As we started A Man’s Man – Part I, we talked about John being the cousin of Jesus and about his purpose. His mission was to be the preparer for the coming ministry of Jesus Christ. He was only about 6 months older than Jesus, but he started his ministry of preparation long before Jesus started his public ministry. It had been prophesied in the Old Testament by Isaiah and Malachi that John would prepare the way. He was given the title long before he was born as “one that crieth in the wilderness.” He did just that, he told everyone he knew and preached to anyone who would listen. It didn’t matter what their status was or their education level. He preached repentance to all. John’s message concerning Jesus placed emphasis on the coming of Jesus and heaven. He preached about what it would take to be a citizen of Heaven, and he warned of judgment to those who would not believe.
As he preached many followed, and certain Jews in Jerusalem questioned who he really was. Some thought maybe he was the Messiah, or the prophet Elijah, but he set them straight and proclaimed who Jesus was, “the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.” He wanted them to know emphatically that he was not even worthy to untie Jesus’ sandals.
John 1:22-27 “Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? He said I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose.”
John 1:29 “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”
John was right in what he preached, but it would soon cost him his life. Herod the tetrarch, the king, was a wicked king, and an egotistical ruler. It was inevitable, therefore, that John, who preached against sin, and Herod, who loved sin, would clash.
Herod was currently living with his brother’s wife, Herodias. Herod was already married, but on a trip to Rome, he stopped to visit his half-brother Philip and was so taken with lust for Herodias, that he influenced her to leave his brother and he divorced his wife. She and her daughter came back to the palace with Herod.
John preached against such a lifestyle and Herod did show some interest. In Mark 6:20 Herod heard him gladly. Herod feared John because deep in his soul he knew there was something very different about John, something spiritual, something beyond the realm that he understood. However, he loved his sins more than he loved the truth.
Mark 6:20 “For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.”
However, his new wife was not amused by John’s preaching and she set a plan in motion to have him killed. Her first plan did not work to have John killed, but she did convince Herod to put him in prison.
Mark 6:17-19 “For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife: for he had married her. For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wife. Therefore, Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not:”
There is no doubt that a manipulating woman is a dangerous thing. Herodias would not stop plotting until she got what she wanted. On Herod’s birthday, she had her daughter dance an obviously seductive dance. When she presented herself to the king he told her to ask whatever she wanted, up to half of the kingdom, and he would not deny her. This was exactly what Herodias wanted. She instructed her daughter to tell Herod that she wanted the head of John the Baptist on a charger.
Mark 6:21-25 “And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee; And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee. And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom. And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist. And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist.”
Yes, this evil plotting woman got what she wanted. Herod was very sorry, but not sorry enough to tell her no.
Mark 6:26 “And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath’s sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her.”
John had told the truth and never backed down. He may have lost his life, but he gained Heaven. Herodias got what she wanted in this life, but will suffer for all eternity. There is no record in scripture of her ever repenting. Herod, the king felt sorry for what he did but it was not a sorrow to repentance. So, who was the man in this story? He was John, the preacher of the kingdom to come, the wearer of camel’s hair while dining on locust and wild honey. He was a man who loved Jesus and was willing to give His life to proclaim Jesus to all.
There is no question John was a real man. He stood for truth even when it would cost him his life! Are you ready and willing to be this kind of Christian? The time is rapidly approaching when we may be asked to deny Christ or die. Have you thought it through and prepared yourself to stand, or will you make excuses and deny Christ? We all say we will stand, but unless you love Jesus more than this present world you will not. Take some time today to think about it. Will you be as bold as John?
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