David Bahn – Reflections

Mark 6:14-29

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.

What set off King Herod? Why was he fretting now about Jesus? What difference does it make that Jesus and his band of disciples were doing anything at all? And why would he tie Jesus’ ministry to John the Baptist?

It’s the message of Jesus and his disciples: “Repent!” It was Jesus’ first message. Now he was sending his disciples with the same message. And Mark tells us, “So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. 13 And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.” (6:12-13).

Repent is a pesky word. It requires we embrace our shortcomings. It requires that we put ourselves under the law of God. It requires we get off the judgement seat, off the throne, and onto our knees. It requires humility. It requires saying – in our hearts – “I am sorry. I was wrong. I did wrong. I have sinned. I have missed the mark.”

That’s what John had called on King Herod to do: Get off your throne and onto your knees before God and repent of your lawless ways. Here is the situation that Mark describes here – in a manner of back-filling in the midst of the story about Herod’s fretting about Jesus.

Herodias was a daughter of Aristobulus, one of the sons of Herod the Great. Other sons of Herod the Great included Herod Antipas and Herod Philip (by different wives). After marrying her half-uncle Herod Philip, Herodias left him for an adulterous relationship with his brother, Herod Antipas. Such were the loose morals, typical of the Herodian dynasty, against which John the Baptist preached. (Reformation Study Bible)

Now Jesus was calling people to repent as well. Herod had been intrigued by John’s preaching; so much so that he had listened to him on more than one occasion, being perplexed, and yet hearing him gladly. So when Herod hears about Jesus sending his disciples to preach repentance he was troubled. He thought John had been resurrected. He had kept John in prison at the urging of his wife who was much less ambivalent about John’s preaching. She wanted John dead.

That’s when evil and opportunity conspired. Herodias’ desire to get rid of John. Herod’s lavish birthday party at which time too much wine, a dancing daughter, an overly-expressive King, a foolish promise provided the moment for evil to play out in the death of John, and John was beheaded. Comes the request: “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”

If ever someone would have wanted to un-ring a bell, it would have been Herod on this occasion. But he couldn’t take back his promise. So John is beheaded. Herodias is happy. Her daughter learns how to seduce and manipulate. John is dead. And Herod slips farther away from God.

And where is God in all this? I ask because God doesn’t show up. God is not mentioned by Mark here. John’s disciples lay his headless body in a tomb. God is at work, however, even when we don’t see him. He may not show up on our schedule. We’ve all experienced that some way or another. The disease goes un-healed and a loved-one dies. A child gets farther and farther away from God with no change of heart. The job offer doesn’t come through.

It is those occasions we have to have a view beyond our own horizon, and seek to see how God is at work – even when he is not at work in our lives. When John was in prison (before his death), he had sent his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the one, or should we look for someone else?” Jesus told them to report on what they saw and heard: The deaf and lame were healed and the poor had the Good News preached to them.

Sometimes we have to look outside our circumstances to see what God is doing. And when he doesn’t show up in our own lives, we must surely turn to him all the more. Bad things happen to good people because evil and opportunity conspire. It may even appear as though God does not show up in those moments.

That’s when we have a choice as God’s people. That’s when we can harden our hearts toward God and hold him hostage in our souls for what did or did not happen to or for us. Or…we can turn to God and trust in him no matter what. When we are in the crucible God’s word promises that God is at work to strengthen our faith, temper our character, and purify our hopes.

But make no mistake about it. God always shows up. Somehow or some way he is always at work for our good. Want the best proof of all? Think of Jesus on the cross. Remember his cry, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” God didn’t show up for Jesus in that moment. He let him die. But Jesus’ death meant our redemption. And in the end Jesus was vindicated by God through the resurrection and ascension to the right hand of God.

Faith in God, in his word and promise, his goodness and power will always be vindicated. No matter how evil and opportunity may conspire, and no matter how silent God may be in that moment. We simply must wait for the last chapter and verse. God will prevail. Good will prevail. And more importantly for you and me who have given up hope and lost faith from time to time, grace will prevail. For we have a Savior who perfectly entrusted himself to God for our sakes, and he is our righteousness.