“Only God's Will Be Done”
Delivered on July 10th 2022
According to Gospel of Mark 6:14-29
Mr. Tetsuro Honday's subheading for the Gospel of Mark 6:14 and following is "The Image of Jesus Doubling with John Who Performs the Sinking Ceremony.” Is there not a foreshadowing of the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus written here?
This article is in the context of the Lord Jesus sending his 12 disciples to preach the gospel of the Kingdom of God. In other words, I would like to take it as a description of the essentials of faith for all Christians.
Evangelism is not easy in any age. This is because human beings are very selfish. We put our own thoughts before God's will. We are selfish sinners who think only of ourselves.
John the Baptist said, "The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe in the gospel"(1:15). We must change direction to let God's will be done rather than our own thoughts come true.
Repeatedly, we must return to that. John the Baptist bitterly criticized Herod Antipas for his violation of the law (Leviticus 1:8-16) when he intercepted Herodia, the wife of his brother Philip and bitterly criticizes him for it. Herod Antipas wanted to kill John the Baptist but was unable to do so.
The author of Mark's Gospel writes, "For Herod, knowing that John was a righteous and holy man, feared and protected him and was very perplexed when he heard his teaching, but still listened with gladness"(v. 20). Are we not also "Sunday Christians" from time to time?
The 12 disciples who believed in and followed the Lord Jesus were also amazed by His teachings and were willing to listen to them, but the situation changed drastically when the Lord Jesus announced His Passion. No one likes to encounter trials and tribulations. We would rather avoid them. However, the Lord Jesus encourages His disciples, "Whoever wishes to follow Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me"(8:34).
The Christian must "deny himself. He must put God's will before his own wishes". Peterson says, "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it" he boldly translates. Herod Antipas kills John the Baptist for his own self-preservation and his own strength.
But the Lord Jesus spoke, "Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matthew 10:28). The Lord Jesus gave up His own life to let others live. The resurrected Lord Jesus may have been working now. I pray that God's will may be done.