Relevance & Significance of John's Death

Though most Christians are familiar w/ the account of John's beheading at the hands of Herod Antipas, rarely is it preached how this narrative fits into Mark's main theme of Christology.

In chapter 1, John is described as the one who prepares the way for the Lord's coming & ministry.

Not only does he prepare the way by preaching the kingdom, but also suffering unjustly for it.

However, John's life & ministry are not even worthy to be compared to the One who would succeed him.

This is a great sermon, as it deals w/ many practical applications regarding Mark's second major emphasis: the role of Christ's disciples.

It ends w/ 3 huge theological implications of John's death in Mark's gospel, most importantly, that unlike John's 'corpse' that was carried away by "one of his diciples' and "buried", Jesus' was gloriously raised from the dead, and His ministry flourished, as seen in the end of Mark 16.

Also deals w/ John's preaching as a 'model' for us, who likewise are to prepare the way of the Lord's (second) coming to a wicked & hostile world who "want their cake, and to eat it too".