The Greatest Pitfall to Discipleship

St Timothy Presbyterian Church in Toronto: Sermons

Scripture Passage

Mark 6:14-29

Worship Video

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Sermon Script

What is a good life? What is the kind of life that's worth living?

I think that a good life is to do what is right in every situation.

To be driven by an inner sense of truth and what is good. Rather than by what is advantageous or beneficial for me.

I think a good life is to seek the good of others in every situation. Not just my own benefit and advantage.

These things are all part of being a disciple of Jesus. In that sense, being a disciple of Jesus is the most beautiful life.

It is a life that bears fruit. It makes a difference in the lives of others. It seeks to do what's right and just.

Discipleship is about making room for God and others.

This is what Jesus said about discipleship:

If any wish to come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. (Mark 8:34)

Denying yourself is to remove yourself from the centre.

Following Jesus is to live like he did.

Serving others. Putting the needs of others above his own. Even accepting the rejection and suffering that may come from such a life.

Jesus also said this:

For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. (Mark 8:35)

If you lose yourself for the sake of Christ and others, you will find yourself. That is the true secret of discipleship.

But that's not an easy journey. It doesn't come naturally.

The most natural thing is to put yourself at the center. And to seek what's most advantageous for you in each situation.

Discipleship is the journey of change to become more and more like Jesus, who was able to put others before himself and do what's right in every situation.

Today's story of Herod is a warning about the pitfalls to discipleship.

Herod arrested John because his criticism threatened Herod's power.

But a strange thing happened: his wife hated John and wanted to kill him, but Herod became drawn to him.

He protected John.

Somehow, the words of John spoke to him.

When he (Herod) heard him (John), he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him. (Mark 6:20)

The words of John challenged Herod. They made him pause and examine himself.

They were difficult words, but he liked listening to him. It was like his soul began to experience some healing.

But Herod lived in the world of power and politics. His attention was divided.

The birthday banquet he put on was not merely a happy birthday celebration. It was a political power play.

He invited all the powerful people who helped keep him in power. The party was to secure his standing and power. It was to show that he was in charge.

His own self-indulgence and hubris led him to make the impulsive declaration to grant any wish to his daughter. She requested John's head.

Herod was deeply grieved by the request.

You see the cruelty of the world he lived in. It was nothing to kill someone and bring their head.

This was the world Herod lived in.

Herod was didn't want to kill the person who was leading him to greater truth. But in this tense situation, his reputation and power were at stake.

All eyes were on him when his daughter made the request.

When it came to preserving his own power or the life of an innocent man, he did not hesitate.

The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John's head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. (Mark 6:26-28)

Cold and calculating self-preservation won out over truth and justice. It was no contest.

Mark has an important warning for us about the life of discipleship.

The greatest pitfall to discipleship is a divided heart.

You may love God. You may desire to do the right thing.

But when your heart is divided, the needs of the situation and your self-preservation take priority over your inner sense of what is right and just.

The right thing to do was to save the life of an innocent and righteous man. But to preserve his power, the innocent man became expendable.

Truth and righteousness were secondary.

That's the world we live in right now.

People react to the needs of the situation. Whatever is advantageous for them, they do, regardless of the effects it may have on others.

All ideals and principles have gone out the window. People are not driven by what is right and just.

There is no putting the needs of others above yourself. It's simply take care of me and my family, and let everyone else take care of themselves.

This is not the kind of world I want to live in. It's not the world I want for my children. It's not the world I want them to continue.

There has to be a better way to live.

That better way was shown through the cross.

Jesus lived the right way. He did not calculate. He loved and did the right thing to the very end, even at the cost of his life.

What might have been different for Herod? If he allowed John's word and message to sink in, he may have changed.

John became famous as a truth teller.

He was a strange man who lived in the desert, wore camel's hair and ate locusts.

But he led many people to repent and turn their lives around because he spoke powerful words of truth.

I believe the only thing that can change a person is the Word of God. That's what I believe. That's been my own experience.

It's not good enough simply to want to change. Only the truth of God's Word has the power to change you.

To change, God's Word has to be planted deep in your heart and be given the time and space to grow.

In some ways, because of his power, Herod had the advantage of a private audience with John.

It was like having his own personal Bible studies with him! What an opportunity this was! And he squandered it because his heart was divided.

God's Word cannot take root in a divided heart.

Jesus told the parable of the sower.

The sower sows the word. The seed, which is the word, falls on all kinds of soil.

One of them is a seed that falls among thorns.

This is what he says about them:

And others are those sown among the thorns: these are the ones who hear the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it yields nothing. (Mark 4:18-19)

I believe this articulates our lives today. That's the persecution we face today.
We hear the word and even appreciate it, but the word is choked out by all the cares and desires of the world.

There is no room and space for the word to grow. To take root. To yield its fruit.

The fruit of the Word is an enlarged heart. A heart that has room for others. A heart led by truth.

The life of discipleship must be nurtured and nourished by the Word. That can only happen in an undivided heart.

My friends, the reality of life is that our attention is always divided.

Everyone demands our attention. Our kids, our friends, our technologies.

My mind is always racing because there are so many things to think about.

Our attention might be divided, but our hearts must not be.

Psalm 119 is the longest psalm in the Bible. Do you know what it's about?

It's all about meditating on God's word, and letting that word guide you.

Here's just a sample from the beginning of it:

Happy are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord. Happy are those who seek his decrees, who seek him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong but walk in his ways. You have commanded that your precepts be kept diligently. O that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes! (Psalm 119:1-5)

He then goes on to talk about young people:

How can young people keep their way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; do not let me stray from your commandments. I treasure your word in my heart so that I may not sin against you. (Psalm 119:9-11)

It's a beautiful psalm. It was my favourite psalm while I was growing up.

I recommend that everyone read it. Treasure it. Imprint it on your heart.

Being blameless or pure is not about being sinless or morally faultless. It is about keeping your heart undivided.

Seeking God's will and word with all of your heart.

Letting God's truth soak into your heart so that God's truth, not the situation, may drive your life.

Make this psalmist's prayer your own:

Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart to revere your name. (Psalm 86:11)

Pray for an undivided heart that seeks God and God's will.

Your life will bear beautiful fruit. You will experience great joy.

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