I have vivid memories of a Bishop from Arkansas, Ed Salmon, teaching a bunch of New York pastors. New Yorkers are suckers for a southern accent.
Bishop Salmon proclaimed, with his best southern drawl, “They killed Jesus, there gonna kill you”. We all sat there, smiling and nodding our heads in agreement.
Then I thought, “Is anyone listening?!”
Yet this is not new information. Consider this moment in Mark’s Gospel.
It is easy to zero in on the text in front of us. It is quite natural. We could have a field day digging into the details of this episode of John the Baptist’s execution. In a moment, I will look at one.
First though, I wonder if I might make an observation. The snippet just before this one, was Jesus sending out the disciples.
They do great, and that is cool. However, can I just observe that the long arc of discipleship looks more like John the Baptist’s life? Is it possible Mark wants us to notice this?
Let’s be clear. Reaching the world for Jesus is always opposed.
I think in the USA we have this idea that opposition to the kingdom message should somehow abate. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Mark, by putting the disciple’s success in the previous passage, alongside John the Baptist’s terrible death, is spelling out for us the reality of discipleship. It is a battle with the ruler of this world. It will cost us something; maybe even our lives. Our reward is beyond.
Let’s now look specifically at a bit of the text. What is it that gets Herod’s attention?
It is that Jesus’ NAME had become known!
It is Jesus, his teaching, his power, his person, his NAME, which has grabbed Herod’s attention. Herod goes on to speculate about John the Baptist being raised, which then opens the window into how John died.
The point is Jesus.
Jesus was the point for John the Baptist. Jesus is the point for all who claim to follow him.
Which is great a reminder that you and I live in a world where people don’t want us to be too committed to Jesus. Let me ask:
Will I die for Jesus?
That’s a strong question.
I know death is final from an earthly perspective. Let me ask it from a different angle. Will you stop living for Jesus?
We can still be on earth breathing, but there are many ways we can stop living for Jesus. In an age which offers the façade of tolerance, one technique often used for those who are not to be tolerated, is to name them.
Names and labels used in this way are meant to isolate, silence, neuter a group, or worse.
Today, civil discourse looks more like a knife fight then a competition of ideas. Being labeled as Christian brings any number of reactions. The words evangelical, born-again, etc., are sometimes added to pressure.
Bringing these labels up is not so I can comment on those who assign them with the goal of silencing. Rather, I ask in order for you, for me, to consider the affect these labels have on us. Are they silencing us? Are we closet Christians? Do we share the hope that is within us with others?
When we are guided by Jesus and His Word, we will bear His Name. We will be on a path of discipleship. That path has a trajectory, an arc. Its shape is that of the lives of John the Baptist, Peter, Paul, Stephen, and many others.
I am not saying that we ought to revel in this idea of suffering. I am saying, let’s make sure we have a clear expectation. And, let’s keep living for Jesus.
Thoughts?