“Hunted by Memories,
But Given Hope by ‘Doing It in Memory of Me’”

July 15, 2018

Mark 6:14–29
14King 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.” 15But others said, “He is Elijah.” And others said, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” 16But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.” 17For 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. 18For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, 20for 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.
21But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 22For 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.” 23And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” 24And she went out and said to her mother, “For what should I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” 25And 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.” 26And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. 27And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison 28and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. 29When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

When I read a Bible story, I find that I become one of the characters of that story. Maybe I am Moses, or Jesus, or St. Paul, or the Prodigal Son, or the Lame Beggar, or one of the Disciples. In today’s Gospel reading, I sometimes could identify with John the Baptist who was persecuted for telling the truth and eventually beheaded, or with Herodia, the revengeful Wife of Herod, but today, it might be Herod who we are most alike.

Herod was bothered by the memory of what he had done to John the Baptist. He both feared and respected John for being a righteous and holy man. John had accused Herod when Herod broke the Law by marrying his brother’s wife, Herodia, in the Bible that is almost like incest. It was Herodia who had the grudge against John, because he exposed her sin. Herod was weak. He gave into his wife’s demands spoken through her daughter. He was sorry for his oath, he was sorry for not breaking his oath, he was sorry for having John beheaded. So when Jesus started preaching the Gospel like a new prophet, Herod remembered John and was haunted by the memory of what he had done.

We may not have ever beheaded anyone, but there are things that we want to forget but cannot. It might be a sin or a crime or a mistake. We may have hurt someone by what we did or said. It may have been a long time ago, but when we remember it, it hurts our conscience. We can be haunted by the past.

When John accused him of sin, Herod put him in prison. It was a way of making him quiet. Silence the truth, hide the truth, lock it away. But even killing John did not silence the truth. When Herod heard about Jesus who was preaching repentance, Herod knew he should repent because the old guilt and fear and desperation came back.

We want to forget the past, but something makes us remember it. We try to deny it and cover it up. We try to silence people who criticize us. We know it is hypocrisy, but that is the only way we know to keep on living.

Herod tried to escape his responsibility. “Oh, it was my wife Herodia’s fault.” No, it was his fault and for that God judged him.

Neither can we escape our responsibilities. “Oh, I had no other choice.” No, it was our fault and for that God will hold us accountable.

When Herod heard the preaching of Jesus, he was afraid. “Oh, John has come back from the dead to get revenge.” But the word of Jesus is different than the message of John. It was not revenge. Jesus did not just forget Herod’s past. Jesus reminds us of our past, too. He does not pretend it never happened. He takes that past and carries it away to the cross and to the empty tomb. He reminds us of our sins and our mistakes and regrets so that we are reminded of his great concern and love and forgiveness. And he gives us a platter, not with his “head,” but with his precious body and blood. It is served at his table. Here we have new life and a fresh start. This is really what we want. When we remember our past, we remember also what Jesus did in the past, that day on the cross, that day of resurrection. The word of Jesus is not a word of condemnation, but the life-giving word of his death and resurrection.

We trust the Word of God, and so everything changes. Yes, the past may have been a mess. But we cannot cover it up from God who knows our hearts and our actions. But we trust God who loves us. With repentant hearts, trusting in his mercy, accepting his forgiveness, we have confidence for our lives. Rather than fearing the past, we live now and look forward to the future.

When we remember the past and have those sharp pangs of guilt and fear, remember also the Cross of Calvary and the Empty Tomb. This is what removes the old burdens. We can hear the criticism of John the Baptist and those around us who rightfully accuse us. We can right the wrongs. We can forgive those who have wronged us. We can have peace.

Remembering John the Baptist, we remember our baptisms. And in the Lord’s Supper we eat the body and drink the blood of Jesus in remembrance of him.

Amen.


Credit
The basic outline of this sermon was provided by "Sabbathology," a weekly lectionary text sermon study found on the Lutheran site, Crossings.org.
Analysis by Steven E. Albertin, "BACK TO THE FUTURE" Mark 6:14-29, Eighth Sunday after Pentecost. Thank you.

Michael Nearhood, Pastor
Okinawa Lutheran Church


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