05 - The Death of John the Baptizer
Introduction:
The past few Sunday mornings we have been examining the life and work of John the Baptizer.
He played an important part in preparing the people to accept Jesus as the Messiah.
His ministry was effective because he spoke the truth, he was humble, and he told people how to live their lives properly after baptism.
He called people to repentance.
He also got discouraged and was in need of reassurance.
Today, we are going to take a look at the events surrounding and culminating in the murder of John the baptizer.
What bought it on?
What right did John have to preach to a Gentile?
Did he back down?
John was imprisoned because some people didn’t want to hear the truth.
While “all of Jerusalem” came out to hear John and be baptized for the remission of sins, not everyone was pleased with the content of his messages.
The Pharisees rejected him and his teachings.
They would not say aloud that they believed John’s baptism was from man because they feared the response of the people who followed him (Matthew 21:25-26).
John knew that they were not repentant (Matthew 3:8).
Herodias was so angry over the content of John’s message that she nagged Herod until he threw John in prison.
Herod, the inspired Scriptures state, cast John into prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother’s wife (Matthew 14:3).
Herodias had apparently asked for John to be murdered immediately, because Herod was going to have him put to death, but feared the multitude who knew he was a prophet (Matthew 14:4).
Herod was “sorry” or sorrowful when Herodias’ daughter asked for John’s head on a platter (Matthew 14:8).
Herod apparently had a level of respect for John and felt great guilt over what was done (he thought Jesus was John the Baptizer, raised from the dead – Matthew 14:1-2).
Herod couldn’t have been pleased with the content of John’s message, though he—like Ahab—probably realized that it was the truth.
What exactly did John preach that caused him to be murdered?
It was not his usual message of “repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
This message seems to have been directed mostly at the Jews.
There is a possibility that we have an example of Gentile soldiers coming to John’s baptism, though that is not definite (Luke 3:14).
Instead, John preached the truth about marriage, divorce, and remarriage.
He told Herod, “it is not lawful for thee to have her” (Matthew 14:4).
According to history, Herodias had divorced Phillip in order to marry Herod, Phillip’s brother.
The cause of her divorce? Deciding she’d rather be married to someone else.
Herod was an Edomite, a Gentile race or nation which descended from Esau.
The Edomites were forced, by threat of death, to be circumcised approximately 100 years before the birth of Christ, and the Jewish rulers declared them to be Jews.
The people never accepted them as Jewish, viewing them just like they viewed the Samaritans.
While many Edomites may have converted to Judaism, Herod’s family did not.
Herod the Great murdered at least one Jewish high priest as well as a vast number of Jewish rabbis.
Some of Herod’s relatives were named for Cos, the chief god of the Edomites (something that you would not do if you have converted to Judaism).
Herod was in thought, in actions, and in descent a Gentile.
Why is this important?
Because John the Baptizer said Herod was violating “law” by being married to his brother’s wife.
John applied the law regarding marriage, divorce, and remarriage to a Gentile who was never under the Law of Moses.
What is the law about marriage, divorce, and remarriage?
While many people will appeal to emotional, heart-rending situations for their standard, we must look clearly at the word of God.
Jesus Christ Himself stated that even though Moses “allowed” people to divorce because they were so hard-hearted, it was not the case “from the beginning” (Matthew 19:8).
“In the beginning,” God made them male and female, joined them together, and “what God hath joined together, let not man put asunder” (Matthew 19:4-6).
Jesus said that “from the beginning,” divorce for “every cause” (Matthew 19:3) was not allowed.
Jesus said that “from the beginning” “whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery; and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery” (Matthew 19:8-9).
Jesus is clear: the only acceptable reason for someone to divorce their spouse and get remarried is if they divorced their spouse because of fornication.
Anyone who divorces for any other reason, and then remarries, is living in adultery (which is listed first among the works of the flesh, which will keep you out of heaven – Galatians 5:19-21).
The person who marries someone who has been divorced by their spouse is also committing adultery (Matthew 19:9).
John the Baptizer took this exact “from the beginning” law of God and said it applied to Gentiles as well.
This is important for us to realize, because it means this law applies to everyone—Christian or not.
Jesus said it applied to everyone “from the beginning.”
John preached the truth about Herod and Herodias’ marriage, and it cost him his life.
Many preachers refer to sermons on marriage, divorce, and remarriage as “moving sermons.”
They call it this not because it motivates the people to correct their lives.
But instead, it is called a “moving sermon” because often the preachers are asked to move shortly after preaching it.
The topic of marriage and divorce is sticky to some people.
What closer bond is there here on earth than between a man and his wife?
But then they discover that they are living in adultery because of an unscriptural divorce; what do they do?
Unfortunately, the vast majority of people decide to stay with their unscriptural spouse and look for a different church that will tell them it is ok (and if they look very hard, they will find such a group).
We who hold to God’s inspired word are called “heartless” and “mean” because we would dare suggest that they need to separate because they are living in sin.
So, imagine John’s predicament: telling the ruler of Judea that he is violating God’s law by being married to his new wife.
How do you think most people would react to being told this?
John was first thrown in prison, and then murdered over it.
This is one of the classic cases of attempting to ignore the facts by killing the messenger.
Many people today don’t want to hear the truth either.
Have you tried to set up a Bible study with someone, or even tried to talk about the Bible with them?
Those who aren’t already religiously-minded will usually shut those conversations down quickly.
Those who ARE religiously-minded will usually reject what you have to say because it doesn’t match up with what they’ve always believed.
Many people IN THE CHURCH don’t want to hear the truth, either!
There are so many people who simply want their ears tickled and who want to leave services feeling happy and good about themselves, even if they are lost!
This has given rise to preachers who are nothing more than glorified story-tellers.
The people have truly heaped up to themselves teachers, having itching ears.
This is the reason why some preachers are asked to leave after preaching on topics like this.
Ask yourself what is the most important thing to you: feeling good and being happy in sin, or obeying God—even if it means making some hard choices?
John was murdered because he would not back down from the truth.
If John had just said this one time, any anger might have died down.
But John did not back down.
It is quite likely that Herod was informed on multiple occasions that his marriage was “unlawful.”
John didn’t back down when he preached to the people, either.
He continually commanded that people repent (Matthew 3:1-2).
He continually chastised those who were giving an outward appearance of repentance with no inward change (Matthew 3:7-8).
John stood for the truth and would not back down from it.
He understood well that obeying God is the most important thing in this life (Ecclesiastes 12:13).
We, too, must not back down from the truth.
Far too often, Christians back down from the truth because of fear.
They fear losing friendships.
They fear what other people might say about them.
They fear being ridiculed.
It doesn’t matter what the topic is, we must not back down.
Brethren, there are entire congregations (some in the thousands) that have backed down from the truth on many issues because they want to “blend in” with the rest of the religious world around them.
They have backed down from the truth about Jesus building one church, and are now saying that the church of Christ is just another denomination.
They have backed down from the truth about the role of men and women in the church, and are now saying that we can have women elders and preachers.
They have backed down from the truth about homosexuality being an abomination to God (Leviticus 18:22), and have now begun to say that “Jesus never said anything about it, so it’s perfectly ok to God now” (see Romans 1).
They have backed down from the truth about marriage, divorce, and remarriage, and have begun to say that so long as you realize you shouldn’t have done it, God will forgive you and then you can remarry whomever you want.
They have backed down from the truth that God’s word is 100% inspired, and have begun saying that “we can’t know exactly what God wants us to know, because we can’t comprehend ‘God-speak’.” (that’s what Rubel Shelley recently taught).
They have backed down from the truth about baptism being essential to salvation (like Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16, Galatians 3:27, Romans 6:1-4, and I Peter 3:21 all say), and now they are saying that baptism is optional.
And these are BRETHREN IN CHRIST saying these things?
Truthfully, many people don’t want to hear the truth, and instead of standing up for the truth, many brethren are backing down so as to not upset anyone.
We MUST NOT back down from the truth!
John was murdered because Herod was more concerned about what people thought than in doing what was right (Matthew 14:6-9).
Herod made a foolish oath to Herodias’ daughter that he would give her whatever she wanted (Matthew 14:6-7).
She had already pre-arranged this with her mother, and asked for John’s head on a charger [platter] (Matthew 14:8).
Instead of refusing her request, Herod gave in.
He gave in because of how it would appear to those who were sitting with him if he refused (Matthew 14:9).
He gave in because he had made an oath which he regretted (Matthew 14:9).
Sure, it is a great thing to be a man of your word.
But if keeping your word causes you to sin, then you apologize for giving your word and then you DO WHAT IS RIGHT!
There are examples of godly men who made foolish oaths.
Jephthah vowed to give to God as a burnt sacrifice the first thing which came out of his house…which turned out to be his daughter.
Joshua pledged not to destroy the citizens of a supposedly far-off city, only to discover that they had lied and it was very near.
In both of these instances, the men kept their word.
In both of these instances, they shouldn’t have made the vow.
Do not make promises that you either can’t keep or shouldn’t keep.
If you find yourself in a spot where you have given your word, and keeping it will cause you to sin, then you break your word.
We cannot be like Herod!
We must always, ALWAYS do what is right, regardless of what others might think about us!
It doesn’t matter if you lose face in front of your friends; you always do what is right!
Herod thought more about what others thought about him than he did about John’s life!
And whether they realize it or not, there are times when people care more about what others think about them than they care about their own soul!
They don’t speak up when someone is lost in sin.
They go along with whatever everyone else is doing instead of standing up for God and His truth.
People who stay quiet or seek to “blend in” with the world are sacrificing their soul just so they don’t have to feel uncomfortable!
Conclusion:
John the Baptizer is a man we should seek to emulate.
Jesus said that of all people born of a woman, none was greater than John (Matthew 11:11).
He stood up for the truth and would not back down from it, even though it cost him his life.
“Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life” (Revelation 2:10).
He was not afraid to point out where people needed to change their lives.
John called people to come back to God, and today we do the same thing.
If you are not a Christian, you are lost and the only thing awaiting you is continual pain and suffering beyond anything you can imagine in the fires of hell.
But today we ask, we plead, we beg you to consider coming to God.
Jesus Christ, His Son, came to this earth and died a horribly cruel death on a wooden cross as a punishment for your sins.
He rose up from the grave on the third day and He now sits at the right hand of God.
You must realize these truths, believe them and let others know you believe them.
You must leave your past life of sin behind, repenting, turning to Jesus to save you.
Then you must be baptized in order to have your sins forgive, because Peter clearly states that “baptism doth now save us” (I Peter 3:21).
If you are already a Christian, and you aren’t living your life the way you know God wants you to, why not come back to Him today?