, that we may work the works of God?”

29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

30 They said therefore to him, “What then do you do for a sign, that we may see, and believe you? What work do you do?

31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness. As it is written, ‘He gave them bread out of heaven to eat.’”

32 Jesus therefore said to them, “Most certainly, I tell you, it wasn’t Moses who gave you the bread out of heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread out of heaven.

33 For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.”

34 They said therefore to him, “Lord, always give us this bread.”

35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will not be hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.

36 But I told you that you have seen me, and yet you don’t believe.

37 All those whom the Father gives me will come to me. He who comes to me I will in no way throw out.

38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me.

39 This is the will of my Father who sent me, that of all he has given to me I should lose nothing, but should raise him up at the last day.

40 This is the will of the one who sent me, that everyone who sees the Son, and believes in him, should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

41 The Jews therefore murmured concerning him, because he said, “I am the bread which came down out of heaven.”

42 They said, “Isn’t this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How then does he say, ‘I have come down out of heaven?’”

43 Therefore Jesus answered them, “Don’t murmur among yourselves.

44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up in the last day.

45 It is written in the prophets, ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who hears from the Father, and has learned, comes to me.

46 Not that anyone has seen the Father, except he who is from God. He has seen the Father.

47 Most certainly, I tell you, he who believes in me has eternal life.

48 I am the bread of life.

49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died.

50 This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, that anyone may eat of it and not die.

51 I am the living bread which came down out of heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. Yes, the bread which I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

52 The Jews therefore contended with one another, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”

53 Jesus therefore said to them, “Most certainly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his…

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Acts 12

the account of Herod Agrippa the first being struck by an angel and eaten by worms

1 Now about that time, King Herod stretched out his hands to oppress some of the assembly.

2 He killed James, the brother of John, with the sword.

3 When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This was during the days of unleavened bread.

4 When he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover.

5 Peter therefore was kept in the prison, but constant prayer was made by the assembly to God for him.

6 The same night when Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains. Guards in front of the door kept the prison.

7 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side, and woke him up, saying, “Stand up quickly!” His chains fell off from his hands.

8 The angel said to him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” He did so. He said to him, “Put on your cloak, and follow me.”

9 And he went out and followed him. He didn’t know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he saw a vision.

10 When they were past the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened to them by itself. They went out, and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.

11 When Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I truly know that the Lord has sent out his angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from everything the Jewish people were expecting.”

12 Thinking about that, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.

13 When Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a maid named Rhoda came to answer.

14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, she didn’t open the gate for joy, but ran in, and reported that Peter was standing in front of the gate.

15 They said to her, “You are crazy!” But she insisted that it was so. They said, “It is his angel.”

16 But Peter continued knocking. When they had opened, they saw him, and were amazed.

17 But he, beckoning to them with his hand to be silent, declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. He said, “Tell these things to James, and to the brothers.” Then he departed, and went to another place.

18 Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers about what had become of Peter.

19 When Herod had sought for him, and didn’t find him, he examined the guards, and commanded that they should be put to death. He went down from Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there.

20 Now Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. They came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus, the king’s personal aide, their friend, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king’s country for food.

21 On an appointed day, Herod dressed himself in royal clothing, sat on the throne, and gave a speech to them.

22 The people shouted, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!”

23 Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he didn’t give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died.

24 But the word of God grew and multiplied.

25 Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their service, also taking with them John who was called Mark.

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Leviticus 20

quoted to show that marrying a brother's wife is an act of impurity and dishonor

1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

2 “Moreover, you shall tell the children of Israel, ‘Anyone of the children of Israel, or of the strangers who live as foreigners in Israel, who gives any of his offspring to Molech; he shall surely be put to death. The people of the land shall stone him with stones.

3 I also will set my face against that person, and will cut him off from among his people because he has given of his offspring to Molech, to defile my sanctuary, and to profane my holy name.

4 If the people of the land all hide their eyes from that person, when he gives of his offspring to Molech, and don’t put him to death;

5 then I will set my face against that man, and against his family, and will cut him off, and all who play the prostitute after him, to play the prostitute with Molech, from among their people.

6 “‘The person that turns to those who are mediums, and to the wizards, to play the prostitute after them, I will even set my face against that person, and will cut him off from among his people.

7 “‘Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be holy; for I am Yahweh your God.

8 You shall keep my statutes, and do them. I am Yahweh who sanctifies you.

9 “‘For everyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death: he has cursed his father or his mother; his blood shall be upon him.

10 “‘The man who commits adultery with another man’s wife, even he who commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.

11 “‘The man who lies with his father’s wife has uncovered his father’s nakedness: both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

12 “‘If a man lies with his daughter-in-law, both of them shall surely be put to death: they have committed a perversion; their blood shall be upon them.

13 “‘If a man lies with a male, as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

14 “‘If a man takes a wife and her mother, it is wickedness: they shall be burned with fire, both he and they; that there may be no wickedness among you.

15 “‘If a man lies with an animal, he shall surely be put to death; and you shall kill the animal.

16 “‘If a woman approaches any animal, and lies with it, you shall kill the woman and the animal. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them.

17 “‘If a man takes his sister, his father’s daughter, or his mother’s daughter, and sees her nakedness, and she sees his nakedness; it is a shameful thing. They shall be cut off in the sight of the children of their people. He has uncovered his sister’s nakedness. He shall bear his iniquity.

18 “‘If a man lies with a woman having her monthly period, and uncovers her nakedness; he has made naked her fountain, and she has uncovered the fountain of her blood. Both of them shall be cut off from among their people.

19 “‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother’s sister, nor of your father’s sister; for he has made his close relative naked. They shall bear their iniquity.

20 If a man lies with his uncle’s wife, he has uncovered his uncle’s nakedness. They shall bear their sin. They shall die childless.

21 “‘If a man takes his brother’s wife, it is an impurity. He has uncovered his brother’s nakedness. They shall be childless.

22 “‘You shall therefore keep all my statutes, and all my ordinances, and do them; that the land, where I am bringing you to dwell, may not vomit you out.

23 You shall not walk in the customs of the nation, which I am casting out before you: for they did all these things, and therefore I abhorred them.

24 But I have said to you, “You shall inherit their land, and I will give it to you to possess it, a land flowing with milk and honey.” I am Yahweh your God, who has separated you from the peoples.

25 “‘You shall therefore make a distinction between the clean animal and the unclean, and between the unclean fowl and the clean: and you shall not make yourselves abominable by animal, or by bird, or by anything with which the ground teems, which I have separated from you as unclean for you.

26 You shall be holy to me; for I, Yahweh, am holy, and have set you apart from the peoples, that you should be mine.

27 “‘A man or a woman that is a medium, or is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones. Their blood shall be upon them.’”

World English Bible · Read it in another translation

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Leviticus 18

referenced as forbidding relations with a brother's wife

1 Yahweh said to Moses,

2 “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, ‘I am Yahweh your God.

3 You shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you lived: and you shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you. You shall not follow their statutes.

4 You shall do my ordinances, and you shall keep my statutes, and walk in them: I am Yahweh your God.

5 You shall therefore keep my statutes and my ordinances; which if a man does, he shall live in them. I am Yahweh.

6 “‘None of you shall approach any close relatives, to uncover their nakedness: I am Yahweh.

7 “‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father, nor the nakedness of your mother: she is your mother. You shall not uncover her nakedness.

8 “‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s wife. It is your father’s nakedness.

9 “‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your sister, the daughter of your father, or the daughter of your mother, whether born at home, or born abroad.

10 “‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your son’s daughter, or of your daughter’s daughter, even their nakedness: for theirs is your own nakedness.

11 “‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s wife’s daughter, conceived by your father, since she is your sister.

12 “‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s sister: she is your father’s near kinswoman.

13 “‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother’s sister: for she is your mother’s near kinswoman.

14 “‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s brother, you shall not approach his wife. She is your aunt.

15 “‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law: she is your son’s wife. You shall not uncover her nakedness.

16 “‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother’s wife. It is your brother’s nakedness.

17 “‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter. You shall not take her son’s daughter, or her daughter’s daughter, to uncover her nakedness; they are near kinswomen: it is wickedness.

18 “‘You shall not take a wife in addition to her sister, to be a rival, to uncover her nakedness, while her sister is still alive.

19 “‘You shall not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is impure by her uncleanness.

20 “‘You shall not lie carnally with your neighbor’s wife, and defile yourself with her.

21 “‘You shall not give any of your children as a sacrifice to Molech. You shall not profane the name of your God. I am Yahweh.

22 “‘You shall not lie with a man, as with a woman. That is detestable.

23 “‘You shall not lie with any animal to defile yourself with it. No woman may give herself to an animal, to lie down with it: it is a perversion.

24 “‘Don’t defile yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations which I am casting out before you were defiled.

25 The land was defiled: therefore I punished its iniquity, and the land vomited out her inhabitants.

26 You therefore shall keep my statutes and my ordinances, and shall not do any of these abominations; neither the native-born, nor the stranger who lives as a foreigner among you;

27 (for the men of the land that were before you had done all these abominations, and the land became defiled);

28 that the land not vomit you out also, when you defile it, as it vomited out the nation that was before you.

29 “‘For whoever shall do any of these abominations, even the souls that do them shall be cut off from among their people.

30 Therefore you shall keep my requirements, that you do not practice any of these abominable customs, which were practiced before you, and that you do not defile yourselves with them. I am Yahweh your God.’”

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Recap

The message in order, in a few minutes of reading.

This message walked through a dark and often overlooked piece of the gospel narrative: the death of John the Baptist and what came just after it. Pastor Carl traced the story through Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John together, letting the full picture come into view. The sermon sat honestly with tragedy, with the grief Jesus himself carried, and with what it means to keep doing what God has called you to do when circumstances are hard.

What was said

Before getting into the passage, Pastor Carl spent time sorting out the Herod family tree, because without it the story is easy to misread. There are at least six Herods named in the New Testament, and the one at the center of this episode is Herod Antipas, a tetrarch over a quarter of his father's territory, the man Jesus later called "that fox." Understanding who he was and how he got his power matters for understanding why John the Baptist ended up where he did.

The trouble started with a marriage. Herod Antipas had taken Herodias, who had been his brother Philip's wife, while Philip was still living. John had been saying to Herod, repeatedly and plainly, that this was against God's law. Leviticus 20 forbids it. Leviticus 18 forbids it. John was not going to stop saying it, and Herodias was not going to forgive him for it.

Herod's position was genuinely conflicted. He was afraid of John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. He had even enjoyed listening to him, right up until the message hit too close to home. He was protecting John from Herodias, and he was also protecting himself from the crowd, which regarded John as a prophet. He wanted to silence John but he could not do it cleanly.

The birthday banquet gave Herodias her opening. The daughter of Herodias danced before Herod's guests and pleased him enough that he made a reckless oath in front of all his nobles and commanders. When the girl went to her mother to ask what to request, the answer was immediate: the head of John the Baptist on a platter. Herod was grieved, but he had painted himself into a corner in front of witnesses, and he followed through. John's disciples came, took the body, buried it, and then went and told Jesus.

When Jesus heard the news, he withdrew. He sought a secluded place by himself, across the Jordan near Bethsaida, in the territory of Philip the tetrarch and away from Herod Antipas. Pastor Carl noted that this is itself worth seeing: when grief arrived, Jesus stepped back. He did not push straight through it without pause. But the crowds found him anyway, and when he came ashore and saw them, he felt compassion for them and he healed their sick and he taught them. He picked right back up doing what he does.

Pastor Carl closed with the thing the story presses on hardest. John was living exactly as God had called him to live. It cost him his freedom and then his life. Herod was not, and he had fame and riches and power. That looks backwards. But God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble, and the accounting of this life is not the final one. The one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than the greatest born of women. That is not a comfort that fits neatly in your hand, but it is the one the text offers, and Pastor Carl asked the congregation to hold on to it.

Doing a Bible study?

Here is a guide we have prepared for you: the passages in order, questions for the group, and room to write.

Pastor Carl talked about John the Baptist speaking truth to power, telling Herod repeatedly that his marriage to Herodias was unlawful, even knowing it could cost him his life. When has telling the truth about something cost you something, and how did you handle it?
Herod enjoyed listening to John preach until John's message hit too close to home. Can you think of a time when you found yourself enjoying or agreeing with a message right up until it challenged something you actually wanted to do?

and 3 more questions in the guide

Open the study guide

Read the full transcript 6,948 words

Find in this transcript

Speaker 1Good morning everybody. How are you? There's a bit of a party going on down the hall and we're gonna just sing as many in as it came early. Would you stand up with us and we're going sing to God be the glory. Hymn number 56.

The hymnals are all around up here but we're going to have the words on the wall. Sing off the wall.

Speaker 2Thank you, Florine for playing over there.

Speaker 1We're going sing I Love to Tell the Story. There are a lot of reasons to tell this story. This hymn shares at least four of Amen. Y'all can have a seat. Have I a few announcements this morning.

Some are things to come and maybe some things might be things that have already happened. Monday nights at first B is happening. Tomorrow night, down the hall, 06:00, meal, music, and a message that is gonna be Carl preaching from the close of Colossians. So, we're finishing up the book of Colossians. So beautiful, so helpful.

He'll do a bit of a summary and cover the last section and then, after the message, we'll open it up for a gospel conversation. So, we've always said, meal, music, and a message on Monday nights. Now we have meal, music, a message, and a meaningful conversation after that's over. I actually, we're hosting this week a team called College House Ministries from Columbus, Georgia. So 16 extra people will be there.

It should be a big, nice meal, music, and a message. That's tomorrow night. There is a prayer group that meets Wednesday mornings in the church office at seven: 3zero am. They usually pray through all of the requests instead of sharing requests and then praying. They just pray through their through their own prayers for missionaries and a lot of other stuff.

So, that's happening Wednesday morning, 07:30. This one is happening even as we speak probably. They spent a soggy weekend at Coulter Bay. So it was a the church camp out was fifth, sixth, seventh. That was Friday, Saturday, Sunday.

And Brian McCooey, I'm I can't wait to talk to him. They did have they did have a sir this men's rafting trip actually happened on Wednesday too and all is well there. They came back with both the boats and all the people. So, that was good. And this one is one that if you have not heard, I I apologize for this being where you hear it because Maureen Fates was such a dear friend to so many people in this church and in this community.

And so we have scheduled her memorial service, with the family. It's scheduled for here at First Bee at 1PM on the twentieth, which is Saturday, 1PM. So it's not 11:00 with a luncheon after this time. It's 1PM. Dearly, dearly love, Pete and Emily and Tyler were here this morning.

Pray for Pete and for Emily, for Tyler, and for Susannah also because they lost mom, right? Pete lost Maureen. And she was told at twelve when they diagnosed her complex lung issues, she wouldn't make 20. And then she was told she wouldn't make 30 and I think she made 66 before she passed. So I want you to know, next Saturday, August 20 is her service.

And we had a little Fiesta de Despedido. We call it in Spanish. It is dispatching service. It is a sending out into the mission field you will find waiting for you in Arizona. This is for Brad and Nancy.

The goodbye for now service was down there. There's probably still cake left over if you want to go hit it after the service. But also meet up with Brad and Natzi and let them know you love them. We have Old Bill's season is upon us. So from August 12 through September 16 is the giving season for Old Bill's Fun Run.

Do you all know what that is? I don't need to explain it. It's kind of like United Way, it's local. Administrative costs are pretty low and because of the challengers, co challengers, Mr. And Mrs.

Old Bills, they amplify giving to charitable organizations. So we are one of those. Our benevolence fund is funded by whatever anyone wants to give to First B's benevolence fund. If you give it through Old Bills, if you give a dollar there, by the time it reaches us it's like a dollar and 0.5. Usually.

Depends on the year. But it's usually right around there. So if you would like for us to continue to be able to say yes when a family gets here and their car breaks down and they just need help. That's how we do it from that benevolence fund. But also Turning Point is one of those organizations.

Good Samaritan Mission is one and there are others. That's happening. August 12 through September 16. It's giving season. They asked me to make that.

Now, would you stand? We're going to sing Holy, Holy, Holy. Yes, it is the real Holy, Holy, Holy. Okay, good. So good.

Didn't want it to end. Near the cross. Oh, what a

Speaker 2beautiful song. What a prayer.

Speaker 1Y'all can have a seat. I will invite the elders and ushers to come forward. And would you pray with me as we pray for this time of offering, the worship through giving time we call it. Lord, I thank you for gathering us here together in your name this morning, Lord. As I look out, I see new faces that I have never seen before.

I see returning visitors who've been here before in the past and have just come back. And I see folks who've been with us a long time. I've also seen this morning people that I know are walking through tragedy. They're walking through a very, very difficult time slogging, as it were, towards you, attempting, Lord, to stay in the cross, in the cross. Jesus, keep me near the cross, and that's an earnest prayer for us this morning.

In Jesus' name, Lord, I ask that you'd bless us with knowing the step that you would have us take next. We pray that you would bless, Lord, the resources that are put in these plates literally, but also, Lord, the metaphorical resources that we are placing at your disposal when we bend the knee and say, I am yours, Lord. Do with me as you please. God, would you reach this community for Christ through those gathered in your name? And would you extend that witness to the very uttermost of the parts of the world?

Would you, Lord, bless this to the advance of the kingdom of God? Amen. Emily, let me hold on to that for a second. Would you mute this for just a second? I'm going to ask Nancy if she would.

I don't want to put you on the spot, Nancy, but if you will, come up. Here's your microphone. Okay. Yep. That's good.

Close enough. It was a good guess. Sorry. It's an omni mic. It shouldn't matter.

I just wanna pray for you as you head up. God, we pray that you would be radiating your love through these two. That they'd feel it, Lord. They'd feel the warmth of it, but that the reflection of the glory of God would shine off of them so greatly, Lord, as they go. I pray for mercies as they travel.

Moving's never fun and easy, but it is an adventure. So God, pray that you would accompany them, though they pass through the waters, that you will be with them. The waves will not overcome, Lord. I pray that they would find their strength for the journey ahead and that their love for you and one another in the midst of the adventure you're calling to. In Jesus' name, I pray that they would carry with them a blessing from this place.

Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.

Speaker 2This is not about them. Sorry. That struck me as funny. Let me back up just a second. Okay?

Speaker 1Last week, we met at the fair. Okay? Last week, we met at the fair and we are in the middle of a long study of the New Testament in chronological order. We passed through all of the epistles of Paul. We passed through Revelation.

We're going back to pick up the synoptic gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke, and we're about two thirds of the way through that study. Okay? And I knew that we were going to go to the fair, and I knew the next portion of scripture, and I thought, I can't preach that at the fair. So last week, what we went through was first Corinthians 13, the love chapter, and we went through, love is patient, love is kind, but we slowed down a little bit and defined what patient looks like, defined what kind looks like. And I felt like that was more appropriate because the first part of this sounds like a bad soap opera, okay?

And I'm telling you that at the outset, Matthew 14, Mark six, Luke nine, and even John six, in this case we have all four of the gospels here. That's a much as much scripture actually that and then added three verses from John. That's all we're going to cover today. I've got them color coded. Mainly the color coding is just to help you to see that it's all three of the gospels.

We're getting the story. We're gonna advance kinda slowly in all three of em and I'm just gonna preach through it but before I do, how many Herods are there in the New Testament? Goodness gracious. There was an answer this time. I've asked three or four people this week and nobody knew, write off.

But how many Herods are there in the New Testament? If I'll answer that question with a question, how many George Foreman's are there in that boxer's family? Do you know this? So George Foreman, George Edward Foreman has, been a boxer. He's also been a preacher.

In 1980 he founded a church in Houston and he's been preaching since then even while he also became a salesman of the George Foreman grill. How many George Edward Foreman's do you think there are in his family? Six. He named all of his male children George Edward Foreman. He has five male kids.

He has five other kids biologically and two adopted but all of the boys in his family are named George Edward Foreman. Yep. And how many Herods are there in the New Testament? Six. Actually maybe seven.

Six for certain but, there might be depending on how you depending on how you I'll tell you in a minute. How about that? I'll show you. Could be seven but six at least. Herod the Great.

Herod the Great is the Christmas story bad guy. He is the ruler over everything we usually see on a Bible picture map. He's ruler up beyond where we see Galilee and all the way down past Judea. Both sides of the Sea Of Galilee. He has a great portion of territory that King Herod the Great is the bad guy in the Christmas story.

Calls those Magi in. Finds out when this Messiah child was born and then slaughters the innocent so that he can stop his opposition. So that's Herod the Great. Herod the Great has a son called Herod Archelaus. Herod Archelaus was in charge in the southern half, so down around Judea and near Jerusalem, Bethlehem area.

Archelaus was there. So when Joseph and Mary and Jesus go down into Egypt and they come back from Egypt, rather than going back where he was born to Bethlehem, which is Joseph's family place, rather than doing that, they move back up into Nazareth which is out of Herod Archelaus' territory. Okay? It's inside of Herod Antipas' territory. Herod Antipas is the guy who killed John the Baptist.

That's what we're going to be covering today. That's one of the main things he's known for. Jesus though also called him that fox. Okay? And it wasn't in a that foxy guy is so smart.

That fox is not like the Lion of Judah who actually has power, but he has gotten all that he's gotten through conniving underhandedness. Golly, that joker's rough like a fox. He's sneaky. Herod Antipas. Herod sorry, Herod Philip the Tetrarch ruled the area North and East of Galilee.

So Herod Philip ruled North and East of Galilee which would start about the Jordan River and go to the East. I'll show you in a map in a minute. But Herod Philip, the tetrarch. Tetrarch means ruler over quarter of a kingdom. And Herod the Great had all this land, and then Herod the tetrarch, Philip, had a quarter of that land.

He had the northeast quadrant of the land. Mostly serving over Syrians and Greeks, but he's a vassal king anyway. Rome's really in charge. Herod Philip the tetrarch, Jewish by birth of Herod the Great who's Jewish but not practicing the way we would consider it. He ruled.

Herod Antipas also was a tetrarch. He just happened to be the guy in charge of the north and west quarter of his dad's place, and he's the one that killed John the Baptist. That's who we're talking about today. Herod Agrippa the first. Herod Agrippa the first is the one this is a weird story in Acts 12.

It says, and they praised him as if he were a god. And he, not giving glory to God, was struck by an angel, not touched by an angel, stretched but struck by an angel and eaten by worms. That's the end of Herod Agrippa the first. Herod Agrippa the second is the one that Paul was tried before in Caesarea. Agrippa the second is the one that said to Paul, wouldst thou convert me?

Wouldst thou persuade me to be a Christian so quickly? So whether he was being sincere or sarcastic, we're not sure, but he's the one that Paul was pleading his case before in Caesarea. And ultimately he said, I plead to Caesar and Herod Agrippa. Yeah, you're in charge, kinda, but you're just a vassal king. I'm a Roman citizen.

I appeal to Caesar. So he got to go to Rome. That's the Herods that we know of. Those are six of them. Now Philip the Tetrarch is a half brother of Herod Antipas and so typically he's called Philip the second because he's younger than Herod Philip the first.

If you ask for the slides you'll be able to read that. I know you can't read it now, but these are the six that I just outlined. Herod the Great and then three of them from the next generation. One from the next and one from the next. Those are all listed in the New Testament and possibly adding Herod Philip the first.

Okay. Now that we've got the history lesson and you know the cast of characters, here we go into the soap opera. And king Herod, that's Herod Antipas, heard about it. What was it? So immediately before this in Mark, we see Jesus sending out the 12 and he sends them out two by two.

Six pairs of disciples go out and as they go out there to ministering, to be ministering in the towns of Galilee but not in Gentile areas. Not in Samarian areas, but it's within the reign of Herod Antipas. It's Galilee. So when King Herod hears that these guys are out doing miraculous work in Jesus name, he heard about it. He hears about it and Jesus' name had become well known and there were people who were saying, John the Baptist has risen from the dead.

Now this is the first that we have heard. If you're reading through the gospels, this is the first that you've heard that John the Baptist is dead. So we know that he's in prison because he sent those representatives to ask Jesus, are you the one or should we be looking for somebody else? You remember that? John's languishing in prison and we knew that and that's the expectation.

But then, the first we hear is this. People were saying John the Baptist has risen from the dead. And that's why these miraculous powers are at work in him, in Jesus, and his disciples actually. So I said, we know that he's been in prison. Actually, when he sends those representatives he says, go back and tell John that the blind see and that the deaf hear and that the lame leap for joy.

Go back and tell him, yeah, the messianic age is here and messiah is here. He's saying, go tell him what you see. The fruit of messiah is happening. So, yeah, I'm the one. And then as soon as those guys walk away, it's interesting Jesus waits for his disciples to walk away.

He says among those born of women, there's not anyone who's risen that's any better than John the Baptist. He's the top. He's the best. And yet, the one who is least in the kingdom of God is even greater than he. There's a difference in the here and the now and the then and the there.

There's a difference in the kingdom of darkness and the kingdoms of earth and the kingdom of heaven which is upon you. It's right here and right now. Yet, the one who's least in the kingdom is even higher. So other people were saying he's Elijah. Everybody that was looking forward to Messiah knew Elijah had to come first.

So there were other people that were saying it was not John the Baptist resurrected. It is Elijah. He's showing up and we can expect Messiah's close at hand. Other people though were saving Jesus as a prophet. He's like one of the prophets of old.

What happened to the prophets of old by the way? They always got rejected and eventually killed. Anyway, but when Herod heard about it, he kept saying to himself, he kept saying, John, whom I beheaded has risen. That's rough news if you're the beheader, right? I didn't know this was regional.

Do you all know this? Do you all know I woo woo? That has a tone about it that you could probably hear. I woo woo. In my region of Georgia that means, oh, you did it buster.

You have done it. You set your foot in something. This is not good. It's you've got a judgment coming and it's coming right away when mama finds out. Right?

I woo woo. And so he is saying, John the Baptist whom I beheaded is risen from the dead. So Luke tells us, now Herod the tetrarch. See, he's a tetrarch, quarter of his dad's kingdom, about all that was happening and he was greatly perplexed. He was confused.

Why? Because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead and by some that Elijah had appeared and by others that one of the prophets of old had risen. And Herod said, Uh-oh. I myself had John beheaded. But who is this man about whom I hear such things?

And he kept on trying to see him. It was something that I got to get to the bottom of this. I mean, first of all, if it is John the Baptist whom I beheaded and he's coming back for me, that's bad news. But I want to know more. He's perplexed and confused and he kept trying to see Jesus.

Matthew. Matthew says, At this time, Herod the tetrarch heard the news about Jesus and said to his servants, this is John the Baptist. He himself has been raised from the dead and that's why miraculous power is at work in him. For when Herod had John arrested, he bound him and he put him in prison because of Herodias. Herodias.

Herodias. Who's Herodias? Well, Matthew says it's the wife of his brother Philip. Matthew's counting it because that's who he was married to. Wait a second.

Why would it would it matter? Why would it matter if his sister-in-law said, Put this guy in jail. Well, we go further. So we see all of these and then Herodias, I mean that's barely it's the only reason I didn't include her in being a Herod is because she's a Herodias. It's a female term for a Herod.

She is the sister of Herod Agrippa the first and she was married to Philip. Either Philip the first or Philip the second. I think it was Philip the first. I'm not sure. That would make seven instead of six, but she was married to Philip first and then she was married to Herod Antipas and that's the rub.

Herod himself had sent men and had John arrested and bound him in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, because he had married her. Are you seeing how it looks like a soap opera now? So he's taken his brother's wife while his brother lived. This is not a leverett marriage. This is not something the Old Testament commands so that she can have kids.

This is not cool. And John said so for John had been saying repeatedly to Herod, it is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife. Don't do this. This is against God's law and will. Leviticus 20 says, if a man marries his brother's wife, it is an act of impurity.

He has dishonored his brother. It goes on from there. Says don't do it. It also says don't have relations with her in Leviticus 18 and it appears from the text that that had already happened. And Herodias.

Herodias held a grudge against John the Baptist and wanted to put John the Baptist to death, but she could not do so. She's not the king. It's good to be the king, but she's not the king. So she could not do it. Why?

Because Herod was in charge and Herod Antipas was afraid of John. He was afraid of John. Now Herod Antipas is the king. This regally dressed guy who is so famous and rich in his area. And then John the Baptist is wearing, you know, camel hair, eating honey, living very simply.

It says Herod was afraid of John knowing what? That he was a righteous and holy man. You know what? He wasn't in this religious thing for the money and Herod could see that. He knew that he was king and he was the figurehead of the religious folks should have been.

He wasn't much of that. Herod was afraid of John knowing he was righteous and holy and he had been protecting him, protecting him from his wife. He was protecting him and when he heard him he was very perplexed. Yet he used to enjoy listening to him. So John has a message.

His message is one of repentance. Wherever you are contrary to God and his law, repent. That was John's message. And it said he used to enjoy listening to him until that message said, don't marry that woman. And then he was perplexed by that.

Don't we often get perplexed when something confronts what we want to do? Oh, he heard him. He was very confused and perplexed. And yet, he used to enjoy listening to this guy. Shame what happened to John.

He's gone off the rails telling me I ought not do something. What does he think he's doing? He's speaking truth to power is what he's doing. Flashback. Do all remember TV when it used to go?

Like we're going back in time now? That's the first we've heard that John the Baptist is dead. So now all of the gospel writers go back and say, oh yeah, I left something out. Gotta go back. Flashback here.

Mark says, an opportune day came when Herod on his birthday held a banquet for his nobles and his military commanders and the leading people of Galilee. This was a who's who of his quarter kingdom. Right? His whole kingdom. And he had them all together in one place for his birthday and when the daughter of Herodias.

That is his stepdaughter, okay, that's his stepdaughter, the daughter of Herodias and his brother, half brother Philip. When the daughter of Herodias herself came in and she 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. I cannot prove it from just the text but it is implied that that's a euphemism about dancing and pleasing. Ask me whatever you want and I will give it to you, Herod says.

And he swore to her with an oath, whatever you ask of me, I will give it to you up to a half of my kingdom. That's a lot. And she went out and she said to her mother, Mom, what do I ask for? What do I ask for? Riches, fame, whatever.

What do I ask for? And mama who had been nursing the grudge said, The head of John the Baptist, that joker, should not have told me what to do. I want the head of John the Baptist. That's what you asked for. And immediately it says, she came in a hurry to the king and she asked saying, I want you to give me at once, right now, put him on the spot, now, at once, the head of John the Baptist on a platter.

And although the king was very sorry because of his oaths that he had taken, sworn, and his dinner guest who were the witnesses, and he was unwilling to refuse her because he had painted himself into a corner. And immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded him to bring back his head. And he went and he beheaded him in the prison and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl. And the girl gave it to her mother. She got what she wanted.

When his disciples heard about this, they came and carried away his body and they laid it in a tomb. Does that sound like a bad soap opera? It's bad. But it's what happened. That is what happened.

Actually, let's listen to it from Matthew. Matthew says, For when Herod had John arrested, he bound him and he put him in prison because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. For John had been saying to him, It's not lawful for you to have her. You know better than this. I know you're infatuated.

I know that you've gotten yourself in a sticky situation, but you cannot do this. Although Herod wanted to put him to death to shut him up, he feared the crowd because they, the crowd, regarded John as a prophet. Not lawful. I already mentioned that. You shall not have relations with your brother's wife.

You shall not marry your brother's wife. If so, it's a dishonor to your brother and to you. Although Herod wanted to put him to death, he feared the crowd because they regarded John as a prophet. But when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. And after being prompted by her mother, she says, Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter right now.

And although he was grieved, shouldn't have made that bold statement. It sounds like there's a lot going on. Doesn't it sound like a drunken oath to say you can have half my kingdom for the way you dance? Pretty bad. But he stood by it.

He was grieved. The king commanded it to be given because of his oaths and because of his dinner guest. And he sent word and had John beheaded in the prison and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl and she was brought to her mother. And John's disciples came and took away the body and buried it. How sad.

We know that several of Jesus' disciples, John and Andrew for two certainly, were disciples of John the Baptist and had followed him for some time when Jesus came on the scene. And when John pointed him out and said, he must increase and I must decrease. Go after him. I'm not even worthy to untie his shoes. John's disciples came and took away the body and they buried it and this says, and then they went and they reported to Jesus.

This is ultimately how John decreased and Jesus increased. His disciples went, reported what had happened to Jesus. Imagine getting that news. Jesus' cousin. John, whom he loved so dearly, been baptized by him, appreciated his forerunner ministry, and he just finds out that he's dead at the hands of that fox.

Oh, it's terrible. What is Matthew goes on and says, now when Jesus heard about John, he withdrew from there. Oh, the news is so hard. When we are grieved, it is Jesus proves and shows that it is good to step back, to get alone with God. And that's what he sought to do.

Now when Jesus heard about Johnny, withdrew from there in a boat to a secluded place by himself. How long do you think that's gonna last? Jesus doesn't get to be alone very often. But he did, after he heard about that, step back. Now Luke and Mark also go into it's kinda like this story is a, after Jesus sent all the disciples out on their paired up journey where they're going into all the cities of the lost sheep of Israel.

Not to the Gentiles yet, not to the Samaritans yet, but we're going out and we're going to minister and perform miracles, authenticating the message of repentance for the kingdom of God. Same exact message that John had been carrying. And he sends the disciples out and here in Mark it says, and the apostles gathered together with Jesus. He had been trying to be alone. And they gathered together with Jesus and they reported to him all that they had done and all that they had taught.

In the midst of the bad news about John, the disciples come back with the good news of everything going on. And he said to him, come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a little while. Let's retreat. Actually, that college group that's coming in this week, they're coming here as a retreat to go back, retreat to advance. And that's what Jesus is saying to the disciples, come away by yourselves for a little while to a secluded place.

Let's rest a little while. And he puts in there parenthetically, for there were many people coming and going and they didn't even have time to eat. They were getting about the business of the kingdom of God and it was a busy business. But it does say, and they went away in the boat to a secluded place by themselves. How does Luke say it?

Luke tells us where. He's so precise in a lot of ways. Geographically, it's kinda cool. The When the apostles returned from their journey that Jesus has sent them out on two by two, they gave an account to him of all that they had done. And taking them with him, he withdrew privately to a city called Bethsaida.

Now Bethsaida, if you're looking at it, Galilee is over here and this is the region of Herod Antipas. All of that on the right side of your screen over there in the west is Herod Antipas. But just across that river, Bethsaida, is the region of Herod Philip the second. And so when Jesus retreats, he's retreating. I don't think he's running from the law necessarily, but if, as Luke says, Herod was continuously trying to see him, Jesus is like, let's get out of here a while.

Let the heat die down a bit. Let's get by ourselves. It's a coastal town. There's a hillside, a mountain right nearby, And it says, and when the people heard about where he was, news travels fast. They followed him on foot from the cities.

It's not that far. It's just on the other side of the Jordan. And the Jordan's not hard to get across really. When he came ashore, he saw a large crowd and Jesus has gotten a whole lot of bad news recently and he knows the bad news that is to come about his own difficulty. The Via Dolorosa, the painful journey that he's on.

He knew. When he came ashore, he saw a large crowd and right in the middle of his retreat, and he felt compassion for them and he healed their sick. He picked right on back up doing what it is that he does. Luke says it this way, but the crowds were aware of this and they followed him because he was good to them and he welcomed them. Isn't he a sweet guy?

Mean, I he he just had some of the hardest news of his earthly life. And he welcomed the crowds anyway and he began speaking to them about the kingdom of God. And he began curing those who had need of healing. He kept on doing message that John the Baptist was preaching about the hope available in Jesus is the message that Jesus was living out right there, right then. And he was curing those who had need of healing.

Mark says, the people saw him going and many recognized them because they'd just been in their cities and they've been doing miracles and they had been doing great things in Jesus' name. It says they were so excited. They ran there together on foot from all of those cities that they've been ministered in, and they got there ahead of them. Oh. And when Jesus went ashore, he saw a large crowd, and he felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd.

And he began to teach him many things because he's constantly doing that. He's constantly pouring out. He does try to get alone for a moment. We read often that Jesus withdrew. He woke up early in the morning before anybody else, and he withdrew myself.

I go to the interstate. But he liked the wilderness. And when it was time to reengage again, he did. He had the same compassion. He had the same spiritual presence.

The power of God was present to heal, and those miracles were authenticating the message. When you are doing everything that you can do, you're walking out the steps that God has for you, is there a promise in scriptures that says you will be fine? John the Baptist was beheaded. Jesus was crucified. James was beheaded.

Paul was beheaded. Andrew was hung on an x shaped cross. Peter was hung upside down on a cross. John was exiled. All of them were doing what it was that God had for them imperfectly, but still after it, you know.

And no, there's not that promise of earthly security or earthly riches or earthly success. But even the one who is the least in the kingdom of God is greater than. Right? There is right there. A setup actually.

John reminds me of this because I know where it is in John six. It is about the feeding of the 5,000. And since we just got through first being the Bible through Matthew 14 and then 15, This week we know that 14 goes from the place we've been to the feeding of the 5,000. These are people who had pursued him pursued him after the disciples campaign into their areas and they are people who are earnestly and honestly seeking after whatever it is that Jesus is preaching. And this is setting up the feeding of the 5,000.

It'll happen. After these things, Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea Of Galilee or Tiberias. The other side being on the other side of the Jordan. A large crowd was following because they were watching all of the signs which he was performing. And all of those signs were messianic signs that he was performing on those who were sick.

And Jesus went up on the mountain hillside there and there he sat with his disciples. I believe that's his 12, but also the others who were earnestly seeking after him. And I think that's the last slide, is it Blake? Alright. Good.

Alright. Is that a weird one? Would that have been appropriate for the fair? I think love is patient, love is kind. Might have been better for that.

It's such a tedious thing, but if I had to break it down, I'd say tragedy strikes. If I mention the word tragedy, I sometimes close my eyes up here. It's not because I'm trying to think of what it is that I wanna say. It's because my heart has moved so deeply with compassion for the people who are sitting here that have just lost a daughter and there who have just lost a husband and all over this all over this church. But looking out and seeing it, it's so emotionally impactful.

Tragedy happens. Bad things happen to good people, and that doesn't mean that you're not living right. Now primitive religion says, oh, if he was living right, wouldn't have to go through all that stuff. John the Baptist was living right. He was doing exactly what he needed to do, and it got him imprisoned and eventually beheaded.

Herod was not doing everything that he should have been doing, and it got him fame and glory and riches. That's backwards, isn't it? Not in God's economy, it's not. God opposes the proud, but he gives grace to the humble. This temporal stuff of earth is very, very difficult to walk through, But keeping our eyes on Jesus and keeping the faith in him, we know that it's okay because he's never gonna leave us.

He's never gonna forsake us. And eventually, there will be a recompense and reward. I don't think I have any more slides, but if you would Florian. We're going do communion. That's the next one.

That's what it is. Can I invite the ushers forward? There are baskets back there. We have these little plastic representations and yes, I don't like them either. Okay.

I hear this from you all. But it is a representation. This is a representation. You pull off the little cellophane cover and there's a wafer and then you pull off a little tinfoil cover and there's some juice. And although it is a modern way of doing this, we're calling back to a time when Jesus sat around a a table, common table with a common cup, with a loaf that he broke, and that's what we're calling back to right now.

It's representative. God, would you bless this little, representation of the body and blood of Christ? May we, Lord, be ready to do whatever it is, whatever that entails, and whatever consequences of that action. I pray, Lord, that you would allow us to carry your truth with us, to live it out come what may, and Lord, that you would do your work in the midst of the difficulty. Amen.

Amen. On the night that Jesus was betrayed, consider that all these 12 had been through and then they're sitting there. Judas has already made the deal and on that same night that Jesus was betrayed, he took bread after supper and after he had given thanks, he said to his disciples who were there with him, this is my body and it is given for you. Now take this and eat it. Ingest it.

Take it in and each time that you do this from now on, remember me. And after he had taken the bread, he took the cup also and likewise. So after supper and after he had given thanks, he said to his disciples there that this is the new covenant in his blood to take this and to do it in remembrance of him. Lord God almighty Jesus, for the for the innocent blood that was shed on behalf of all who would come to know and all who would come to believe, lord, we are thankful. Paul says that as often as we do this, we proclaim your death until you will come again.

Lord, may we be found faithful, remembering you daily. In Jesus' name, Lord, would you make it so. Amen. Would you stand with us? We're just gonna sing the doxology.

Speaker 2Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise him all creatures here below. Praise him above ye heavenly host. Praise father, son, and holy ghost.

Speaker 1Amen. May the Lord bless and keep you, make his face to shine upon you. May it reflect off of you and to the others around you and give you peace that you can share with them. Amen.

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Feeding The 5000 Background Grief And Compassion Herod Family Tree John The Baptist Death Suffering For Doing Right

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