The Death of John the Baptist Devo

February 9th 2020

Devotional

“The Death of John the Baptist” - Mark 6: 1-29

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Monday: “Is This Not?” - Mark 6: 1-3

  Sometimes we can let our own thoughts and perceptions get in the way of receiving the Gospel message. For the people in Nazareth, some recognized that Jesus came and was teaching them with wisdom and authority. In fact, they wondered exactly where such wisdom would have come from. But for others, all they could see was that he was Jesus, son of a carpenter and Mary, whose siblings were amongst them. 

Because he came from ordinary people that they knew they didn’t know how he could teach such extradoninary things. 

But their thoughts and perceptions then turned them off to everything Jesus was saying. Scripture tells us that they became offended at Jesus. Thus, shutting off their hearts and minds to the transformative work of his teachings. 

We, too, can let our own selves get in the way of the transformation of God when we think things like ‘what does that person have to teach me?’ Or ‘they are newer to church, what do they have to offer?’ We need to be cautious not to cut off our spirits from the work of Christ. 

What are some ways your thoughts and perceptions can stand in the way of Jesus’s transforming power?

Prayer: God, we confess that at times we are not very obedient. We let our own selves get in the way; we become our own stumbling blocks. Forgive us, O Lord. Remove from us anything that would prevent us from following you and the leading of your Spirit. Amen. 

Tuesday: “Unbelief” - Mark 6: 4-6

  Jesus was not received well in his hometown of Nazareth. People let their unbelief stop them from receiving God’s Word. When we hear that a crowd had gathered to hear Jesus, we often think that the fact a crowd came was the point. But in this story, its not so much the crowds as the location - a place that could not accept Jesus because they thought they already knew him. And it was not so much the crowd as their unbelief. 

Expectations are a funny thing. Sometimes they can tighten our senses. Other times they stand in the way of seeing something as it truly is. In the case of Jesus in Nazareth, it was the latter. 

People didn’t expect the Messiah to come in this way, as one that walked amongst them. They thought he would be a conquering hero not a humble man full of wisdom and power. Their expectations blocked them from seeing what was right in front of them. 

When was a time that your expectations prevented you from seeing the work of God?

Prayer: God, help us to be free from the expectations that hold us back from seeing you and your power. Open not just our eyes, but our hearts as well, so we may receive and respond. Amen. 

Wednesday: “Shake Off the Dust” - Mark 6: 7-13

In a lot of ways this particular passage from the Gospel of Mark can be troubling. Is Jesus really telling us to leave places where people do not want to hear the Good News? Doesn’t that seem like we are giving up on people. 

And perhaps this would be the case - if it was all about us. But this portion of scripture is about the disciples going out in obedience to proclaim the work of God. They are tasked with a specific task. Go and stay with folks. Show up where the people are. Listen to their stories. Speak the truth of the Gospel. And then if people aren’t receptive, move on. Not because they aren’t worthy of your attention, but because God is still working on their hearts. 

The work is God’s to do. We are simply the servants responding. We show up and live into our call, and then trust God to do the rest. We are not solely responsible for people accepting or not accepting Christ. Instead, we are responsible for showing up, listening and speaking with authenticity and integrity. The outcome is God’s alone. 

Tell of a time when you shared the Gospel with someone. How did it go?

Prayer: Almighty God, help us to recognize that we are not in charge of people’s acceptance of your grace and truth. Instead, free us to respond to what we are called to do - to go and be with folks, spreading the Good News. And let us trust you for the rest. Amen. 

Thursday: “Whom I Beheaded” - Mark 6: 14-16

Sometimes conviction shows up in the strangest of places. 

Word of Jesus and his disciples is spreading throughout the region and the news has reached even the King. In the spirit of the “who do you say that I am?” question that will come a little later in the narrative, everyone seems to have an option about who Jesus is. To some he’s a prophet. To other’s Elijah. But King Herod is sure that it is John the Baptist, whom he had killed, back from the dead. 

King Herod was convicted by what he had done to John by the presence of Jesus. Was Jesus the resurrection of John the Baptist? No. But Herod had that thought because he what he had done and his spirit needed to deal with it.  

We all have different things that we convicted about from time to time. Sin can creep into our hearts and lives and as much as we may try to ignore it, it needs to be rooted out. 

How do you respond to the conviction in your life?

Prayer: God of Grace and God of Glory, root around in our hearts, we pray, and find any unconfessed sin. Bring it to our attention so we can humbly come before you and repent. Cleanse us. Amen. 

Friday: “The King Was Deeply Grieved” - Mark 6: 17-29

  When King Herod was pleased by his daughter Herodias’s dancing and he promised to give her whatever she asked for, he was not expecting her to ask for the head of John the Baptist. In fact, scripture says that her request deeply grieved him, yet he gave it to her anyway. 

Why?

Because King Herod was afraid of looking weak in front of his guests. He was afraid of what people would say if he did not respond. So he ignored his grief and gave into the demands and perceptions of other people. 

We, too, can sometimes put other people before God when we think more about other people’s thoughts and reactions then being faithful to God. We need to guard our hearts from putting people as Lord of our lives, dictating our beliefs and actions. 

Do you strive to please people more than God? Why or why not?

Prayer: God, let us sit you on the throne of our lives alone. Let us look to you as the one to whom we are faithful and true. Let us follow you alone. Amen. 

Saturday: Preparing for the Word

You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic to prepare for worship: “What Defiles?” - Mark 7: 1-23