A Prophet is not without honor… vs. 1-6

• Jesus’ comes home to Nazareth…
  • After the healing of the woman and Jairus daughter – He departed for His own country…
  • Jesus taught in the synagogue at Nazareth and the people were astonished…
  • Though Jesus displayed great wisdom and power…
  • They were not amazed at that  – instead because of who He was… a simple carpenter
    • They all knew Joseph and Mary – along with the half brothers & sisters of Jesus
    • He was one of them – they could not understand where He got great wisdom & power…
    • So they were offended – scandalizo – (Imperfect/Passive/Indicative)
    • Jesus marveled (Imperfect) at their unbelief – and could do not great works there
  • A godly man is respected – except in his own country…
    • It is always interesting for me to return to my home town…
    • I have been a pastor for almost 10 years – traveled to more than 25 countries
    • But in my hometown I am still the little boy who always got into trouble…
    • The problem is that they saw me grow up – they know who David was…
  • What people so often do not want to see – is who God has made us to be!
    • The hardest people to reach – are your family and friends
    • The problem is they know you to well – your mistakes, flaws, and sins
    • When we share Jesus with them – they are quick to remind us of them all!
    • What they miss is that all that we were is gone – Psalms 103:12
    • We are no longer defined by our past/mistakes – instead by Jesus who is in us!
    • II Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
    • Don’t give up on your family and friends – they might give you a hard time
    • But in due time – as they see Jesus in you – they might just ask what happened…
    • Then you can give them the same hope that God has given to you 

Sending of the 12… vs.7-13

• Two by two… vs. 7
  • With the people in Nazareth unwilling to listen – Jesus returns to the Galilee
  • Breaking up the disciples into 6 groups – Jesus sent them out 2 by 2…
    • There is wisdom in not being alone as we step out to serve Jesus
    • Peter had John / Paul had Barnabus or Silas / Timothy had Titus…
    • Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 – “Two people can accomplish more than twice as much as one…  If one person falls, the other can reach out and help.”
  • Having someone who will encourage you – stand beside you – in Jesus is priceless
  • If you have a bad day they can encourage you – if they are hurting you can encourage them
  • If one of you is overcome by sin – the other is there to pray and point back to Jesus!

•  Don’t bring any money… vs. 8-9
  • Travel light…
    • Don’t bring Copper – money  (Pesos/a Peso/not even Centavos)
    • Don’t bring a bread or bag (used to carry food and supplies)…
    • Don’t even bring a change of clothes (2 shirts/extra walking stick/ extra sandals)…
  • The reason – God will take care of all your needs!
    • If you wanted to go on a ‘vacation’ – you would have to pay – your idea…
    • If someone hired you to work overseas – they would pay – their idea…
    • The point is simple – if God is sending you out – God will provide for your needs
    • To often in the church – money is the focus – tithes / offerings – the reason…
    • The church is trying to do something that’s their idea – new building – sound – ect.
    • If it’s out idea we have to pay for it – if its God’s idea He will pay for it
    • Much better to seek the Lord on what He wants to do – then He’ll provide the needs!
      
• When you enter a house – stay… vs. 10
  • Into whichever house you enter – stay (Present/Active/Imperative)
    • Matthew 10:13 – “If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.”
    • The idea of worthy – is someone who is interested in hearing about Jesus
    • If the people are interested in hearing about Jesus – stay / if not – move one
  • Jesus did not want the disciples just sharing the Gospel – but to also making disciples
    • Not everyone will want to hear about the Gospel – but when someone does…
    • That is where you stay – not just sharing the Gospel – but teaching them about Jesus
    • Make disciples by living your life before them – example to them – I Corinthians 11:1
      
• Shake off the dust…  vs. 11
  • Not everyone whom they shared with was going to listen…
    • It was not the disciples that were being rejected – it was their Message
    • The Gospel of Jesus ~ The Word – Jesus – John 1:1
    • If the people rejected the Gospel – shake off the dust of your feet
    • A poetic way of saying that even dust of the town is not worth anything…
    • Not everyone what we share Jesus with will receive the Gospel
    • They may even attack us personally – but it is not us they are refusing – the Gospel
    • It doesn’t mean they can’t be saved – but you can’t force them to believe
    • We are called to share the message – God changes the heart… (Parable of the seed)
  • It will be more t tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah…
    • Sodom and Gomorrah were two cities destroyed by God in Genesis 19
    • They were wiped out in a single day (fire and brimstone)
    • They were destroyed because everything they did was wicked – Genesis 18:20
    • God used them as a model/picture of evil/rebellion/sin and their consequences
    • Yet it will be better for Sodom and Gomorrah than for them…
    • Sodom and Gomorrah sinned – but they never heard the Gospel…
    • How much worse the city or person who hears the Gospel
    • And yet chooses to continue to live in a lifestyle of rebellion and sin…
      
• Preaching with power…  vs. 12-13, 30

• It was not just about going – they went to share the message
  • Preaching people should repent  of their sin – and believe in Jesus for forgiveness
  • We are called to tell others about the hope that we have in us
  • I Corinthians 9:16–“For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!”
  • We have the answer that the World needs – that our neighbor needs…
  • Why would we not share the hope of salvation – the hope of Jesus!
• Heal the sick, cast out demons…  (Imperfect/Active/Indicative)
  • Jesus had given them the example – now He was calling His disciples to step out…
  • Cause they had been with Jesus and seen the impossible – they could do the impossible!
  • When we spend time with Jesus – He shows us things we never thought possible
  • Having seen the ‘impossible’ (provide/preach/heal) in Him we can do the impossible!

The death of John the Baptist… vs. 14-29

• Herod the tetrarch… vs. 14-20
  • Herod heard rumors about the ministry of Jesus…
    • With the sending out of the 12 – the ministry of Jesus was becoming more known
    • No longer just noticed by a few Jewish leaders – but also by Roman rulers
  • Who was Herod the Tetrarch…
    • His name was Herod Antipas – Tetrarch was his title
    • Son of Herod the Great (builder of the 2^nd temple / who tried to kill Jesus as a baby)
    • Herod Antipas ruled the area around Galilee – ¼ the kingdom of his father (Tetrarch)
  • He was sure that Jesus was John the Baptist resurrected…
    • John the Baptist had never performed any miracles
    • Nothing about the ministry of Jesus suggested he was John resurrected
    • The problem with Antipas was that he had a guilty conscience about John…
    • When we choose to sin – there are always consequences – Galatians 6:7
    • We may think that we get away with it – even if there are no apparent consequences…
    • There is our conscience – we become overly sensitive about our sin – quick to overreact
    • If we see someone else struggling with the same sin – we are quick to judge
    • If we have a problem with Gossiping – we tend to judge other who gossip…
    • The reason is because we are guilty and we know it…
  • A guilty conscience – Herod had arrested and thrown John the Baptist into prison…
    • The reason – John had confronted Herod about his adulterous marriage to ‘Herodias’
      • ‘Herodias’ was the granddaughter of ‘Herod the Great’ (Herod Antipa’s niece)
      • She had married her uncle ‘Herod Philip’ – son of ‘Herod the Great’
      • But she divorced him to marry another uncle – ‘Herod Antipas’ – brother of ‘Philip’
      • The bottom line is she divorced one uncle in order to marry another
    • Herodias wanted to kill John (Imperfect) – but she could not…
      • Herod knew John was a righteous and just man – so he protected John (Imperfect)
      • He would often go to the dungeon and enjoy listening to John
      • He recognized what was right – but he was not willing to do the right thing…
      • It is not enough to know what to do/what is right – what do we do about it
      • It is not our intentions that are most important – but are actions!
      • We may intend to make lunch – but if we only intend to – we remain hungry…
      • I may know I should read my Bible – pray – obey the Lord – but do I do it
        
• The head of John the Baptist… vs. 21-29
  • At the Birthday feast of Antipas – Herodias set up Herod – inviting powerful men to attend
    • Salome the daughter of Herodias and Herod-Phillip – step-daughter of Herod Antipas 
    • Danced… very seductively – before her step-father/uncle/great uncle
    • Herod Antipas was VERY pleased – so much he offered her – up to ½ of his kingdom
  • Her demand (really Herodias) – ‘Give me the head of John the Baptist on a plate’…
    • John the Baptist had stood for righteousness
    • Warning Herod Antipas & Herodias to live lives that that would be pleasing to God
    • Rather than repent from sin – she choose to silence the messenger
    • When we choose to sin we tend to try and stay away from reminders
    • We don’t want to open the Bible – we don’t want to pray
    • We don’t want to go to church – we don’t want to see other Christians…
    • In the end we are only really trying to hide from God
    • The only thing that sin does well – is separate us from God
    • The Bible will keep you from sin – sin will keep you from the Bible!
    • Psalms 119:11–“Your word I have hidden in my heart, I might not sin against You!”
  • Herod Antipas was very sorry…
    • But because of his oath – and the powerful men present – he could not refuse
    • Herodias had set a skillful trap – and Herod had fallen right into it…
    • He ordered John’s head – it was given to Salome – who then brought it to her mother
    • Herod Agrippa was sorry for what had happened – not for what he had done (adultery)
    • II Corinthians 7:10 – “For God can use sorrow in our lives to help us turn away from sin and seek salvation. We will never regret that kind of sorrow. But sorrow without repentance is the kind that results in death.”
    • When we finally face the consequences for our actions – we might be sorry
    • But there are two ways of being sorry – Godly sorrow, and worldly sorrow…
    • Worldly sorrow is I am sorry I got caught – I am sorry I have consequences
    • That does nothing for us – because we don’t change – given the chance we do it again
    • Godly sorrow is I am sorry for what I did – I understand it was wrong
    • We then can turn from our sin to Jesus – repent and be forgiven – that brings salvation!
  • The disciples of John came and buried the body – then went and told Jesus