Scripture Reading Mark 6:7-30

SPEAKER_00 0:36

Hi, my name is Justice Lopez. I am a freshman in American Canyon High School, and today I will be reading Mark 6, 7 through 30. And he called out to the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them the authority over the unclean spirits. He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff, no bread, no bag, no money in their belts, but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics. And he said to them, Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there, and if any place will not receive you, and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them. So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent, and they cast out many demons and anointed with oil, many who were sick, and healed them. King 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. But others said he is Elijah, and others said he is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old. But when Herod heard of it, he said, John, whom I beheaded, has been raised. For it was Herod who had set and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because he had married her. For John had been saying to Herod, It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife. And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly. But an opportunity came when Herod, on his birthday, gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders, and the leading men of Galilee. For 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. And he vowed to her, Whatever you ask me, I will give you up to half of my kingdom. And she went out to her mother and said, For what should I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist. And 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. The king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests, he did not want to break his word to her. And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John's head. And he went out, beheaded him in the prison, and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl. And the girl gave it to her mother. When the disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in the tomb. The apostles returned to Jesus and told him that they done and caught. This is the world of the Lord.

Welcome And Series Preview

Sent Two By Two

Traveling Light And Trusting God

Stay Where You Are Received

Release Rejection Without Carrying It

Repentance Healing And Real Results

Herod Hears And Feels Haunted

The Banquet And The Power Of Rooms

Image Over Integrity And John’s Death

Two Paths Trust Or Control

Obedience Before Readiness

SPEAKER_01 3:20

Thanks be to God. That was a lot. And you understood the assignment. Thank you for the dress code situation, Justice. It's good to be with you. My name is Lawrence. I'm one of the pastors here, and uh we teach in the Bible here. We're walking through the gospel of Mark verse by verse. We're gonna do a lot of verses. We're actually gonna do all the verses you just heard, Justice Read. Uh, we're gonna plow through those today. Um, we are we're not gonna skip anything. That's one of the things I love that we're walking through, but we've only got a couple more weeks of Mark, and we're actually gonna pause. So, just as a preview, um, the last of this month, um, May 31st, we're gonna start a 12-week series. So, through the summer, we're gonna take a break and we're gonna do the 12 steps. Uh, there's a great book out by a friend of ours uh named John Ortberg. He wrote a book called Steps. And so each week we're gonna cover a new step. I think this is gonna be one of the most profound um things that we've experienced together as a church. So uh this is gonna be a great opportunity to invite friends. If there's a series that you've been waiting for, to invite someone to come through and talk about just uh life, uh mental health, emotional health, physical health, all of the above, we are going to hop into that. So I've been looking forward to that. But for today, we're in chapter six and we're gonna do a bunch of verses. And um where we're at is I think that there is just something that's exciting about being sent that just feels exciting for about five minutes, right? Like when you've ever said yes to something big, like a trip or like a calling or a relationship or a leadership role, or maybe it's like a new rhythm of God. And at first it feels like purpose, and then all of a sudden it feels like pressure. Like then, somewhere in the middle of that, you start wondering did I sign up for more than I thought? And that's exactly where we step into this moment in Mark. Jesus literally has just been rejected in his own hometown. Uh, familiarity has turned into skepticism. People who watched him grow up now struggle to trust him. And instead of slowing down, he literally expands the mission. We'll hop right in. Verse 7 says, And he called the 12, these are his buddies, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over unclean spirits. This line is easy to read quickly, but it carries weight. So Jesus doesn't just teach anymore. Now he multiplies, and what we see is he sins. This line is one of the most loaded phrases in the entire passage because if we slow down enough, it opens up this whole theology of identity, mission, and Jesus' authority. Right here, still. He gave them authority over unclean spirits. So let's start with the why. Then we're going to move into what it means for them, and then finally, what this means for us. So, first, the why. Jesus isn't trying to get more work done, he's revealing who he is by what he shares. Up to this point in Mark, Jesus has been the only one with authority over demons. They recognize him, they obey him, they fear him, and that authority belongs to God alone. In Jewish understanding, unclean spirits represented chaos and evil or oppression, things that only God could ultimately defeat. So when Jesus gives that authority away, he's actually doing something really shocking. He's saying, in effect, my authority is not limited to me. It flows through those who are with me. This isn't just a delegation like a manager handing off tax. This is actual participation in his kingdom. The why is this Jesus is forming a people who don't just watch the kingdom, they carry it. From learners to representatives, from come and see to now go and be. Let's talk about what this meant for them at the moment. In the first century world, demon possession wasn't just spiritual, it was social. It was physical, it was psychological. People oppressed by unclean spirits were isolated and feared, and often they were literally cut off from the community. So when Jesus gives authority over unclean spirits, he's not just giving them power encounters, he's literally sending them into the darkest and most avoided spaces of society. I mean, think about it. These disciples aren't these elite spiritual leaders, they're fishermen and a tax collector like ordinary dudes. And suddenly they're walking into situations that that used to terrify them with authority. And that changes how they see themselves because authority literally starts to reshape your identity. Before this, they followed Jesus. Now they represent him. Before this, they watched him confront darkness, and now they step into it. And here's what's critical they don't generate the authority, they receive it. And that means that their confidence is not in themselves, it's in the one who sent them. So now let's bring this into what it means theologically. In Mark, unclean spirits are random details. They're part of really just a bigger picture. Jesus is showing that the kingdom of God is not just about teaching or morality, it's about restoration of what evil has broken. So when he gives authority over unclean spirits, he's saying, My kingdom advances by pushing back darkness, or another way to put it, or the hell that you're living in, literally trying to push that back out of your life. And not just in big dramatic moments, but like in real human lives, experiencing freedom and healing and restoration. And the disciples are now a part of that. And so then we would ask, well, what does this mean for us? Well, we need to be careful, I think, not to flatten this into something either overly sensational or completely symbolic. At its core, if you are following Jesus, you are not powerless in a broken world. You don't just cope with darkness. You, my friends, carry light into it. Now that doesn't mean everyone is casting out demons on a Tuesday afternoon in between your meetings, but it does mean this. You literally step into places where fear, lies, and brokenness exist with a different authority. That's not your own. It's his. So when you speak truth into someone's anxiety, when you pray for someone who feels trapped, when you walk into dysfunction and bring peace instead of chaos, you are participating in that same kingdom movement. Because unclean spirits represents anything that distorts or oppresses or dehumanizes. And Jesus, I'm telling you, is still in the business of undoing that through people through you. And here's the part that really lands the disciples still don't fully understand what they're carrying yet. They still had fear and they still had doubt. They still misunderstood Jesus at time, and he still sent them, anyways. Which means your readiness is not the requirement, just your willingness. So the question underneath that verse isn't what does this mean? It's do you see yourself as someone who just follows Jesus or someone who is sent by him? Because the moment he gives you authority, your life is no longer just about navigating the world. It's about you stepping into and being a carrier of his presence. And that's both incredibly empowering and deeply humbling because the authority is real, but it's actually never yours to control. It's always his working through you. And then Jesus says something that would make every modern planner deeply uncomfortable. He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff. No bread, no bag, no money in their belts, but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics. Don't bring extras, right? No backup plan. No, just in case. Just go. This isn't bad planning. This is actually intentional dependence that he's creating right here. In the first century world, traveling teachers often carried supplies, or they really just relayed on partridge systems. And Jesus strips this away. So then we'll be like, why? Because he's not just sending them to do ministry, he's forming right here how they trust God. He's teaching them that provision is not something that you control. It's actually something you receive. And that hits us, I think. Because we literally live in a world where control feels like security. You don't just have, uh you don't just like leave your house without your phone, right? If you do that, a lot of you, you literally will turn around. Like, I can't, right? You don't travel without a plan. I can already see anxiety on some of your faces about some of the trips. You're like, I would never just do that. You don't step into anything without some kind of backup, right? And Jesus says, What if you followed me in a way that required trust instead of control? What if the goal wasn't to eliminate uncertainty, but it was actually to meet God inside of it? And then he adds a layer. He said this to them, Well, wherever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. Essentially, this is just wisdom. There's wisdom that feels very practical, I think, and very personal. It's this stay where you're received. Don't chase better options. Don't constantly try to upgrade environments. Don't live in comparison. Let roots actually form, let relationships deepen, let faithfulness matter more than optimization. And then comes the part, I think, that we don't love. He says, and if any place will not receive you, and they do not listen to you when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them. Now that's strong. That phrase would have been culturally loaded. Uh, in Jewish culture, shaking off the dust of your feet was actually something you did when leaving Gentile or unclean territory, symbolically separating from what was unclean. And here Jesus flips it. Now it's about a response, not geography. If people reject the message, don't carry it with you. Don't internalize it. Don't let rejection define you. Don't spend your life trying to convince people who have already decided. You hear me? Just release it. And that's really hard because some of us take everything personally. We replay conversations, we carry rejection like it's evidence of failure. And Jesus says, your assignment is faithfulness, not outcomes. You go, you speak, you serve, and how people respond, it's not yours to control. For me personally, this has been the deepest lesson of my life over the last 12 months. Then Mark shows us what happens. So then they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. This is crazy. They actually do it. Imperfect, unpolished, still figuring it out. Disciples literally step into authority and things happen. They cast out demons, many of them, and were anointing oil, many who were sick and healed them. It worked. Like people turn, people are freed, people are healed, which I think should really encourage you because it means God's work is not dependent on your perfection, it's dependent on your participation. But then the tone shifts and it shifts really hard right here. Because Mark all of a sudden inserts a story right in the middle of this movement, and it almost feels out of place until you realize it's actually deeply connected. That moment, King Herod heard of it. Now, this lands with more weight when you slow down and realize that this is actually the first time Mark introduces him. And yet, even in that first sentence, you can feel that it's not just a random name dropping into the story. This is someone with history, with influence, with the kind of power that shapes environment that Jesus is moving in. So let's just step into who he was without getting ahead of the story itself. First, this is Herod Antipas, not Herod the Great from the birth narrative. This is actually his son. After his father died, the kingdom was divided. And Antipas became the ruler over the region of Galilee, which is exactly where Jesus has been doing his teaching, his healing, and then now sending out disciples. And so this matters more than at first appears. Jesus isn't just moving through random towns here, he's ministering inside of Herod's territory, which means when Mark writes, King Herod heard of it, for Jesus' name had become known. It isn't just casual, it's literally awareness from the top. This is influence noticing movement. This is the movement where what Jesus is doing is no longer local, it's unavoidable because Herod hears. And that's all that Mark is telling us at first. But even in that, there's tension because Herod is literally a ruler shaped by very specific things, a very specific type of world. He grew up in a family where power mattered more than people, where authority was protected, not shared, where image was everything. Because his father, you see, ruled with strength, but also with fear. You learn early that leadership, when you're in this type of environment, it affects you. You learn leadership means control, that perception matters, that threats need to be managed. So by the time we meet Herod here, it's not just a political figure. He is a man that has been formed by power, navigating influence, and responsible for maintaining order in his region. And now something is happening that doesn't quite fit into his system. Jesus isn't building influence in the way that rulers do. He's not gathering armies, he's not uh forming political alliances, he's not trying to take territory, but his name is spreading, people are talking, and something is moving. And so he said, John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him. Now there's others that have opinions too. They said, Well, he is Elijah. And others said, He's a prophet, like one of the prophets of old. So what's happening here is everyone is trying to categorize Jesus to define him, to fit him into something that feels familiar. But Herod, he's not neutral in this. But when Herod heard of this, he said, John, whom I beheaded, has been raised. So literally, what we're getting right here is a little background from Herod of he's saying, I'm haunted. And Mark now takes us backward to explain why he feels this way. For 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. Now, here's just a really quick context Herod took his brother's wife. John calls it out and says, uh-uh, you don't do that. And instead of repenting, Herod imprisons him. Because truth is easy to admire until it confronts you. For John had been saying to Herod, it is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife. And we're like, Yeah, duh duh. Like, what are you doing? This is just clear, direct, and it's uncomfortable. And so Herodias hates him for it. She had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death, but she could not. Well, why not? Because Herod is conflicted here. For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and a holy man, and he kept him safe. Now, this is fascinating. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly. So this tension is real. He's intrigued, but not surrendered. He's interested, but not obedient. He's drawn in, but not changed. And that's a really dangerous place to live. Because you can like Jesus, be curious about faith, listen and attend and engage, and still not actually surrender. Herod lives there until one night literally everything shifts. But an opportunity came. When Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles, his military commanders, and the leading men of Galilee. So, friends, just picture this. This room is full of power, political leaders, military strength, social influence. This is not just a casual dinner. This is a display. In the ancient world, banquets like this were about more than just celebration. They were about status and loyalty and image, who's there, who's in the room matters, who's watching matters, what people think matters. Everything in this moment is elevated. And then Mark says For when Herodias's daughter came in and danced. Now I'm going to Allow you to read between the lines in this next scene. We need to understand the cultural weight here. Royal or noble women, especially young women connected to ruling families, did not typically perform dances at banquets like this. That kind of entertainment was usually reserved for hired performers. So this is already unusual, which tells us something intentional is happening. This is not random. This is strategic. And then she pleased Herod and his guests. That word pleased is important. It's not just they appreciated the performance. It carries the idea of delight, satisfaction, something that appeals at a deeper level, and the whole room responds. Now, this is where the environment matters. You have power, you have alcohol, you have an audience, you have ego, you have a moment where emotions are elevated and restraint is lowered. And in that environment, Herod responds. Because environments shape decisions more than we think. Let me say that again. Environments shape decisions more than we think. Let me say that to my children. Environments shape decisions more than I think. More than you think. No one wakes up in the morning planning to make a reckless, life-altering choice, right? But in the right pressure, in the right room, in the right moment, what's inside comes out. This moment exposes something about Herod. He is easily influenced by the room he's in. He is driven by what others think. He's responsive to what feels good in a moment, and rather than what is right in the long term. And that is why what happens next escalates so quickly. Verse 22. And the king said to the girl, Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you. Now, this is not thoughtful leadership, right? This is impulsive authority. And then he doubles down and he vowed to her, Whatever you ask me, I will give you up to half of my kingdom. I mean, this is not a measured promise. This is performative, right? This is someone trying to prove something in front of people because in that room, image matters more than wisdom. And this is the expanded thought that literally sits underneath this moment. Herod is not just making a bad decision. He is revealing a life that has been shaped more by external pressure than internal conviction. He has power, but not self-control. He has authority, but not clarity. He has influence, but not integrity. And all of that gets exposed in a moment that feels small, but it ain't. Because here's what's really happening a room full of people, an emotional situation, a desire to impress, and a lack of grounded identity. And then suddenly Herod is making promises that his character cannot sustain. And if we're honest, this isn't just an ancient history story. This is painfully current. Because most of us don't make our worst decisions in quiet, reflective moments. We make them in environments like this, where literally we're trying to impress someone. When we don't want to look weak, when everyone is watching, when emotions are high and clarity is low. And in that moment, we're not acting out of who we are at our best, we're reacting out of pressure. That's Herod. And Mark wants you to see how fast things can move when your identity is not anchored. Because the moment of misplaced desire leads to a promise. And then one promise leads to a request. And then one request leads to a decision. And suddenly everything escalates beyond what anyone expected. All from a moment that started with, she pleased Herod and his guests. So the deeper question underneath this moment becomes what shapes your decisions when the pressure is on? Is it in the room? Is it the crowd? Is it the moment? Or is it something deeper that's anchoring you? Because Herod shows us something sobering. If you're not grounded before the moment comes, the moment will define you. And what looks like a small passing scene in a story is actually a turning point that reveals everything about the man that's making the decision. And so she asks her mother. She went out and said to her mother, For what should I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist. And just like that, everything changes. And 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. That's chilling. And Herod feels it. And the king was exceedingly sorry. He knows he's wrong. He feels it. But watch this. But because of his oaths and his guests, he did not want to break his word to her. There it is. Image over integrity, reputation over righteousness. What will people think? How will this look? And in that moment, Herod chooses comfort over conviction. And immediately the king sent an executor with orders to bring John's head. And he went and he beheaded him in prison. And just like that, his head was brought in on a platter, and he gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. And then the story just kind of ends quietly. When the disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb. That's heavy. It's supposed to be. Because Mark is showing you two responses in the same movement of God. The disciples step into uncertainty with trust, and Herod stays in control and loses clarity. One feels risky but leads to life. The other feels safe but leads to slow erosion. So you have these two pictures side by side: disciples sent with nothing, carrying authority, and a powerful king with everything haunted by truth. And the question lands softly: which one are you becoming? You are being formed by what you trust, by what you obey, by what you avoid. And Jesus is still sending not just pastors, not just leaders, people. You. Ordinary figuring it out, people, into workplaces, into friendships, into conversations that feel like they just are uncomfortable into your school. And he's still saying, go. Not with everything all figured out, but with enough trust to take the next step. I think some of you are actually waiting until you feel like you're ready. You won't. Some of you are waiting for clarity. Well, let me just tell you, it often comes after obedience, not before. Some of you are holding on to control like it's security, and it is quietly exhausting you. And Jesus is inviting you into something different. Not reckless living, dependent living, not perfect execution, faithful presence, not controlling outcomes, trusting the one who holds them. Because at the center of this passage is not what the disciples do or what Herod does, it's who Jesus is. The one who sins, the one who gives authority, the one who allows people to respond, and the one who ultimately will give his life, not because of weak power, but because of surrendered purpose. And even here, in the shadow of John's death, the story is pointing forward. Faithfulness doesn't always look like immediate victory, friends. Sometimes it looks like obedience in hard places. And the kingdom still moves forward. Moves forward through people who say yes before they have it figured out, through people who trust before they feel secure, through people who obey even when it costs them something. And maybe the most honest prayer in this room isn't impressive. It's just this.