Sermon for July 11, 2021 Pentecost 7 B House of Prayer Lutheran Church

Mark 6:14-29 Rev. Karl-John N. Stone

Did you ever hear about hitchBOT? This was a hitchhiking robot invented by two Canadian professors in 2013, to “learn about how people interact with technology and ask the question, 'Can robots trust human beings?” You can look up more about it on Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HitchBOT). HitchBOT was made with a plastic bucket torso, flexible arms and legs with boots and gloves, as well as a screen in it’s face areato display eyes and a mouth, and a camera, and could carry on a very basic conversation. It basically looked like something that could have been at home in the movie “Toy Story”.

HitchBOT couldn’t move by itself, but the idea was that it would hitch rides with random people who would take it places. It would take pictures every now and then to chronicle its journey, and people could follow it on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. HitchBOT made it all the way across Canada. Then it went to Europe, and made it across the Netherlands and Germany. Then it attempted to hitch across the United States. It began in Boston. Someone took it to a Red Sox game, where it got to do “The Wave” and get on the “Kiss Cam”. It hitched its way to New York City, where someone took it to Times Square. The next stop was Philadelphia, and sadly, that is where hitchBOT met its end. It was vandalized and destroyed by a random person, and was actually found beheaded. The “City of Brotherly Love” did not have quite enough love for a robot that depended on the kindness of strangers.

While hitchBOT is probably not what comes to mind if I asked you to think of a modern-day prophet, in some ways it actually fits that description, because the experiences it had ask us to look at the good and bad sides of the world, and to ask ourselves as human beings: how can we do better? What is the bad side of life and society and history that we need to look honestly at, so that we can learn from our mistakes, sins, and shortcomings?

Even in comparison to John the Baptist, the prophet who “prepared the way” for Jesus, hitchBOT and John the Baptist actually fit some of the same characteristics. Both dressed simply, in a way suitable for being outdoors. They inspired a large following of common people, often drawing big crowds. They traveled around, and their activities caused people to take a look at their lives and evaluate. They both met a similar end, done in by people who didn’t like having them around, and who also may have viewed their destruction as an evening’s entertainment.

They both revealed the good and the bad sides of humanity. Of course, John the Baptist was much more pointed in his questions and warnings. He started by telling the common people to “repent”, to turn to God, seek forgiveness of their sins, and live life with a new perspective. But he didn’t stop there, because he even brought his message to King Herod. And this wild-looking prophet from the desert, with no status, power, or wealth told Herod that he was living an immoral life, being in an adulterous relationship with his brother’s wife.

Even though John was popular among the people, a guy like King Herod didn’t want some nobody from the sticks running around and making him look bad. And yet...Mark’s gospel tells us that “Herod feared John, knowing that he was a holy and righteous man, and he protected him.” Even though Herod was “perplexed” at the things John said, still “he liked to listen to him.” He was, at some level, open to what John had to teach.

But ultimately that didn’t get him anywhere, spiritually speaking, because Herod was motivated by fear. And basing everything on fear ultimately doesn’t lead to making decisions that lift up the values of the Kingdom of God. Herod feared John the Baptist. Herod feared the guests at his birthday party--these were the “who’s who” of Galilean society, the wealthy and powerful who could help Herod stay in power, or bring about his downfall. And he feared the oath he made to his daughter in front of all his guests: “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” So, under her mother’s influence (who held a grudge against John and wanted him dead), his daughter asked for “the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” If Herod broke his oath and didn’t behead John, he would have lost his honor, and that would have undermined his power, too.

So, where is the good news in this gruesome story? How does this episode--one of the few in the gospels that don’t directly involve Jesus--point us toward the values of God’s kingdom, and the presence of Christ and his grace and love in our lives and in the world? I think the clue comes in the final sentence: “When John’s disciples heard about his execution, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.”

John’s disciples were not motivated by fear but by love. Like John, they knew what the right thing was--to stand with the suffering, and help the vulnerable--so they did it, even if it might come at a personal cost. And “the right thing” is the thing that demonstrates God’s love for the neighbor. Even when that neighbor is a guy like John--outspoken, an outsider, rough around the edges, with a keen sense of justice, holiness, and righteousness. They care enough about John to put themselves on the line to give him a proper burial.

And these disciples of John teach us that if the prophet who prepared the way for Jesus ends up killed unjustly by people who feel threatened in their power or prestige, and laid in a tomb--then we should expect that this will happen to Jesus, too. And it does, when Jesus is crucified; an innocent victim, carrying the guilt of those who refuse to demonstrate God’s love for the neighbor. And if it happens to Jesus, what does that say about those who follow Jesus?

But John and his disciples pointing the way to Jesus also teach us that in the end, even after much struggle and suffering, God’s love wins! When Herod finally hears about the things Jesus is doing he says, “It’s John the Baptist raised from the dead.” Herod was wrong about that, but he was right that resurrection is God’s ultimate way to defeat the power of sin, death, and fear in the world and in our lives.

And when we follow the risen Jesus in faith, the Holy Spirit pours God’s love into our hearts so that we can gain the courage to live with God’s love being the defining value of our lives. Yes, it starts by loving your families and friends; to love yourself and those closest to you. And, as Jesus commands, to even figure out how to love your enemies. Also, to love our communities; to love our neighbors, even when they are different from us. To love even a hitchhiking robot, because that robot is a symbol of our connection with other people, and a symbol of what we are willing to do--or not do--to help someone who is vulnerable.

Living with God’s love as the defining value of our lives teaches us to not ignore the bad side of our nature and our past, but through repentance to allow God’s love to teach us how to learn from the bad side, and lead us into a better future. Amen.