Mark 6:14-29
This soap opera-esque story often seems misplaced in the larger gospel story. Of course, John the Baptist prepared the way for Christ. They were second cousins and their lives are inherently linked. But why does Mark, who favors brevity, spend so much time on this story?
Herod assumes/fears/predicts that John was raised to new life well before any thought of Jesus’ resurrection. Apparently, even beyond people like the Sadducees believing in a future resurrection, there were some who believed that righteous people could be raised from the dead here and now. Herod, despite having ordered John the Baptist’s execution, still yet believed him to be righteous. Maybe he was even hoping John had been given another shot to assuage his own guilt.
If nothing else, this story highlights the notion that a righteous person, despite their popularity with the masses, could be killed at the whim of those in authority.
Mark 6:14-29
Herod the king heard about these things, because the name of Jesus had become well-known. Some were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and this is why miraculous powers are at work through him.” Others were saying, “He is Elijah.” Still others were saying, “He is a prophet like one of the ancient prophets.” But when Herod heard these rumors, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised to life.”
He said this because Herod himself had arranged to have John arrested and put in prison because of Herodias, the wife of Herod’s brother Philip. Herod had married her, but John told Herod, “It’s against the law for you to marry your brother’s wife!” So Herodias had it in for John. She wanted to kill him, but she couldn’t. This was because Herod respected John. He regarded him as a righteous and holy person, so he protected him. John’s words greatly confused Herod, yet he enjoyed listening to him.
Finally, the time was right. It was on one of Herod’s birthdays, when he had prepared a feast for his high-ranking officials and military officers and Galilee’s leading residents. Herod’s daughter Herodias came in and danced, thrilling Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the young woman, “Ask me whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” Then he swore to her, “Whatever you ask I will give to you, even as much as half of my kingdom.”
She left the banquet hall and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?”
“John the Baptist’s head,” Herodias replied.
Hurrying back to the ruler, she made her request: “I want you to give me John the Baptist’s head on a plate, right this minute.” Although the king was upset, because of his solemn pledge and his guests, he didn’t want to refuse her. So he ordered a guard to bring John’s head. The guard went to the prison, cut off John’s head, brought his head on a plate, and gave it to the young woman, and she gave it to her mother. When John’s disciples heard what had happened, they came and took his dead body and laid it in a tomb.
Prayer
God,
Thank you for today. For light and love and newness. I want to live this day in the spirit of this season - spring, a time of new opportunity, and yet sometimes awkward growth and new life. You gotta start somewhere, Lord. So help me to do so.
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.