Mark 6:14–30 (ESV)
14 King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.” 15 But others said, “He is Elijah.” And others said, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” 16 But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.” 17 For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because he had married her. 18 For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19 And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, 20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly. 21 But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 22 For when Herodias’s daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” 23 And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” 24 And she went out and said to her mother, “For what should I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” 25 And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” 26 And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. 27 And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison 28 and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. 29 When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb. 30 The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught.
There are only two passages in Mark’s Gospel that are not about Jesus. Both are about John the Baptist. John is a foreshadow of Jesus. In Mark 1.2-8, John is the foreshadow of Jesus’ ministry and the Gospel message. Here, John is the foreshadow of Jesus’ death.
We know from the other Gospels that John was filled with the Holy Spirit before he was even born. John had always acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah. John leaped for joy in his mother’s womb when Mary, pregnant with Jesus, greeted her cousin Elizabeth, who was pregnant with John. In John’s Gospel, when John saw Jesus coming toward him, John quickly declared that Jesus is the “Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1.29).
John was also the one preparing the way for Jesus as he called people to confess their sins and repent. John was fulfilling his calling, going before Jesus to make a people prepared (Luke 1.17).
But John also called out Herod the tetrarch for blatantly taking his brother’s wife as his own wife (by the way, this is Herod Antipas, one of the many sons of Herod the Great who was the one who tried to kill Jesus as a baby). Herod had taken exception to John’s rebuke in this regard and had put him in jail. Now, in this passage, we get the sad story of how John the Baptist’s life and ministry comes to an end at the hands of a prideful drunk who, in his downward spiraling morality, enamored with his own niece, has John beheaded at her request in order to save face by keeping a ridiculous vow.
What’s interesting in Mark’s Gospel as we look at this passage is that this passage is the middle of one of Mark’s “sandwich” narratives. Before this passage, we read how Jesus sent out the twelve with authority to proclaim the Gospel and heal people in His name. Right after this passage, we get a one-verse summary of the return of the twelve to Jesus.
The point of this sandwich is to make a clear link to the costliness of following Jesus. Following Jesus requires commitment and dedication and, it’s costly. Following Jesus means that rejection is something that His disciples will experience on one level or another, and peace and rest are not a guarantee.
As I consider the passage, I think that this passage challenges us in a couple of ways. First, like John, how are we standing for our faith in our culture both personally and in our churches? I’m not suggesting that we go on the offensive and seek ways to conflict with our culture and others, in my experience that’s never helpful. However, if you’re following Jesus, don’t be surprised when you encounter those moments of conflict.
Second, we must understand that when Jesus invites us to be His disciple, to follow Him, it’s an “all-in” invitation. We can’t wait, we can’t hold back, and we can’t make exceptions no matter how worthy the circumstance or reason. It’s a question of commitment. Will we follow, or will we hesitate as we continue to hold on to our old ways of thinking, doing, and being?
Where is Jesus asking you to go with Him today? Where is Jesus asking His church to go with Him today? Are we committed and ready to follow wherever He leads however uncomfortable and costly that may be?
But here’s the thing, if we choose to follow Jesus wholeheartedly and unreservedly, then we will have the incredible life that Jesus has in store for us as we walk with Him, and the Lord will use us to bless others along the way.
God bless you and know that you are constantly in my prayers!
Scott