Every moment is a chance to recalculate our route, even when we’ve been driving in the wrong direction.
Sermon Title: WHEN COURAGE ISN’T CONVENIENT
Sermon Text: MARK 6:14-29 (ESV)
Sermon Series: BREAD AND BLINDNESS: DO YOU SEE WHO HE IS?
By: PTR NESTOR SY
Sermon Notes:
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. 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.
“Almost” obedience is still disobedience. “Almost” faith is still unbelief. “Almost” following Jesus is still not following Jesus.
Am I just a fan of Jesus, or am I a follower?
Because there’s a big difference: Fans admire. Followers obey.
I. HEROD WAS CURIOUS, BUT NOT CONVINCED
You can be intrigued by Jesus and still ignore him.
Spiritual curiosity isn’t the same as spiritual surrender.
What’s something God has been trying to get your attention lately?
When God’s Word makes you uncomfortable, that’s often exactly where you need to pay attention.
II. HEROD WAS IMPRESSED, BUT NOT IN CONTROL
“vowed”
Greek: omnuó
“to swear, i.e. take (or declare on) oath
Herod liked to listen to John in private… but in public, he liked to look important.
Who’s calling the shots in your life? Is it the people around you? Or is it Jesus?
III. HEROD WAS CONVICTED, BUT NOT CHANGED
Conviction without action is like feeling hungry but refusing to eat; it doesn’t change a thing.
Conviction is meant to be a starting point, not a finish line.
JAMES 1:22 ESV
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
Conviction without action eventually turns a soft heart into stone.
What has God’s been convicting you about lately?
LUKE 23:8 ESV
8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him.
Herod had the power to choose differently, but he convinced himself he had no choice at all.
The tragedy of Herod isn’t that he had no choice – it’s that he had every choice and chose wrong.
Every moment is a chance to recalculate our route, even when we’ve been driving in the wrong direction.
The choices we make today will determine the person we become tomorrow.