29 August 2014 - cautionary tale

John the Baptist shows us what it means to live by the foolishness and weakness of God instead of the supposed strength and so-called wisdom of man.  He gives his entire life, the sum of his wisdom and strength, as testimony to Jesus.  He leaps for joy in the womb of Elizabeth when Mary brings Jesus into his presence (cf. Luk. 1:41).  He knows that Jesus is the lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world (cf. Joh. 1:29). He hears the voice of the Father call Jesus his beloved Son (cf. Mat. 3:17).  John's disciples tell him about all the ways in which the kingdom is coming in the person of Jesus: "The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor" (cf. Luk. 7:22).  Even in prison John the Baptist doesn't cease his mission.  Even though Herodias has it out for him he refuses to be silent. 

Finally this morning we celebrate his beheading (which certainly seems like a foolish thing to celebrate) as he lays his life down in testimony to Jesus.  He overcomes by the blood of the lamb and the word of his testimony (cf. Rev. 12:11).  By doing so he  destroys the wisdom of the wise and sets aside the learning of the learned.  His life bears prophetic witness to the coming crucifixion of Jesus. The very power of that same cross is revealed in the testimony of John's life.

Sadly, Herod stumbles over the stumbling block.  He is fooled by God's foolishness.  But he is initially curious.  At first he likes to listen even though he is perplexed. But he lets the perplexity get the better of him. When a worldly delight comes along it makes him completely forget about this invitation from John.  He ultimately chooses worldly pleasure over the kingdom.  He chooses "the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life" (cf. 1 Joh. 2:16) rather than the grace which God the Father offers in Jesus Christ.  He chooses the world and its desires, even though they are passing away.  He will remember his treatment of John much longer than he remembers the dance of this girl.

Let us see Herod as a cautionary tale.  The LORD sends prophets into our lives to help us grow in holiness as well.  And often they call us to lay down our own human wisdom. This makes us perplexed. Yet there is still something in what they say that reveals the Spirit at work. For some reason, even though our human wisdom doesn't get it, we enjoy listening. They call us to embrace God's foolishness.  They call us to the wisdom of the cross.  The call to lay our lives down will always perplex us. But this morning we need to trust the Spirit inspiration that makes us want to hear that call.

We need to trust him more than ourselves because we read:

For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom,
and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

Just as Herod regrets his promise we often find our plans and designs brought to nothing and foiled. Only in God do we find the design that endures through all generations and the plan that stands forever. Let us praise him for examples like John the Baptist who give their all for what seems like foolishness.

Exult, you just, in the LORD;
praise from the upright is fitting.
Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;
with the ten stringed lyre chant his praises.