Costly Discipleship! Mark

Join Paul, Matt, Mike, and Ben as they discuss preaching this difficult text about John the Baptist's beheading.
Check out more resources at The Craft of Preaching
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Rev. Paul Koch is pastor at Grace Lutheran in Ventura Ca.
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Editor for Craft of Preaching
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And The Jagged Word
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Cohost of the podcast Ringside with the Preachermen
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Rev. Matt Nolte is pastor of both St Paul in Agoura Hills Ca. and Redeemer in Thousand Oaks.
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Rev. Mike Schultze is pastor of Peace Lutheran Church in Camarillo Ca.
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Rev. Ben Mai is pastor of Christ the King Lutheran Church in Newbury Park Ca.
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[@MarkDaniels1517]

One thing I think about this text is that, in it, for all his power, Herod is the imprisoned or constrained one, not John.
Herod knows that John is bringing good news; that's why he listens to John with joy. But, ultimately, he acts in a way contrary to what he knows to be right and contrary to what he wants to do. Pride, lust, an aversion to embarrassment drive him to kill John. He is in bondage to sin and cannot free himself.
John though, is free. He lives in the freedom of the gospel. When you know that in Christ, death is not the end of your story, you needn't be cowed by what the devil and this world can do to you.

[@craftofpreaching7281]

Well said!