Living Between A Rock And A Hard Place
Sermon
Surviving In A Cordless World
Gospel Sermons For Sundays After Pentecost (Middle Third)
While persons were working on the White Pass Yukon Route Railroad near Skagway, Alaska, on August 3, 1898, a great tragedy occurred. During the blasting of rock to clear a passage for the laying of ties and track, a one hundred-ton granite boulder worked loose from where it had rested. This enormous rock came down upon two railroad workers, burying them between itself and the hard terrain beneath them. Having died instantly, and because of the immensity of the stone, any attempt to recover the men's bodies was not an option. Therefore, a black cross was placed upon the granite boulder to mark the final resting place of these two men. Today that black cross remains and can still be seen on the granite rock at the side of the railroad tracks near Skagway, Alaska. The boulder, with its black cross, has become a memorial to the more than thirty men who lost their lives during the construction of that railroad.
Any event, such as this boulder pinning the two men against a rock and a hard place, which prematurely ends in the loss of human life, is a great tragedy in the eyes of humankind. However, great tragedies are not only limited to persons who suffer physical death. Any event which leads a person to suffer a spiritual death becomes itself a great tragedy, especially in the eyes of the loving God who gives us the gift of life.
The lesson before us describes the senseless and tragic physical death of John the Baptist. Yet, even more tragic and more senseless is what happened to King Herod in this scriptural story.
The two railroad workers' physical lives were abruptly ended, having been caught between a large granite boulder and the hard, rocky terrain beneath them. Herod's spiritual life ended abruptly on his birthday. Herod was celebrating God's precious gift of life when his decisions and actions that day resulted in his spiritual death. Herod's decisions and actions also resulted abruptly in the spiritual death of those around him who were influenced by his poor decisions and examples. Herod was simply trying to live between a rock and a hard place. He was doing what we commonly refer to today as trying to have his cake and eat it too, and on his birthday no less. He was attempting to walk the fence and avoid choosing one side over the other. The end result is that Herod fell away from God. Herod lost the balance that one needs between the physical and spiritual aspects of life.
Revealed in this scriptural story before us is the dichotomy of life. Revealed is life as we morally know it and are challenged by God to live it. Revealed is life lived in absence of a relationship to God. This biblical story began when John the Baptist took a moral stand against Herod, who chose to live immorally. Allow me to share the story with you.
King Herod had engaged in an extramarital affair with Herodias, who was not only the wife of his brother, but also his niece by marriage. Herod kicked his own wife out and married Herodias while she was still his brother's wife. John the Baptist had the courage to take a moral stand. He confronted Herod about his errant ways. John told Herod that his lifestyle was contrary to religious law.
When Herod told Herodias about John's criticism of their relationship, Herodias wanted John killed. Herod dealt with the situation by trying to please himself and please Herodias at the same time.
Herod wanted Herodias in the worst way, but he also feared killing the Baptist, for John was a holy man, one of God, who intrigued Herod with his preaching. Therefore, to keep John alive and please his new wife, Herod spared John the Baptist's life by putting him in prison.
The day came for Herod's birthday. This was a time to party -- a time for Herod to impress all his family and subjects. The big extravaganza was held at the palace. Herodias was in her glory. The families, the friends, and the relatives were all invited along with anyone who was someone in the kingdom. The King's court and the leaders of Galilee were present. And what a party it was!
Yet, we continue to find Herod living between that rock and a hard place. During the party the seductive dancing by prostitutes began. Herodias' teenage daughter was there. She decided to dance as well. Instead of appropriately putting a stop to her behavior, Herodias let her go. Herod noticed his guests were very pleased with the young girl's dancing. He could have decided to do what was morally and ethically proper as a parent and stop the child, yet he chose to keep his guests happy and keep his popularity. He sacrificed the young girl's innocence and reputation.
Herod became consumed by it all. When the dance ended, Herod said to the daughter, in front of everyone in attendance, "Ask me for whatever you wish and I will give it" (Mark 6:22c).
Making matters worse, Herod went a step further. He sealed his comment with a binding oath. Again he said, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom" (Mark 6:23).
Now we find Herod really living between a rock and a hard place. The rock of destruction was pressing heavily upon him and the hard place was beginning to wear on his nerves. Then came the clincher. The daughter, in her teens, couldn't decide what she should ask to have. Corvettes weren't invented yet, neither were stereo sound systems or CD players. Because of Herod and Herodias' position and wealth, the daughter probably had everything anyway. She really believed this was a decision that had to be discussed with Mom. After all, Herod had promised and vowed, in front of all the party guests, to give her anything. Anything she asked! Imagine the scene! The suspense! The drama! The excitement!
The daughter ran to discuss the situation with her mother. A hushed silence, like the calm before a violent storm, moved across the palace, out onto the lawn, and over all of Herod's birthday party guests. The party-goers had heard Herod clearly. They knew their King had backed up his offer with his oath.
Whispers were beginning to be heard from ear to ear, person to person. What would the dancing daughter ask to receive? What would her request be, once she had consulted with Herodias, her mother?
Herod was living. Herod was partying. Herod was enjoying himself, but not for long. Herod was about to be lost. His spiritual life had been on unstable ground for quite some time and each of his decisions, each of his actions, brought him closer to his spiritual death. Then it occurred.
The hushed silence of the palace party guests and the soft whispers moving from person to person were broken by the daughter who "came immediately to the King saying, 'I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter' " (Mark 6:25). Using her daughter, Herodias was going to get her way.
Herod was now exceedingly sorry. Herod suddenly and shockingly realized that he was really living between a rock and a hard place. Herod was about to become a crushed man. Herod was out of control, not able to think straight. He was fearful, unable to take a moral stand. Herod believed if he now took the road of doing what was right, he would disappoint the girl. If he chose to act morally and courageously and didn't honor the daughter's wish, he would go against his wife and family. If he reneged on his offer, he would make a fool of himself in front of all his guests. Changing his decision meant he would reveal himself as a party pooper and show his guests that he was a wimpy ruler who wouldn't keep promises and oaths.
Herod immediately sent a soldier of the guard to behead the Baptist. Satisfying his family and subjects, but failing to stand courageously for what was morally right, Herod sold his soul. Herod traded the Kingdom of God for the kingdom of earthly desires. Herod placed another person's selfish, immoral wish above John the Baptist's life. Therefore, on the day when Herod was celebrating the precious gift of life given to him by God, he took another's life. The result of his decision and action was his own spiritual death.
This is a great story in the life of one's faith. This story is life as we hear about it, see it, learn it, and live it, even in today's world. This story, of John the Baptist's moral stand, vividly displays to us how God wants us to live the abundant Kingdom life. John the Baptist stood courageously steadfast and never wavered in following the call of God to do what was right. He paid the ultimate cost of discipleship. Later, Jesus the Christ, being faithful to God as John had been, also sacrificed his life on a cross so that we might live.
The story reveals, through Herod's role, how our world and many persons within it can lead us to suffer our own spiritual death. This biblical passage is really about each one of us. The passage is about options we find before us daily. This passage is about the consequences of the decisions we continually make either for self, for others, or for God. Like John the Baptist and like Herod, we do have a choice. We have the choice to choose between the temporary life of this world's kingdom or the eternal life of God's kingdom. We can select to travel the road of good or take the road of evil. We can follow the path of the moral or follow the path of the immoral. We can journey the way of justice or settle for the way of injustice. We can live our life in a personal relationship with God, as John the Baptist did. We can be examples of integrity and courage. Yet, we can also sin and become like Herod and find ourselves caught between a rock and a hard place.
Like John, like Herod, like Herodias and their dancing daughter, God gives each of us the freedom to choose life or death. The choice you have is to live between a rock and a hard place and suffer spiritual death, or choose to be in relationship to God and receive God's ultimate gift of life eternal. What decision will you make?
Any event, such as this boulder pinning the two men against a rock and a hard place, which prematurely ends in the loss of human life, is a great tragedy in the eyes of humankind. However, great tragedies are not only limited to persons who suffer physical death. Any event which leads a person to suffer a spiritual death becomes itself a great tragedy, especially in the eyes of the loving God who gives us the gift of life.
The lesson before us describes the senseless and tragic physical death of John the Baptist. Yet, even more tragic and more senseless is what happened to King Herod in this scriptural story.
The two railroad workers' physical lives were abruptly ended, having been caught between a large granite boulder and the hard, rocky terrain beneath them. Herod's spiritual life ended abruptly on his birthday. Herod was celebrating God's precious gift of life when his decisions and actions that day resulted in his spiritual death. Herod's decisions and actions also resulted abruptly in the spiritual death of those around him who were influenced by his poor decisions and examples. Herod was simply trying to live between a rock and a hard place. He was doing what we commonly refer to today as trying to have his cake and eat it too, and on his birthday no less. He was attempting to walk the fence and avoid choosing one side over the other. The end result is that Herod fell away from God. Herod lost the balance that one needs between the physical and spiritual aspects of life.
Revealed in this scriptural story before us is the dichotomy of life. Revealed is life as we morally know it and are challenged by God to live it. Revealed is life lived in absence of a relationship to God. This biblical story began when John the Baptist took a moral stand against Herod, who chose to live immorally. Allow me to share the story with you.
King Herod had engaged in an extramarital affair with Herodias, who was not only the wife of his brother, but also his niece by marriage. Herod kicked his own wife out and married Herodias while she was still his brother's wife. John the Baptist had the courage to take a moral stand. He confronted Herod about his errant ways. John told Herod that his lifestyle was contrary to religious law.
When Herod told Herodias about John's criticism of their relationship, Herodias wanted John killed. Herod dealt with the situation by trying to please himself and please Herodias at the same time.
Herod wanted Herodias in the worst way, but he also feared killing the Baptist, for John was a holy man, one of God, who intrigued Herod with his preaching. Therefore, to keep John alive and please his new wife, Herod spared John the Baptist's life by putting him in prison.
The day came for Herod's birthday. This was a time to party -- a time for Herod to impress all his family and subjects. The big extravaganza was held at the palace. Herodias was in her glory. The families, the friends, and the relatives were all invited along with anyone who was someone in the kingdom. The King's court and the leaders of Galilee were present. And what a party it was!
Yet, we continue to find Herod living between that rock and a hard place. During the party the seductive dancing by prostitutes began. Herodias' teenage daughter was there. She decided to dance as well. Instead of appropriately putting a stop to her behavior, Herodias let her go. Herod noticed his guests were very pleased with the young girl's dancing. He could have decided to do what was morally and ethically proper as a parent and stop the child, yet he chose to keep his guests happy and keep his popularity. He sacrificed the young girl's innocence and reputation.
Herod became consumed by it all. When the dance ended, Herod said to the daughter, in front of everyone in attendance, "Ask me for whatever you wish and I will give it" (Mark 6:22c).
Making matters worse, Herod went a step further. He sealed his comment with a binding oath. Again he said, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom" (Mark 6:23).
Now we find Herod really living between a rock and a hard place. The rock of destruction was pressing heavily upon him and the hard place was beginning to wear on his nerves. Then came the clincher. The daughter, in her teens, couldn't decide what she should ask to have. Corvettes weren't invented yet, neither were stereo sound systems or CD players. Because of Herod and Herodias' position and wealth, the daughter probably had everything anyway. She really believed this was a decision that had to be discussed with Mom. After all, Herod had promised and vowed, in front of all the party guests, to give her anything. Anything she asked! Imagine the scene! The suspense! The drama! The excitement!
The daughter ran to discuss the situation with her mother. A hushed silence, like the calm before a violent storm, moved across the palace, out onto the lawn, and over all of Herod's birthday party guests. The party-goers had heard Herod clearly. They knew their King had backed up his offer with his oath.
Whispers were beginning to be heard from ear to ear, person to person. What would the dancing daughter ask to receive? What would her request be, once she had consulted with Herodias, her mother?
Herod was living. Herod was partying. Herod was enjoying himself, but not for long. Herod was about to be lost. His spiritual life had been on unstable ground for quite some time and each of his decisions, each of his actions, brought him closer to his spiritual death. Then it occurred.
The hushed silence of the palace party guests and the soft whispers moving from person to person were broken by the daughter who "came immediately to the King saying, 'I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter' " (Mark 6:25). Using her daughter, Herodias was going to get her way.
Herod was now exceedingly sorry. Herod suddenly and shockingly realized that he was really living between a rock and a hard place. Herod was about to become a crushed man. Herod was out of control, not able to think straight. He was fearful, unable to take a moral stand. Herod believed if he now took the road of doing what was right, he would disappoint the girl. If he chose to act morally and courageously and didn't honor the daughter's wish, he would go against his wife and family. If he reneged on his offer, he would make a fool of himself in front of all his guests. Changing his decision meant he would reveal himself as a party pooper and show his guests that he was a wimpy ruler who wouldn't keep promises and oaths.
Herod immediately sent a soldier of the guard to behead the Baptist. Satisfying his family and subjects, but failing to stand courageously for what was morally right, Herod sold his soul. Herod traded the Kingdom of God for the kingdom of earthly desires. Herod placed another person's selfish, immoral wish above John the Baptist's life. Therefore, on the day when Herod was celebrating the precious gift of life given to him by God, he took another's life. The result of his decision and action was his own spiritual death.
This is a great story in the life of one's faith. This story is life as we hear about it, see it, learn it, and live it, even in today's world. This story, of John the Baptist's moral stand, vividly displays to us how God wants us to live the abundant Kingdom life. John the Baptist stood courageously steadfast and never wavered in following the call of God to do what was right. He paid the ultimate cost of discipleship. Later, Jesus the Christ, being faithful to God as John had been, also sacrificed his life on a cross so that we might live.
The story reveals, through Herod's role, how our world and many persons within it can lead us to suffer our own spiritual death. This biblical passage is really about each one of us. The passage is about options we find before us daily. This passage is about the consequences of the decisions we continually make either for self, for others, or for God. Like John the Baptist and like Herod, we do have a choice. We have the choice to choose between the temporary life of this world's kingdom or the eternal life of God's kingdom. We can select to travel the road of good or take the road of evil. We can follow the path of the moral or follow the path of the immoral. We can journey the way of justice or settle for the way of injustice. We can live our life in a personal relationship with God, as John the Baptist did. We can be examples of integrity and courage. Yet, we can also sin and become like Herod and find ourselves caught between a rock and a hard place.
Like John, like Herod, like Herodias and their dancing daughter, God gives each of us the freedom to choose life or death. The choice you have is to live between a rock and a hard place and suffer spiritual death, or choose to be in relationship to God and receive God's ultimate gift of life eternal. What decision will you make?
