The Worst Birthday Party Ever - Pastor Stacey Shiflett
The Worst Birthday Party Ever
Mark 6:14-29
Intro: I am confident that this birthday party was R.S.V.P.
(Reserved for Very Sinful People)
· 21 And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee;
By the time this birthday party was over, the greatest preacher that ever lived was dead.
This birthday became a death day.
The characters involved were the ultimate combination to kill a Baptist preacher.
Let's examine the guest list at what has to be the worst birthday party ever, and we will see that this family is still alive today and killing Baptist preachers everywhere!
The main characters in this story are very enlightening to say the least.
Notice the key players in this story.
I. The Dancing Maiden
Although the Bible does not give the daughter's name, Josephus identifies her as Salome.
A. Notice her Talent (dancing)
At some point, she developed this ability and practiced until she was good at it.
If only young people realized how powerful and influential they could be!
Whether it’s a dancing teenage girl or a football playing young man, using their talents for the devil is wicked!
B. Notice her Tempting
· vs. 22 And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced…
From what we know about her parents, we can assume the worst about this girl.
Very possibly half naked while she was dancing - she wasn’t dancing to the hymn Rock of Ages!
She was becoming an expert at flaunting herself in front of men.
She was comfortable with a bunch of drunk, ungodly men looking at her.
You see the importance of sanctifying and covering one's body; godliness and holy life.
C. Notice her Training – vs. 24, 25
· 24 And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.
· 25 And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist.
Her mother had not only teaching her how to control men, but now how to kill them.
We have no record that this girl was repulsed at all by this request.
Cold-hearted and calloused to killing preachers!
She brought the charger with John's head on it to her mother (vs. 28)
What began as entertainment ended in an execution.
II. The Domineering Mama
One of the key players at this birthday party was a woman by the name of Herodias.
Boys – this was the kind of woman your mama warned you about.
We do not know a lot about her, but we know enough.
A. Look at her Moral Habits vs. 17, 18
Her relationship with Herod was “unlawful.”
· 17 For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife: for he had married her.
· 18 For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wife.
B. Look at her Murderous Heart
· 19 Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not:
It is important to note that her hatred was because of bold preaching on her sin.
She had a quarrel against him; ensnared by a grudge
She wasn't happy having him in prison; she wanted him dead.
Many a women sit in church and for all practical purposes, they tie the hands and “imprison” the man of God.
Their rebellion, their carnality and wicked heart makes it difficult for the preacher to function.
This woman successfully shut down the greatest preacher that ever lived, but she still wasn't happy.
She waited for a “convenient day” to show her hand.
C. Look at her Misguided Hatred – vs. 23, 24
Instead of securing a safe and happy future for her daughter, she turned her into a murderer.
Her hatred for the man of God robbed her daughter of what might have been!
She traded half the kingdom for the death of the preacher that had dared preach against her sin.
There are many a mother that have “traded half the kingdom” so their daughters could live like the devil.
Her bitterness and hatred destroyed her daughter and killed the greatest preacher that ever lived.
III. The Dirty Old Man
There are some interesting facts about this man that reminds me of a lot of men in our Baptist churches.
A. His Relationship with the Preacher – vs. 20
· Mark 6:20 For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.
He feared John – he was literally afraid of him; respected him but feared him
He knew he was a just man – he was innocent; literally means he was right
He knew he was a holy man
He observed him – means he thought about his preaching; kept it in his mind
He heard him, and heard him gladly
He did many things – not everything. Look where it got him; being selective in obeying.
B. His Reaction to the Promiscuity – vs. 22
· 22 And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee.
· He got sensual – he invited in a girl young enough to be his daughter to dance for him and his friends (Salome was his niece and his step-daughter)
· He got stirred – she pleased him; there is always “pleasure” in sin for a season
· He got stupid – he didn't care what it cost him; he lost all ability to reason; offered her half the kingdom
· He got sorry – (vs. 26) “exceeding sorry” - there's always a high price to pay for stupidity!!!
Many men in our churches “love the preaching” but have serious lust issues.
They are sacrificing everything they have for something that “pleases” them.
C. His Response to his Partner
· 24 And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.
· 25 And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist.
· 26 And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath’s sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her.
He feared John the Baptist, but he feared his wife more.
It was easier to silence the preacher than to silence his wife.
His decision to kill the preacher was purely selfish; he knew he was just and holy but...
He “would not” reject her (vs. 26)
He could have, but he wouldn't.
Conclusion:
If Herod had listened to the preacher, none of this would have happened.
If he had sent Herodius back to her husband, none of this would have happened.
If he had sent Salome to her room, none of this would have happened.
If he had been half the man he should have been, none of this would have happened.
He loved the preaching of John the Baptist, but he loved his sin even more.
This dysfunctional family put the greatest preacher that ever lived in an early grave.
