Today's Reading: Mark 6:14-29
Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 11:42-12:19; 2 Corinthians 7:1-16
But when Herod heard, he said, "This is John, whom I beheaded; he has been raised from the dead!" (Mark 6:16)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. No, Herod, that's not John raised from the dead. It's Jesus. If you had really paid any attention to John when he was preaching, you would know that. John the Baptist wasn't born to point to himself. He was born to point to Jesus. John's message was simple. He preached a baptism of repentance and the forgiveness of sins. When Jesus showed up, John declared, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
John was the last prophet of the Old Testament, pointing to the coming Christ. John was also the first prophet of the New Testament, pointing to Christ and proclaiming that Jesus was the Savior.
Herod loved to hear John preach. He was even sorry when he had to kill John to keep the oath he made to his stepdaughter after she danced for him. But for all the seeming attention Herod paid to John, he completely missed the point of his preaching. John preached repentance and the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Herod paid no attention to that. For Herod, John was a form of entertainment. Unfortunately, he ended up beheading him when he was no longer convenient to have around.
That's how it is with most who hear the preaching of Christ, the Lamb of God. The Good News is that the Lamb of God, Jesus, takes away the sins of the world. Herod's sins. John's sins. Your sins. He takes them away by being sacrificed on the Cross. Sadly, most people don't want that Jesus. They don't want that preaching. They want to be entertained and told how great they are or can be. They don't want repentance and forgiveness.
On this day when we remember John's death, remember also his preaching: Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. John pointed to Jesus. He points you to Jesus. The Baptizer points you to your Baptism and the Body and Blood of the Lamb of God. By this Lamb and his holy gifts you are saved. And as John the Baptist now wears the crown of life, so you will. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.
Our thanks for John the Baptist Who, till his dying day, Made straight paths for the Savior And heralded his way! In witnessing to Jesus Through times of threat or shame May we with faith and courage The Lamb of God proclaim. (LSB 518:24)