Death of John the Baptist | Follow | Sunday, October 12th, 2025

Today, we gathered to reflect on the depth and power of God’s love—a love that pursues us even when we are unaware or resistant, a love that redefines our identity, purpose, and belonging. This love is most clearly seen in the gift of Jesus, who brings us new life and every spiritual blessing, freeing us from fear, shame, and anger. As we celebrate Thanksgiving, we are reminded that our gratitude is rooted not in entitlement, but in the unearned grace we receive in Christ.

We also considered the unique challenges of living out faith in a fractured, tribalized culture where discourse is often toxic and people are discipled more by algorithms than by the gospel. In this environment, it is easy to become defensive or dismissive, but we are called to engage with discernment, compassion, and maturity. This means understanding the multiple layers—public, policy, principle, pastoral, personal, and prophetic—that shape every complex issue and every conversation. Love discerns where people are coming from, and maturity holds multiple perspectives without hostility.

Turning to Mark 6, we explored the story of John the Baptist and Herod. John, a prophet who spoke truth to power, confronted Herod and Herodias about their unlawful relationship, risking everything for the sake of truth. Herod, though powerful, was haunted by his conscience, while Herodias sought control at any cost. John’s faithfulness led to his imprisonment and death, yet even in prison, he experienced doubt and disappointment, longing for God’s justice and deliverance.

Jesus’ response to John’s doubt was not condemnation, but revelation—pointing to the deeper, slower, and more redemptive work of God’s kingdom. Where John expected political deliverance, Jesus offered a greater redemption through the cross, setting us free from sin and death. This reorients our hope and shapes how we engage the world: not with outrage or simplistic binaries, but with a gospel-centered worldview that holds grace and truth together.

We are invited to examine our own hearts: Are we discerning or dismissive? Can we hold tension without hostility? Where is God stretching our perspective? Spiritual growth means expanding both empathy and discernment, continually reorienting ourselves to the cross and trusting that God’s way is better than any human system. As we move into our world, we do so with faith, hope, and love, seeking not to win arguments but to see and celebrate God’s redemptive work in our midst.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. God’s Love Reorients Our Identity and Drives Out Fear, Shame, and Anger God’s love is not distant or detached; it pursues us even in our ignorance or rebellion. This love, given freely in Christ, redefines how we see ourselves, God, and the world. It is a love that drives out the fears, shame, and anger that so often distract and define us, inviting us into a life of peace, joy, and gratitude rooted in grace rather than entitlement. [18:03]
• 2. Engaging a Fractured Culture Requires Discernment, Compassion, and Maturity In a world where discourse is polarized and people are discipled by algorithms, Christians are called to engage with discernment and compassion. This means understanding the layers—public, policy, principle, pastoral, personal, and prophetic—that shape every issue and every person’s perspective. Maturity is the ability to hold multiple perspectives in tension, seeking to understand before judging, and loving without compromising truth. [27:28]
• 3. Speaking Truth to Power Comes with a Cost, but Faithfulness Prepares the Way for Redemption John the Baptist’s confrontation with Herod and Herodias illustrates the cost of speaking truth in love. Faithfulness to God’s calling may lead to suffering or even apparent defeat, but it also prepares the way for God’s greater redemptive work. The story reminds us that truth often threatens both conscience and control, and that the world’s systems will try to silence prophetic voices—but God’s purposes prevail. [40:39]
• 4. Doubt and Disappointment Are Met by Jesus with Revelation, Not Condemnation Even the most faithful servants, like John the Baptist, can experience doubt and unmet expectations, especially when justice seems delayed. Jesus does not rebuke our doubts; instead, he reveals himself more deeply, inviting us to trust in the slow, redemptive work of the kingdom. Our hope is not in immediate deliverance, but in the cross and resurrection, which bring a better redemption than we could imagine. [51:27]
• 5. The Gospel Holds Grace and Truth Together, Empowering Us to Engage the World with Love and Courage We do not have to choose between love and truth; the gospel brings them together in Christ. This empowers us to engage even those who disagree with us, or who may oppose us, with humility, wisdom, and compassion. Spiritual growth means expanding our empathy and discernment, standing firm in the gospel as our plumb line, and trusting that God’s way is deeper, slower, and more transformative than any human system or ideology. [54:28]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [18:03] - Thanksgiving Prayer: The Gift of God’s Love
• [19:47] - Announcements: Baptisms and Church Vision
• [21:38] - Mission and Vision: Making Disciples
• [23:28] - The Nature of God’s Kingdom: Persuasion, Not Compulsion
• [24:46] - Religion, Politics, and Cultural Fracture
• [27:28] - Understanding Complex Issues: Six Layers of Perspective
• [33:34] - Mark 6: Jesus’ Ministry in Galilee
• [36:11] - Herod, Herodias, and the Politics of Power
• [37:25] - John the Baptist: Speaking Truth to Power
• [40:39] - The Cost of Faithfulness: John’s Imprisonment and Death
• [46:14] - John’s Prophetic Ministry and Crisis of Faith
• [49:23] - Jesus’ Response to John’s Doubt
• [52:02] - The Way of the Kingdom: Grace Over Judgment
• [54:28] - Grace and Truth: The Gospel’s Worldview
• [57:36] - Questions for Reflection: Love, Maturity, and Growth
• [59:49] - Jesus Confronts Fear, Anger, and Shame
• [61:08] - Closing Prayer and Benediction

Bible Reading

Mark 6:14-29 (ESV) — > 14 King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.” 15 But others said, “He is Elijah.” And others said, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” 16 But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.” 17 For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because he had married her. 18 For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19 And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, 20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.
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> 21 But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 22 For when Herodias’s daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” 23 And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” 24 And she went out and said to her mother, “For what should I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” 25 And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” 26 And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. 27 And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison 28 and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. 29 When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

Matthew 11:2-6 (ESV) — > 2 Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 6 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

Romans 1:18-23 (ESV) — > 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

Observation Questions

1. What reasons does Mark 6 give for Herod’s decision to imprison and eventually execute John the Baptist? What do we learn about Herod’s character and motivations? ([39:18])
2. In Matthew 11, what question does John the Baptist send to Jesus from prison, and how does Jesus respond? ([49:23])
3. According to Romans 1, what is the root cause of people suppressing the truth about God? ([44:09])
4. In the sermon, what are the six layers or perspectives that shape how people approach complex issues? ([27:28])

Interpretation Questions

1. What does Herod’s struggle with his conscience and his eventual decision to execute John reveal about the power of truth and the cost of faithfulness? ([41:03])
2. Why do you think John the Baptist, who had such a clear understanding of who Jesus was, experienced doubt and disappointment while in prison? What does this say about the experience of faith? ([49:52])
3. The sermon describes Jesus’ response to John’s doubt as “revelation, not condemnation.” What does this teach us about how God responds to our own doubts and disappointments? ([51:27])
4. The sermon talks about engaging a fractured culture with discernment, compassion, and maturity. What does it look like to “hold multiple perspectives in tension” without hostility? ([32:14])

Application Questions

1. The sermon says God’s love “drives out the fears, shame, and anger that so often distract and define us.” Is there a specific area in your life where fear, shame, or anger is shaping your identity or actions? How might you invite God’s love into that area this week? ([19:07])
2. When you find yourself in a conversation about a controversial or complex issue, which of the six layers (public, policy, principle, pastoral, personal, prophetic) do you tend to focus on? Which layer do you find most challenging to engage with, and why? ([27:28])
3. John the Baptist was willing to speak truth to power, even at great personal cost. Is there a situation in your life where you feel called to speak truth, but are hesitant because of potential consequences? What would faithfulness look like in that situation? ([40:39])
4. The sermon highlights that even faithful people like John can experience doubt and disappointment. When have you felt let down by God or confused by his timing? How did you respond, and what might it look like to bring those doubts honestly to Jesus? ([49:52])
5. The pastor asked, “Are you discerning or dismissive? Can you hold tension without hostility?” Think of a recent disagreement or difficult conversation. Did you seek to understand the other person’s perspective, or were you quick to judge or withdraw? What could you do differently next time? ([57:36])
6. The sermon challenges us to “expand both empathy and discernment.” What is one practical step you can take this week to grow in either empathy or discernment—at home, at work, or in your community? ([59:10])
7. As we approach Thanksgiving, the sermon reminds us that gratitude is rooted in grace, not entitlement. What is one way you can practice gratitude this week, especially in a situation where you might be tempted to feel entitled or overlooked? ([18:41])