Revelation 6:9-11/Romans 6:1-5/St Mark 6:14-29
In the Name + of JESUS. Amen.
Herod celebrates another year of life with a grand party, but he’s a dead man: dead in his trespasses and sin.
St John the Baptist goes from the frying pan into the fire; from the dungeon to the chopping block and martyrdom. But he is raised and he lives in and with Christ Jesus.
Those are your options too. There are only two ways. One of life the other of death. True life, everlasting life is in Christ Jesus alone. Only in His resurrection from the dead do you rise. Only by His Cross do you have life. And by sharing in His death and losing your own life do you share in His resurrection and life.
That is what your baptism has granted. That is what your baptism still means for you each day. You are put to death in order to be raised. Your own head is removed, that Christ may be your Head. Your body is buried with Him through baptism into His death, in order that you may belong to His Body, the Church.
That is what discipleship looks like: crucifixion or beheading, but either way, death and burial. Those who baptize and those who are baptized are put to death for the Name of Christ. Those who are sent to minister in His Name and those who receive that Ministry are under the cross. But it is by that Cross of Christ that you are raised with Him and live with Him forever.
As you suffer that Cross, learn then from St John, and do not despair. As you are shut up in prison, or shut out from the crowd, or otherwise alone and lonely, lift up your head, your heart and mind to Christ. Hear and heed His Word and know that He delivers you from death.
As you have your head chopped off, probably metaphorically and not literally, find your rest and peace in Christ Jesus. Though you are despised and rejected by the world, you are righteous and holy by faith in Him. Live, then, in the righteousness and holiness of Christ. Live by faith, by the hearing of His Word.
Do not seek to shut out or shut up the Word of the Lord, or keep it at arm’s length as if it were yours to control. If you are perplexed by the preaching of repentance, do not harden your heart, but repent; confess your sin and be forgiven.
To continue in sin is a living death. It is neither lawful nor safe to go on sinning. You cannot escape the consequences. They will come back to haunt you.
By the grace of the Lord given you, turn away from evil and do what is lawful, what is good, right and salutary.
Beloved in the Lord, do not be afraid to do the right thing even if it costs you your life or livelihood. The Lord shall indeed provide for you. He will not let you die. For you have already died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. But if you live in sin, then only death shall be your lot.
Do what you are given to do with confidence. Be strong and courageous. The Lord is with you like a dread Champion. If you share His death, so shall you shall His resurrection and His life. Whether you live or you die, you are the Lord’s.
You need not dance for this true King, nor seduce Him. For He has redeemed you with His own holy, precious blood, by His innocent suffering and death; that you should be His own and an heir of His Kingdom - not half, but the whole thing. He is not like Herod who takes his brother’s wife in fornication and adultery. Rather He takes you out of your idolatry and adultery to false gods and sanctifies you, having washed you by water and His Word, and has presented you to Himself in splendor without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. Holy and without blemish.
How telling it is that St John is finally beheaded for preaching concerning the Lord’s proper design of marriage. He preached much. Called sinners to repentance. Baptized prostitutes and gangsters. Called Pharisees wicked vipers. But calling out the government regarding marriage, that is what got him martyred. It is an icon of Christ and the Church. A visible reminder of that divine and holy union. God given marriage is a picture of His divine and saving Gospel.
And laid before this this evening is the foretaste of the wedding feast of the Lamb in His Kingdom. This is the Supper that He not only hosts but is also the Meal. He invites not the high and mighty of the world, but the weak and lowly and despised.
Recline here at His Table with Him. Receive from His hand His Body given and His Blood shed for you, for the forgiveness of all your sins. Where there is such forgiveness, death cannot hurt you. Rest here under His Altar, until all things come to pass and all His promises fully realized, just as He has spoken. You shall not die, but live. Just as He is risen from the dead and lives and reigns to all eternity.
In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
In the Name + of JESUS. Amen.
Herod celebrates another year of life with a grand party, but he’s a dead man: dead in his trespasses and sin.
St John the Baptist goes from the frying pan into the fire; from the dungeon to the chopping block and martyrdom. But he is raised and he lives in and with Christ Jesus.
Those are your options too. There are only two ways. One of life the other of death. True life, everlasting life is in Christ Jesus alone. Only in His resurrection from the dead do you rise. Only by His Cross do you have life. And by sharing in His death and losing your own life do you share in His resurrection and life.
That is what your baptism has granted. That is what your baptism still means for you each day. You are put to death in order to be raised. Your own head is removed, that Christ may be your Head. Your body is buried with Him through baptism into His death, in order that you may belong to His Body, the Church.
That is what discipleship looks like: crucifixion or beheading, but either way, death and burial. Those who baptize and those who are baptized are put to death for the Name of Christ. Those who are sent to minister in His Name and those who receive that Ministry are under the cross. But it is by that Cross of Christ that you are raised with Him and live with Him forever.
As you suffer that Cross, learn then from St John, and do not despair. As you are shut up in prison, or shut out from the crowd, or otherwise alone and lonely, lift up your head, your heart and mind to Christ. Hear and heed His Word and know that He delivers you from death.
As you have your head chopped off, probably metaphorically and not literally, find your rest and peace in Christ Jesus. Though you are despised and rejected by the world, you are righteous and holy by faith in Him. Live, then, in the righteousness and holiness of Christ. Live by faith, by the hearing of His Word.
Do not seek to shut out or shut up the Word of the Lord, or keep it at arm’s length as if it were yours to control. If you are perplexed by the preaching of repentance, do not harden your heart, but repent; confess your sin and be forgiven.
To continue in sin is a living death. It is neither lawful nor safe to go on sinning. You cannot escape the consequences. They will come back to haunt you.
By the grace of the Lord given you, turn away from evil and do what is lawful, what is good, right and salutary.
Beloved in the Lord, do not be afraid to do the right thing even if it costs you your life or livelihood. The Lord shall indeed provide for you. He will not let you die. For you have already died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. But if you live in sin, then only death shall be your lot.
Do what you are given to do with confidence. Be strong and courageous. The Lord is with you like a dread Champion. If you share His death, so shall you shall His resurrection and His life. Whether you live or you die, you are the Lord’s.
You need not dance for this true King, nor seduce Him. For He has redeemed you with His own holy, precious blood, by His innocent suffering and death; that you should be His own and an heir of His Kingdom - not half, but the whole thing. He is not like Herod who takes his brother’s wife in fornication and adultery. Rather He takes you out of your idolatry and adultery to false gods and sanctifies you, having washed you by water and His Word, and has presented you to Himself in splendor without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. Holy and without blemish.
How telling it is that St John is finally beheaded for preaching concerning the Lord’s proper design of marriage. He preached much. Called sinners to repentance. Baptized prostitutes and gangsters. Called Pharisees wicked vipers. But calling out the government regarding marriage, that is what got him martyred. It is an icon of Christ and the Church. A visible reminder of that divine and holy union. God given marriage is a picture of His divine and saving Gospel.
And laid before this this evening is the foretaste of the wedding feast of the Lamb in His Kingdom. This is the Supper that He not only hosts but is also the Meal. He invites not the high and mighty of the world, but the weak and lowly and despised.
Recline here at His Table with Him. Receive from His hand His Body given and His Blood shed for you, for the forgiveness of all your sins. Where there is such forgiveness, death cannot hurt you. Rest here under His Altar, until all things come to pass and all His promises fully realized, just as He has spoken. You shall not die, but live. Just as He is risen from the dead and lives and reigns to all eternity.
In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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