Video of the Divine Service is here. The sermon begins around the 37:15 mark.

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The prophets of God have always troubled those in authority. In the Old Testament reading, Amos troubles Jeroboam, and so Amaziah, the court priest, tells Amos to leave. Elijah troubles two kings, Ahab and Ahaziah. Jeremiah gives trouble to Jehoiakim. And John troubles Herod. The prophets tell everyone, including those in authority, the Word of God. Sometimes that’s a command, and sometimes it’s a promise, but when those in authority think they’re doing something other than what God has put them there to do, then there is trouble.

John tells Herod that it is against the will of God for him to have married Herodias, Herod’s brother’s wife. That does not make Herodias happy. The verbs here tell us that this is an ongoing issue. Herodias continues to have a grudge against John. She keeps trying to put him to death, and she continues to be unable to get him killed. Herod continues to protect and keep John safe. He continues to hear him gladly, though he is often confused and in doubt about what John is saying. There is a power struggle between Herod and Herodias: she keeps trying to kill John, and Herod continues keep him safe.

But kings and those in authority are fickle. Sometimes they do what is good for God’s people. Their actions and policies are beneficial. They protect God’s people. And that’s good. We should give thanks for that.

But a good opportunity comes at Herod’s birthday party. Herod sees Herodias’ daughter dance, and promises her anything, up to half of his kingdom. Her daughter, whom we know from elsewhere is named Salome, asks Herodias what she should request. Herodias says, “John’s head,” and Salome embellishes that request: I want John’s head immediately, and I want it on a platter. Kings are fickle. Herod does not keep John safe this time. Instead, because of his pride, his promises, and perhaps his lust, he agrees, and sends the executioner to John’s cell, to do what Salome has asked. And then John’s disciples come and bury his body.

John did not put his trust in Herod. He didn’t say all these things to Herod because he was confident Herod would continue protecting him. John knew better. Instead, he put his trust in the one whose way he had prepared. He prepared the way for Jesus not only by preaching that Jesus was coming, and that He was greater than John. He also went ahead of Jesus into false accusations, and death, and burial.

Here in Mark 6, John continues to trouble Herod. Or, rather, Jesus troubles Herod because Herod thinks that Jesus is John raised from the dead. There is some connection between John and Jesus and resurrection. Herod is wrong about what that connection is. John is still dead; Jesus is not John. But there is a power at work in Jesus, and it’s the same power that sent John into the world. What Herod has heard is that Jesus’ disciples are casting out demons and healing the sick, and he is immediately troubled again. There is something going on here that reminds him of John.

In the midst of this mess, Mark connects what Jesus is doing with what John was doing, and he exposes the work of God underneath, and behind, and beyond, and above, the work of people. There is a mess of human motivations, political machinations, agendas, intentions, struggles for power. But behind it all, God has sent Jesus into the world, and Jesus’ Name is being made known. John does not put his trust in princes; not in Herod or anyone else. He knows that such idolatry will always end in disappointment, even if it doesn’t always end in death. He trusts the God who sent Jesus, in and through whom the divine power of God is at work.

In the midst of our messes, do not get caught up in the mess. Do not put your trust in princes! In the mess, it’s easy to focus on what the authorities are doing, who’s helping us, and who’s not. Christians get sucked into thinking that we should put all our chips on the party that seems most congenial to us. We go all in for one candidate; or all in for another. But that is not a Christian position. Don’t forget how fickle are those in authority! They might very well do what is good or beneficial for God’s people at some point. Well and good. But they might just as easily go the other way, and do what is harmful, or make things more difficult for us. Do not put your trust in princes. That is idolatry, and it will always end in disappointment, if not in death.

Put your trust, instead, where John put his trust: in the God who is behind, and above, and over, and beyond all the motivations, agendas, actions, legislation, and power struggles of human beings. Just as John’s death could not stop God from doing what He was doing then, whatever the authorities do now cannot stop God from doing what He is doing. And He’s doing the same thing: making known the Name of Jesus, in which name alone there is salvation and life. Even the death of Jesus didn’t stop God; in fact, it was and is the very means by which God saves and gives life. Herod couldn’t stop God. Herodias couldn’t stop God. Salome couldn’t stop God. Republicans and Democrats and Independents will not stop God. No governor, no president, no legislator will stop God from having His way in this world. For that matter, no governor, president, or legislator will help Him have His way, either. He is not dependent on human actions for His will to be done. It will be done, and eventually it will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

He was making Jesus’ name known then, and He is making it known now. He made His Name known to you, just as He made it known to Betty this morning. He puts His Name on us, identifying us as His own dear children, who do not belong to the powers of the devil, or the powers of this world, anymore. And that is above, and beyond, and behind everything that happens in this mess of a world. Whether the mess is national, or local, or in your family or in your life, God is doing His work, and He continues to make His Name known to you. He forgives your sins in that Name. He gives you Jesus’ body and blood in that Name. He blesses you in that Name, and He will keep you in that Name until He is revealed in all His glory.

Then the connection between Jesus and John and resurrection will be made known. And the connection between Jesus and you and resurrection will be made known at the same time. It was not that John was raised from the dead that such power was at work in Jesus. It is because such power was at work in Jesus that John will be raised from the dead, whole and glorified. It is because such power is at work in Jesus, that that same power is at work in you now, until the day you are raised, whole and glorified. And nothing in this whole mess of a world, in these messes of bodies, in the mess of politics and human agendas and human power struggles—nothing can separate you from the resurrection power of God in Jesus Christ, because He has already been raised, and He put His Name on you.

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7, ESV). Amen.

– Pr. Timothy Winterstein, 7/12/24