Head on a Platter: Daily Thoughts from Mark (Mark 6:14-29)

Mark has challenged us with the account of Jesus sending his followers out into the villages to preach the kingdom.  We are to do the same if we trust Jesus and are loyal to him.  But now he asks us to count the cost of following Jesus in this way.

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.” But others said, “He is Elijah.” And others said, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.” 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. For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, 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.

But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 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.” And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” And she went out and said to her mother, “For what should I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” 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.” And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb. (Mark 6:14-29, ESV)

Mark includes this account of John the Baptist’s death to show us that if the great herald of the king and kingdom’s coming is so treated, Jesus will also not fare well with this wicked and perverse generation.  John the Baptist, like Jesus, was calling for repentance in light of the coming of the kingdom, even challenging the current ruler, Herod Antipas, about his marrying the divorced wife of his brother.

Interestingly, Herod himself, though he no doubt hated John’s call for repentance, respected it and feared John.  He would arrest him, but he wouldn’t harm him.  Now Jesus’ miracles made him want to believe that this was John the Baptist come back from the dead.  This is how much his conscience was bothering him and how much he feared the consequences of his actions.

Jesus, of course, is not John raised from the dead, nor is he Elijah come back (Jesus characterized John as one who had come in the spirit and power of Elijah, Mark 8:28), nor is he simply one of the mighty prophets like of old.  He is the Messiah, the Son of God, as Mark has made plain from the beginning.

We see here also the foolishness of making rash vows and the failure of leadership that Herod displayed.  Such foolishness will afflict the other leaders of Israel leading to Jesus’ death.

Are we surprised that such an important figure as John the Baptist would not be rescued by God from such a fate?  It is the sad truth that many of God’s greatest servants have suffered persecution even to death.  They accepted the charge of Jesus to go and do what he did, and like their Savior, they paid the price for it.  We may fail to follow Jesus in his greater works (John 14:12) out of a limiting of God’s power in us and/or from a fear of the suffering that might come as a result.  Will we take up Jesus’ cross and follow him?