King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’s name had become known. Some were saying, “John the baptizer has been raised from the dead, and for this reason these powers are at work in him.” But others said, “It is Elijah.” And others said, “It 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 Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because Herod had married her. For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to kill him. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he liked to listen to him.
But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee. When his daughter Herodias 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.” And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.”
She went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” She replied, “The head of John the baptizer.” Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” The king was deeply grieved, yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her.
Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb. (New Revised Standard Version)
The earthly life and mission of Jesus was connected to the social and political affairs of Judea and the Roman Empire. In truth, Christ’s impact is never only ethereal; rather, it smacks against every system and organization in this world.
John the Baptist’s death was closely connected to Christ’s mission and ministry; and it was also a result of the social and political forces John was subjected to. This would explain why Herod thought of Jesus as a resurrected John, after killing him. Both the messages of John and Jesus were met with resistance by the powers that be.
Marriages in the ancient world, especially among governmental officials, were primarily political affairs, and not love arrangements. The more authority and power a person had, the greater the political implications and impact there was. And marriage was one way of consolidating more power.
Herod’s marriage to Herodias may have been politically expedient, but was ethically repugnant, and John let him know about it. Herod was both a Jew and a Roman official, with his actual allegiance being to himself.
Herodias considered John as politically repugnant and found it unethically expedient to silence him once and for all when she had the opportunity. John the Baptist discovered first-hand that hell hath no fury like a woman’s scorn. Herodias hated him and waited for an opportune time to be rid of him once and for all.
But not only did Herodias orchestrate John’s demise, she did it in a way that sought to humiliate him. To die in battle at the hand of an enemy soldier was an honorable death; but to be executed because of a woman’s handiwork was a mark of shame.
Anyone who lives for God and speaks truth to power will nearly always suffer deep consequences. Hence, this is why a great many prophets ended up dead, often by tortuous methods – including Jesus and nearly all his original disciples.
Unfortunately, there are individuals in this world who are incapable of doing good.
Whenever such persons talk a good line, or do a good deed, it’s always in the service of a larger evil agenda. They often end up in positions of authority, simply because they have no scruples and will lie to you with a straight face.
And they will do anything to not only hold on to their power, but to acquire more so that they can be in control of everything around them. Of course, the people around such a person are miserable. They typically feel powerless to change the situation.
So, if there’s going to be transformation, there will need to be a prophet – someone like John the Baptist – who has the courage to speak truth to power and remind the world that God is the sovereign of the universe.
The Gospel writer Mark presents Herodias as a person with influence and power who only cares about her own interests. She had no scruples in using her daughter for malevolent purposes.
Whereas the young daughter of the synagogue ruler Jairus was (earlier in Mark’s account) raised to life by Jesus, in today’s story the young daughter of Herodias became the vehicle of a grisly murder. And, of all things, it’s this girl who brought the severed head of John the Baptist on a platter to her mother.
We are meant to see the impact and consequence when those in power have self-centered objectives and dark hearts. This is in direct contrast to both Jesus Christ and John the Baptist, both of whom gave their lives for that which is right, just, and good.
God’s mercy and redemption will eventually overwhelm all of creation. The cross and resurrection of Christ have won the victory over evil. Yet, until Christ returns, the dark forces of this old world know their time is short; and they are doing everything they can to throw a monkey wrench into the benevolent machine of grace, before the demonic forces themselves are thrown into the pit forever.
Christian mission and ministry was never designed to be easy nor pain-free. But it is meant to bring hope, love, redemption, peace, and satisfaction to all who believe.
Christ has connected himself to us. Let’s keep that gracious connection going by doing what is right and living a good and just life, and confronting the evil in front of us – to the glory of God. Amen.
Rev. Tim Ehrhardt 