The death of John the Baptist is a gruesome
& tragic story!
It is always dangerous to rebuke a tyrant --
& that is precisely what John did -- according to the gospel record in
Herod Antipas -- the son of Herod the Great
-- seems to have inherited his father's paranoia.
Herod Antipas was a weak, cruel, sensuous
king -- whose foolish exploits are clearly recorded.
John the Baptist preached against Herod's
sinful life-style.
This rugged preacher called sin, "sin"
-- & Herod had John thrown into prison.
At a drunken feast sometime later -- Herod
was lured into a public promise that led to the murder of John the Baptist.
Herod promised a dancing girl anything she
wanted -- & she asked for the head of John the Baptist -- & it was
given to her on a tray.
Recently I read about a French preacher who
was appointed to be the king's chaplain.
But shortly after the chaplain's appointment
-- the king died.
The king's son succeeded the father to the
throne.
After a chapel service -- some men of the
court came to the chaplain & said to him -- "Your preaching is
offensive to the new king. -- If you do not change -- you may be
replaced."
The chaplain replied -- "He is my king
when I am in my home. -- When I stand in the pulpit -- Jesus Christ, my King of
kings, is the only One to whom I must be obedient."
John the Baptist was that kind of a faithful
preacher!
But it is the action of John's followers
that caught my attention recently.
We read about their response to this
senseless & cruel death of their admired & godly leader -- in
There was no greater champion of the truth
than John the Baptist.
He was an uncompromising preacher.
He was a most zealous & sincere leader
& teacher.
But now John the Baptist had been beheaded
by that wicked King Herod. -- Now John the Baptist was dead.
This rugged wilderness preacher could no
longer speak out so boldly against sin.
The followers of John the Baptist were
brokenhearted -- when their leader was brutally & unjustly murdered.
They were greatly saddened & upset over
John's death.
They had loved their great leader -- this
uncompromising preacher of truth. -- How sad they must have been as they viewed
his martyred remains.
No
doubt they recalled the many wonderful & unselfish things John had said
& done.
But it was all over now! -- Their admired
leader was now dead!
No more would they sit around the campfire
& listen while he taught them.
No more would his cheerful good humor keep
them pressing on -- foot sore & weary -- on some long desert trail.
Their admired leader was now dead! -- Now it
was all over.
John's followers did what they could to
honor their martyred leader.
They carried his remains silently to its last
resting place; -- there was no sound -- unless one of the men unashamedly
sobbed.
They gave the body a decent burial; -- they
tenderly laid his body to rest.
There were questions they could not find
answers too.
Why had God not struck down this wretched,
unrepentant king -- in defense of His trusted servant? -- What could they
possibly do now?
Then one of those disciples must have surely
said: -- "Let's go & tell Jesus."
The rest nodded in agreement -- & sadly,
slowly, they made their way to Jesus; -- they "went & told
Jesus."
John was dead -- but Jesus lived -- & He
still does today!
John could do nothing more for them now --
but Jesus could & would help them.
Their action that day supplied an example
which has enriched millions of people.
This may seem to be a very elementary
lesson.
But we must constantly be reminded that the
best thing to do in times of perplexity is -- to go quickly to the Savior --
& to simply cast our burden upon the Lord Jesus.
When all else fails; -- when the outlook is
bleak & threatening; -- troubled people can always tell Jesus about their
problems.
Allow me today to share with you three
simple -- but important truths: --
1. When Things Go Wrong in Your Life -- Go tell
Jesus!
If everything is going smoothly in your life
today -- & you have no troubles -- then let me say: --
"Congratulations!"
But also allow me to issue a warning: --
"It won't always be this way."
Sooner or later -- troubles come to each
& everyone of us.
There will be times when the pieces of life
just don't fit together.
The unexpected often takes us by surprise.
Our world shakes with events that overtake
us & pulls us up with a jolt.
Things happen that cause us pain &
sadness.
In a sense -- just like John's followers --
our lives can be brutalized.
This corrupt world can throw a few punches
that knock the wind out of us
My friends -- no matter what the problem in
your life may be -- "tell it to Jesus."
Spiritual confusion -- physical illness --
emotional tension -- financial loss -- deep disappointment -- way-ward children
-- "tell it to Jesus."
You have a Friend Who loves &
understands.
You can go quickly & often to Him --
& tell Him all.
There is no place where earth's sorrows are
more keenly felt than up in Heaven!
The next time things go wrong -- no matter
to what degree -- do not battle it alone! -- Go tell Jesus!
I like that song which reminds us that --
"Burdens Are Lifted at
Days
are filled with sorrow & care; -- Hearts are lonely & drear.
Burdens
are lifted at
Cast
your care on Jesus today; -- Leave your worry & fear.
Burdens
are lifted at
Troubled
soul, the Savior can see -- Ev'ry heartache & tear.
Burdens
are lifted at
It isn't what happens; -- it's how you deal
with it that's important.
And the best way to deal with it is always
to -- "go & tell Jesus."
Mary Farrar is quoted as saying: --
"Life is hard -- but God is good!
Life is
unpredictable -- but God is sovereign.
Life is
unfair -- but God is just.
Life is
short -- but God is eternal."
A little girl about four years old was
traveling one day on a train.
In childish glee she romped up & down
the aisle -- completely free from care & worry. -- Suddenly the train
entered a long, dark tunnel.
The youngster was terrified -- until she
heard her father call to her.
Like a bird that flies to its nest -- she
found comfort & reassurance in her father's loving arms.
So too -- we may go through dismal tunnels
of trial -- that strike fear into our hearts -- but the Lord knows all about
our anxieties!
Flee into His loving arms -- & find
comfort & reassurance!
When things go wrong in your life -- no
matter what the trouble may be --
"Go
& tell Jesus."
Peter tells us -- "Cast all your
anxiety on Him because He cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7).
J.B. Phillips translates that verse --
"You can throw the whole weight of your anxieties upon Him -- for you are
His personal care."
My friends -- when you're sick at heart --
talk it over with the Great Physician! -- No appointment necessary!
2. When Grief & Sorrow Come into your Life
-- Go tell Jesus!
The followers of John had to be stunned
& shocked at his death -- & the circumstances of how it had happened.
The unexpected happened. -- Their world was
shaken.
They had lost their friend & leader; --
they were divested; -- they were sad; -- they were discouraged.
The pain they experienced was intensified by
the brutality that was associated with the death of their admired & godly
leader.
Numbed by the whole experience -- they came
to Jesus.
We have every reason to believe that
"the God of all comfort" had words of consolation for those grieving
hearts.
A sign on the side of a garage in southern
But my dear friends -- there are a lot of
broken hearts everywhere!
Cornelie Booth -- the daughter-in-law to the
founder of the Salvation Army -- wrote the words: --
"Bring
Him thy sorrow, -- bring Him thy tears,
Bring
Him thy heartaches, -- bring Him thy fears.
O tell
Him plainly how thou dost feel,
Ever
believing Jesus can heal!"
Jesus says to each one of us today --
"Blessed are they that mourn -- for they shall be comforted” (Matthew
5:4).
We have heard that all of our lives; -- now
is the time to discover its truth!
The more I grieve -- the less I am
comforted.
But the more I share that grieve &
sorrow with Jesus -- the greater the comfort I discover!
Have we forgotten the words of that great
hymn? --
"What
a Friend we have in Jesus, -- All our sins & griefs to bear!
What a
privilege to carry -- Ev'ry-thing to God in prayer."
The question is -- "What will the
grieving person do with his/her loss?"
Because so many will camouflage their grief
-- it may turn destructive.
In fact -- some will "deconstruct"
their belief in God -- after all, a "good" God would not have allowed
this loss to happen.
But oh -- how much better it is to lean upon
our faith -- & upon the Lord Himself -- & discover the comfort through
Jesus Christ that He has promised us.
A dear Christian lady experienced a great
sorrow in her life.
After the tragedy struck in her life --
every day she would sit at her piano -- & play & sing what she came to
call her "daily concert."
Her daily concert was the lovely old hymn --
"I Must Tell Jesus."
Listen to the words -- & let them
minister to you in your sorrow today: --
I must
tell Jesus all of my trials; -- I cannot bear these burdens alone.
In my
distress He kindly will help me; -- He ever loves & cares for His own.
I must
tell Jesus all of my troubles; -- He is a kind, compassionate Friend.
If I
but ask Him, He will deliver; -- Make of my troubles quickly an end.
I must
tell Jesus! -- I must tell Jesus!
I
cannot bear my burden alone.
I must
tell Jesus! -- I must tell Jesus!
Jesus
can help me, -- Jesus alone.
Through the words of this great song --
& through Jesus -- she found the grace she needed -- & through it all
her burden became a blessing!
An elderly Chinese philosopher was
approached by a young woman who was grief stricken because of the loss of her
only son.
He assured her -- "I will be able to
help you -- if you will bring me some mustard seed -- but it must be obtained
at a home where there has never been any sorrow." -- Eagerly the woman
started her search.
In every place she visited -- however --
there had been trial & the loss of loved ones.
Returning -- she exclaimed: -- "How
selfish I have been! -- Sorrow is common to all."
"Ah" -- said the elderly sage: --
"you have now learned a valuable lesson & acquired a wealth of wisdom
which not only eased your own grief -- but also prepared you to sympathize with
others."
3. When you Commit Sin in your Life -- Go tell
Jesus!
My heart has often been saddened when I
learn of a trusted friend who falls by the wayside of sin.
But anyone can fail! -- Anyone can commit
some sinful act!
Some Christians just give up -- when they
have failed!
They say -- "Oh, what’s the use of even
trying!"
But dear friend -- we need not be defeated
when we fail!
In the moment we realize we have failed
& sinned -- we can turn to Jesus & ask forgiveness!
When you first sense something wrong -- go
tell it to Jesus!
The only sin God cannot forgive is the
unconfessed sin!
That is why Jesus shed His precious blood at
The blood of Jesus Christ still goes deeper
than the stain of sin in our lives!
Do not carry your burden & your gilt of
sin.
Instead -- confess it to Jesus -- &
experience the joy of sins forgiven.
Unforgiven sin makes us miserable!
While psychiatrist can draw out many sins in
counseling -- he cannot forgive them -- nor take them away!
Maybe you have never discovered for yourself
what it means to be forgiven! -- Why not make that wonderful discovery today?!
If you have unconfessed sin in your life --
do not try to cover it up; -- do not try to hide it; -- do not ignore it & hope it will go
away!
Instead -- go tell it -- confess it to Jesus
-- & ask for His forgiveness!
King David -- King of Israel -- failed
miserably & sinned against God in the adulterous affair he had with
Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11).
But he prayed a prayer of confession -- in
the words: -- "Have mercy upon me,
O God -- according to thy loving kindness; -- according unto the multitude of
thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions" (Psalm 51:1).
Maybe you do not know how to pray a prayer
of confession.
Then look up David's prayer of confession in
Psalm
David
experienced the joy of forgiveness -- & you can too!
In Psalm
He praises God in the words: -- "Oh,
what joy those whose rebellion is forgiven -- whose sin is put out of
sight" (Psalm 32:1
He goes on to say: -- "Rejoice in the
Lord & be glad -- all who obey Him!
-- Shout for joy -- all you whose hearts are pure!" (32:11
D. L. Moody use to say -- "There are
two ways of covering our sins: -- man's way & God's way. -- If you seek to
hide them -- they will have a resurrection sometime; -- but if you let the Lord
cover them -- neither the Devil nor man will ever be able to find them
again!"
My friends -- if you have unconfessed sin in
your life -- "go & tell Jesus."
Conclusion:
-- When John's followers came to Jesus -- I'm sure Jesus told them about the
final resurrection; -- about the second coming; -- about Heaven -- where we
will feel no more sorrow or pain.
But more than that -- like a mother &
her troubled child -- Jesus poured in the healing balm that quieted their
troubled minds & heart -- & gave them peace.
They had done the right thing: -- "They
went & told Jesus."
A poet has wisely written: -- "In thy
weakness, in thy peril, --
Raise
to Him a heartfelt call; -- Strength & calm for every crisis --
Come in
telling Jesus all."
Dear friend -- the next time things go wrong
in your life; -- the next time you feel the grief of sorrow & loss; -- or
if you have sinned against God; -- do not try to battle it out by yourself
alone.
Do as these followers of John the Baptist
did so long ago -- "go & tell Jesus."
Many a burden would be lifted; -- many a
sorrow would be comforted; -- many a sin would be forgiven; -- if we would immediately
confide in the Lord Jesus!
If we would prayerfully seek His grace &
love -- we would find healing!
"Since He Himself (that is Jesus,
Himself) -- has gone through suffering & trail -- He is able to help us
when we are being tried & tempted” (Heb.2:18).
The Rev.
Elisha Hoffman -- during a pastorate in
Coming to her home one day -- he found her
very discouraged.
She unburdened her heart -- concluding with
the question: -- "Brother Hoffman -- what shall I do? -- What shall I
do?"
Pastor Hoffman quoted some passages from the
Bible to her -- then added: -- "You cannot do better than to take all of
your sorrows to Jesus. -- You must tell
Jesus."
For a moment she seemed lost in meditation
& thought.
Then her eyes lighted -- as she exclaimed:
-- "Yes, I must tell Jesus."
As Rev. Hoffman left her home he had a
vision of that joy-illuminated face -- & he heard all along his pathway the
echo -- 'I must tell Jesus... I must tell Jesus.'"
Reaching his study -- Rev. Hoffman penned
the words quickly for what has become one of his best-loved songs: --
Tempted
& tried -- I need a great Savior:
One who
can help my burdens to bear;
I must
tell Jesus, -- I must tell Jesus.
He all
my cares & sorrows will share.
I must
tell Jesus, -- I must tell Jesus.
I
cannot bear my burdens alone.
I must
tell Jesus, -- I must tell Jesus,
Jesus
can help me; -- Jesus alone.
Preached
by -- Pastor