Fascinated but Afraid Mark 6:6b-31 Sandwiching • Two seemingly unrelated stories woven together to make a single point – sends out the Twelve (6:6-13) – beheaded (6:14-29) – Jesus gathers the Twelve (6:30-31)

“Fascinated but Afraid” Story One: Jesus sends the Twelve Mark 6:6b-11 Mark 6:6-11 • “Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. Calling the Twelve to him, he sent them out two by two and gave them authority over evil spirits. These were his instructions: „Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. Wear sandals but not an extra tunic. Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you …‟” “Fascinated but Afraid” Mark 6:11-13 • “„leave as a testimony against them.‟ They went out and preached that people should repent. They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.” (NIV)

“Fascinated but Afraid” Why pairs (2x2) ? • For protection, encouragement, & companionship • To hold each other accountable • Be sending in pairs, Jesus multiplies his effectiveness seven fold (7x) • Pairs wouldn’t seem overwhelming to their hosts • This would satisfy Jewish witness requirements (Num 35:30; Deut 17:6) & their testimony could be strengthened & confirmed “Fascinated but Afraid” :2-4 • “These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of , and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; and , who betrayed him.” (NIV)

“Fascinated but Afraid” Why take nothing with them? • To express urgency (don’t pack) • To be free from burden (which would slow them down or overwhelming their host) • To expect hospitality • To put their trust in God • To not create jealousy by moving from house to house • It was not meant to create a sense of poverty or to make them endure hardship “Fascinated but Afraid” Why so early? • Jesus harnesses their enthusiasm while providing them with an opportunity to experience ministry with a safety net in place.

“Fascinated but Afraid” Shake off the dust? • Pious Jews shook the dust off their feet after passing through Gentile cities to show their separation from their influences and practices. In a similar way, this was a vivid sign that people had rejected Jesus and his message. Jesus made it clear that the people were responsible for how they responded to the . The disciples were not to blame if the message was rejected— as long as they had faithfully and carefully presented it. “Fascinated but Afraid” Story Two Herod and John the Baptist Mark 6:14-29 Mark 6:14-16 • “King Herod heard about this, for Jesus‟ name had become well known. Some were saying, „John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.‟ Others said, „He is Elijah.‟ And still others claimed, „He is a , like one of the of long ago.‟ But when Herod heard this, he said, „John, the man I beheaded, has been raised from the dead.‟” (NIV)

“Fascinated but Afraid” Three Questions • Why does ―King‖ Herod react to the news of Jesus?

“Fascinated but Afraid” Mark 6:17-20 • “For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of , his brother Philip‟s wife, whom he had married. For John had been saying to Herod, „It is not lawful for you to have your brother‟s wife.‟ So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to, because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod …” “Fascinated but Afraid” Mark 6:20 • “heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him.” (NIV)

“Fascinated but Afraid” Three Questions • Why does ―King‖ Herod react to the news of Jesus? • Why does Herod put John the Baptist in prison?

“Fascinated but Afraid” Mark 6:21-24 • “Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of . When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the girl, „Ask me for anything you want, and I‟ll give it to you.‟ And he promised her with an oath, „Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.‟ She went out and said to her mother, „What shall I ask for?‟ „The head of John the Baptist,‟ she …”

“Fascinated but Afraid” Mark 6:24-29 • “answered. At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: „I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.‟ The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her. So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John‟s head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison, and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother. On hearing this, John‟s disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.” “Fascinated but Afraid” (NIV) Three Questions • Why does ―King‖ Herod react to the news of Jesus? • Why does Herod put John the Baptist in prison? • Why does Herod ultimately behead John the Baptist?

“Fascinated but Afraid” Story One Jesus gathers the Twelve Mark 6:30-31 Mark 6:30-31 • “The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, „Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.‟” (NIV)

“Fascinated but Afraid” Two Questions • Why not more detail?

“Fascinated but Afraid” Two Questions • Why not more detail? • How do these stories fit together?

“Fascinated but Afraid” Parallels

• John handed over (1:14) • Jesus handed over (3:19; 9:31; 10:33) • John executed by a • Jesus executed by a reluctant political ruler reluctant political ruler (6:14-29) (14:1-2; 15:1-11) • Herodias seized an • Judas seized an opportune time (6:21) opportune time (14:11) • Herod caught off guard • Pilate caught off guard (6:23-26) (15:6-15) • John suffers a violent & • Jesus suffers a violent & shameful death (1:27) shameful death (15:25) • John’s disciples bury him • (6:29) buries Jesus (15:43) “Fascinated but Afraid” The Choice of Every Man • King Herod was seeking: power, prestige, kingship, popularity, and appeasement • The Disciples were seeking: sacrifice, servant-hood, discipleship, hardship, fatigue, and maybe martyrdom

“Fascinated but Afraid” The End of the Story • ―The tyrant dies and his rule ends, the martyr dies and his rule begins.‖ —Sören Kierkegaard

“Fascinated but Afraid” Which One Are You? Mark 6:6b-31