loudandclear

Mark 6:14-29

(notes by Niko Gruber)

14 Herod Antipas, the king, soon heard about Jesus, because everyone was talking about him. Some were saying, “This must be John the Baptist raised from the dead. That is why he can do such miracles.” 15 Others said, “He’s the prophet Elijah.” Still others said, “He’s a prophet like the other great prophets of the past.”
 16 When Herod heard about Jesus, he said, “John, the man I beheaded, has come back from the dead.”

 17 For Herod had sent soldiers to arrest and imprison John as a favor to Herodias. She had been his brother Philip’s wife, but Herod had married her. 18 John had been telling Herod, “It is against God’s law for you to marry your brother’s wife.” 19 So Herodias bore a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But without Herod’s approval she was powerless, 20 for Herod respected John; and knowing that he was a good and holy man, he protected him. Herod was greatly disturbed whenever he talked with John, but even so, he liked to listen to him.

 21 Herodias’s chance finally came on Herod’s birthday. He gave a party for his high government officials, army officers, and the leading citizens of Galilee. 22 Then his daughter, also named Herodias, came in and performed a dance that greatly pleased Herod and his guests. “Ask me for anything you like,” the king said to the girl, “and I will give it to you.” 23 He even vowed, “I will give you whatever you ask, up to half my kingdom!”

 24 She went out and asked her mother, “What should I ask for?”

   Her mother told her, “Ask for the head of John the Baptist!”

 25 So the girl hurried back to the king and told him, “I want the head of John the Baptist, right now, on a tray!”

 26 Then the king deeply regretted what he had said; but because of the vows he had made in front of his guests, he couldn’t refuse her. 27 So he immediately sent an executioner to the prison to cut off John’s head and bring it to him. The soldier beheaded John in the prison, 28 brought his head on a tray, and gave it to the girl, who took it to her mother. 29 When John’s disciples heard what had happened, they came to get his body and buried it in a tomb.

(((This passage starts with Herod trying to figure out who Jesus was.  The reoccurring opinions that seem to appear time and again are John the Baptist, Elijah, or just a prophet.  Some thought that John had returned from death.  Others thought he might be Elijah, since the Old Testament account shows that he never died, but was taken up into heaven.  There were also prophecies that had predicted that Elijah would return.  Then some people even thought that maybe Jesus was just a normal prophet like the ones of the old days.  Obviously these are all wrong.  While Elijah and John were good models of men faithful to God, none of them were God’s sinless Son, that was fully God and fully man.)))

(((We then get the back story as to why Herod had beheaded John the Baptist.  We soon find out that John had been speaking out against Herod.   This took courage to stand up against someone in authority, as Herod could have John killed for this kind of thing.  While Herod was in no way obligated to follow God’s law in his kingdom, John was still showing him God’s plan for true life.  Because God is creator over all things He knows how to have true life on this earth.  Even though Herod could have had John executed, he decides to just put him in jail at first.  This is because although John spoke hard Truth that offended Herod, his boldness and real Truth was attractive, even to someone who didn’t believe.)))

(((Herod makes the mistake of promising his stepdaughter anything that she wants, because she then asks for John’s head.  This brought him great sorrow, because he didn’t want to do this, but made this vow in front of a crowd of people and didn’t want to look weak.  Herod’s pride made him promise her anything and then also causes him to kill John the Baptist.  He chooses to bring glory to himself rather than giving glory to God as John had done with his life.  The lives of these men stand in a stark juxtaposition of each other.)))