Connect360: “What’s Worth Dying For?”

• Lesson 10 in the Connect360 unit “The reMARKable Journey Continues: The Gospel of Urgency” focuses on Mark 6:14-29.

When you do the work of the Father, the world takes notice. Sometimes you will encounter people, even loved ones, who will reject you. Other times you will travel with very little, the Father’s providence will provide, and you will be received by total strangers. Still, other times, people will be intrigued by your word, seem to understand that it is of divine origin, and then attempt to silence you.

The reality is that God’s word is sharp, and it cuts. Even when the message is understood, people can be so caught up in their worldliness that they will do whatever is necessary to maintain the “status quo.”

Herod began to hear a new name: Jesus. This Jesus was preaching a message that was familiar, and Jesus also was performing miracles. This new commotion brought a new realization into the life of “King” Herod: a guilty conscience is a cruel companion.

Reading through the verses tells us that Herod struggled to align the message with the man. While people were wondering if this Jesus was a prophet from long ago, or even the great prophet Elijah, Herod was convinced God had somehow raised John the Baptizer from the dead— the same John whom Herod had beheaded.

A man reaps what he sows (Galatians 6:7). John spent his life urgently sowing the message given to him by the Father. He did this, not seeking to die for the Lord, but to live his life in service to the Lord. He understood his message was one of urgency, because he was preparing the way for the Messiah. This is the same life we should strive to live, a life living for God spreading his message with urgency. Why urgency? Because we do not know the hour when Jesus will return, but we know the message that we must spread.

When you make the decision to serve the true King and spread his message, the kings of this world may raise their hands against you. John stood for the truth of his faith, and, as a result, he ended up dying for his faith. We must echo the words of John the Baptizer: “He [Jesus] must become greater; I must become less” (John 3:30).

This is a message repeated throughout the Word of God. Luke 7:28 tells us we are not to think highly of ourselves, but to care more about the kingdom of God. When our mindset is right, there is no desire for any glory. When we reach that point of selfless service to our Lord, then, by Jesus’ own words: “yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he” (John the Baptist).

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