Sunday, February 18, 2018

Mark 6:14-34 Unbelief of Jesus Enemies


Mark 6:14-34   Unbelief of Jesus Enemies        February 17, 2018 

God takes unbelief seriously. So should we.  Chapter 6 Outline.  This is what is covered in Chapter 6 

      The Unbelief of His Friends           Mark 6:1-13

      The Unbelief of His Enemies             Mark 6:14-34

         The Unbelief of His Disciples         Mark 6:35-56 

Herod Antipas, as we know, King Herod, let’s talk about Him 

King Herod was a son of Herod the Great by his Samaritan wife Malthace.  

When Herod the Great died, the Romans divided his territory among his three sons; Antipas was made ruler of Galilee, and reigned during the whole period of Jesus life on earth. 

*Luke 23:7 When he learned with certainty that Jesus came from Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him off to Herod, who was in Jerusalem at that time. 

He was a Very bad guy as we would say today. 

He had married the daughter of King Aretas IV and then had divorced her so he could marry Herodias the wife of his half brother Herod Philip. It was a wicked alliance. Jesus called him “that fox.”   This was later on in Jesus ministry.  

*Luke 13:31-32 At that hour some Pharisees came and told Jesus, "Leave and get away from here, because Herod wants to kill you!" (32) He told them, "Go and tell that fox, 'Listen! I am driving out demons and healing today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will finish my work.   

Some good Pharisees came – who?  Joseph and Nicodemus? 

Herod wants to kill you! and Go and tell that fox 

The Death of John the Baptist 

Mark 6:14  King Herod heard about this, because Jesus' name had become well-known. He was saying, "John the Baptist has been raised from the dead! That's why he is able to do these miracles." 

*Matthew 14:1 At that time Herod the tetrarch {tet-raw-ch}, hearing about the fame of Jesus,  

*Luke 9:7 Now Herod the tetrarch {tet-raw-ch}, heard about everything that was happening. He was puzzled because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead, 

Tetrarch {tet-raw-ch}, – means the ruler of a fourth part of the country 

King Herod confusion comes from his own guilty conscience was bothering him. (Mark will give us a flashback to fill in the background)  Looking back on what happen to John the Baptist. 

Heard about this:  the activity of the disciples; what they are doing 

Just a side comment:  Emperor Augustus denied the title “king” to Herod. Herod pressed for the title again and again until he so offended the emperor’s court.  The title King Herod was the local custom of the area to call him king. 

Mark 6:15  Others were saying, "He is Elijah." Still others were saying, "He is a prophet or like one of the other prophets." 

*Luke 9:8 by others that Elijah had appeared, and by still others that one of the ancient prophets had come back to life. 

Why did they think Jesus was Elijah or the Prophet Mosses.  They expected him to return. 

*Malachi 4:5 Pay attention! I'm sending Elijah the prophet to you before the great and dreadful Day of the LORD comes, 

Moses said: 

*Deuteronomy 18:15 "The LORD your God will raise up a prophet like me for you from among your relatives. You must listen to him. 

Mark 6:16  But when Herod heard about it, he said, "John, whom I beheaded, has been raised,"  (Why)  

*Matthew 14:2 told his servants, "This is John the Baptist! He has been raised from the dead, and that's why these miracles are being done by him." 

*Luke 9:9 Herod said, "I beheaded John. But who is this man I'm hearing so much about?" So Herod kept trying to see Jesus. 

Mark 6:17  because Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him with chains, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, whom Herod had married. 

*Matthew 14:3 Herod had arrested John, bound him with chains, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife. 

In prison: Probably Machaerus Prison, on the cliffs overlooking the Dead Sea. 

Mark 6:18  John had been telling Herod, "It's not lawful for you to have your brother's wife."  (Why) 

*Leviticus 18:16 "You are not to have sexual relations with your brother's wife. She's the nakedness of your brother. 

*Matthew 14:4 John had been telling him, "It is not lawful for you to have her." 

Mark 6:19  So Herodias bore a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she couldn't do it   (because Herod refused to approve it) 

Hell has no fury like a woman scorned:  Saying from line in the play The Mourning Bride, by William Congreve, (pure hate against John) 

Mark 6:20  because Herod was afraid of John. He knew that John was a righteous and holy man, and so he protected him. Whenever he listened to
 
John, he did much of what he said. In fact, he liked listening to him. 

Is that not why we like to listen to some speakers and not others.  Listening one thing, but do what they are saying.  Herod continues sending for John, at times, during his imprisonment, which continued a year and a half. 

Herod’s feelings toward John are mention by Mark only.  Amazing: This monarch feared his prisoner. He privately listened to him preach.  Think about it.  Also, Matthew also said he was afraid of the people. 

*Matthew 14:5 Although Herod wanted to kill him, he was afraid of the crowd, (Why) since they regarded John as a prophet. 

Interesting, is this an example where seed fell upon stony places? 

Mark 6:21  An opportunity came during Herod's birthday celebration, when he gave a banquet for his top officials, military officers, and the most important people of Galilee.  {while in Jerusalem} 

Perfect time for the execution of the plans of the vengeful woman 

Mark 6:22  When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. So the king told the girl, "Ask me for anything you want, and I'll give it to you." 

*Matthew 14:6-7 But when Herod's birthday celebration was held, the daughter of Herodias danced before the guests. She pleased Herod (7) so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked for. 

The step daughter name was Salome (from Josephus) was still unmarried at this point and danced in a sexy way to please Herod and the rest. Her father was Philip.  This is why she could please Herod and his guests.  

The Jews would not have permitted a woman of rank to dance before a group of men. Most Gentile mothers would have forbidden the daughters to do what Salome did. 

Mark 6:23 He swore with an oath to her, "I'll give you anything you ask for, up to half of my kingdom."   

Most Bible writers believe it is a figure of speech, making a grand public jester because of her dance.  An expression meaning a large amount but with limits  

Mark 6:24  So she went out and asked her mother, "What should I ask for?" Her mother replied, "The head of John the Baptist." 

*Matthew 14:8 Prompted by her mother, she said, "Give me, right here on a platter, the head of John the Baptist." 

So sweet is revenge and is now possible, to kill John the Baptist comes out, was more to her, than to have half the king’s land.  Pure hate. 

Notice, her Mother was not there, she went out 

Mark 6:25  Immediately the girl hurried back to the king with her request, "I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter." 

Immediately; the reply of the girl shows that the mother had this planned out all along. She knew her husband and she knew the situation, and knew she could get what she wanted this way 

She answered right then, and said, I want, this is her choice. 

Right now:  do it right now and went back to the king with the answer.

Mark 6:26  The king was deeply saddened, yet because of his oaths and his guests he was reluctant to refuse her. 

*Matthew 14:9 Under pressure because of his promises and his assembled guests, the king ordered that it be done. 

Because Herod was afraid to cross his wife or lose face before his friends, he did something he knew to be wrong.  Talking about Painting yourself into a corner. 

Mark 6:27 So without delay the king sent a soldier and ordered him to bring John's head. The soldier went and beheaded him in prison. 

*Matthew 14:10 So he sent word and had John beheaded in prison. 

Mark 6:28  Then he brought John's head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. 

*Matthew 14:11 His head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she took it to her mother. 

These leaders are sick. 

Mark 6:29  When John's disciples heard about this, they came and carried off his body and laid it in a tomb. 

*Matthew 14:12  When John's disciples came, they carried off the body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus. 

In History, Herod was defeated in battle by his first wife father.  Agrippa accused him of treason against Rome, and he was banished into the distant Roman province of Gaul, where Herod and Herodias committed suicide

The prison where John was held was in the castle of Machaerus, 

Mark 6:30  The Apostles gathered around Jesus and told him everything they had done and taught.  (they just return from their missionary service) 

Apostles: this is the first occurrence in Mark. 

The Apostles gave Jesus an exact and full account of what miracles were wrought by them, what diseases they had cured, and what a number of devils they had cast out; and also what doctrines they had preached, and what success in all they had. 

*Luke 9:10 The apostles came back and told Jesus everything they had done. Then he took them away with him privately to a city called Bethsaida. 

Mark 6:31 He told them, "Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest for a while," because so many people were coming and going that they didn't even have time to eat.  (needed rest and food) 

Mark 6:32  So they went away in a boat to a deserted place by themselves. 

The Apostles needed rest. 

Mark 6:33 But when many people saw them leave and recognized them, they hurried on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. 

*Luke 9:11 But the crowds found out about this and followed him. He welcomed them and began to speak to them about the kingdom of God and to heal those who needed healing. 

I expect we all have experienced this kind of a crazy schedule.  Jesus popularity is still growing. 

People notice and saw Jesus and disciples taking a ship, then the people started running round by the head of the lake, and taking one of the fords of the river, so as to meet Jesus, who was crossing with the Twelve by ship.  The grass land which skirts the eastern side of the lake 

*John 6:3 But Jesus went up on a hillside and sat down there with his disciples. 

Mark 6:34 When he got out of the boat, he saw a large crowd. He had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things. 

The crowd came partly from the places where Jesus came from, and partly from the cities and towns adjacent. 

At the sight of the crowd who had followed Him by land and even got there before Him, He was so moved with compassion and felt like they were sheep without a shepherd.  That compassion led to action, despite an obvious lack of food in this instance. 

The people had no one to teach them and guide them. The priests and scribes were proud and corrupt; they despised the common people and neglected them. 

*Luke 9:11 But the crowds found out about this and followed him. He welcomed them and began to speak to them about the kingdom of God and to heal those who needed healing. 

*John 6:2 A large crowd kept following him because they had seen the signs that he was performing by healing the sick. 

*John 6:3-4 But Jesus went up on a hillside and sat down there with his disciples. (4) Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near.

        (on a hillside and notice what time of year – Passover – Mar-Apr). 

Castle of Machaerus 


 

Pictures of Bethsaida 


 

 

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