Dead End

What a confusing juxtaposition Mark 1:15 and today’s text Mark 6:14-29 is!  In 1:15 Jesus proclaims “the gospel of God” . . .

“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand;
repent and believe in the good news.”

Affirming that proclamation’s truth, Mark reports Jesus’ kingdom authority and power over unclean spirits, disability, illnesses, nature, and even death (1:16-6:6).  Unexpectedly, though, in 6:14-29 Mark reports how King Herod beheaded John the Baptist.  John was Jesus’ cousin and unique messenger.  Where was the demonstration of Jesus’ kingdom power when John was slaughtered by a crazed king?

This King Herod was Herod Antipas, son of  Herod the Great, infamous for the slaughter of young children in Bethlehem after Jesus’ birth.  Antipas was appointed by the Roman emperor Augustus to rule over a quarter of his father’s kingdom (Galilee) from 4 B.C.-39 A.D.  Here’s Mark’s report of John’s death . . .

Herod Antipas, the king, soon heard about Jesus, because people everywhere were talking about him. Some were saying, “This must be John the Baptist come back to life again. That is why he can do such miracles.”  Others thought Jesus was the ancient prophet Elijah. Still others thought he was a prophet like the other great prophets of the past.  When Herod heard about Jesus, he said, “John, the man I beheaded, has come back from the dead.” 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.  John kept telling Herod, “It is illegal for you to marry your brother’s wife.”  Herodias was enraged and wanted John killed in revenge, but without Herod’s approval she was powerless.  And Herod respected John, knowing that he was a good and holy man, so he kept him under his protection. Herod was disturbed whenever he talked with John, but even so, he liked to listen to him.  Herodias’ chance finally came. It was Herod’s birthday, and he gave a party for his palace aides, army officers, and the leading citizens of Galilee.  Then her daughter, also named Herodias, came in and performed a dance that greatly pleased them all. “Ask me for anything you like,” the king said to the girl, “and I will give it to you.”  Then he promised, “I will give you whatever you ask, up to half of my kingdom!”  She went out and asked her mother, “What should I ask for?”Her mother told her, “Ask for John the Baptist’s head!”  So the girl hurried back to the king and told him, “I want the head of John the Baptist, right now, on a tray!”  Then the king was very sorry, but he was embarrassed to break his oath in front of his guests.  So he sent an executioner to the prison to cut off John’s head and bring it to him. The soldier beheaded John in the prison,  brought his head on a tray, and gave it to the girl, who took it to her mother.  When John’s disciples heard what had happened, they came for his body and buried it in a tomb.

Herod Conflicted (6:14-16).  Obviously.  Herod knew John to be righteous and holy, so feared him.  He  happily listened to John, but could never really understand him.  With news of miracles spreading through Galilee, Herod thought John had been raised from the dead.  I’m guessing that terrified him.

Herodias’ Grudge (6:17-20).  Herodias was not a happy king’s wife.  John the Baptist publicly condemned her marriage to Herod Antipas, because he was her brother-in-law.  But Herod (who still held final word despite his wife’s charms) would make John a dead man.

Herod’s Birthday Banquet (6:21-28).  Herodias’ opportunity came party night.  She had her daughter, probably from her “previous” marriage, dance for the crowd of nobles, military commanders and leading men of Galilee.  The teenager’s dancing got the men’s juices flowing.  Herod was so overcome he dramatically promised the girl anything she wanted up to half his kingdom.  (Can you see the sweaty, lustful smile on his face?)  She ran to Mommy for advice.  Mommy didn’t hesitate:  “The head of John the Baptist.”  One would think the girl would turn squeamish.  But either she knew better than to disobey Mommy or was, like everybody else, caught up in the sensuality of the moment.  She strolled back in and seductively said, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”  Herod was hoping she’d want a Corvette carriage.  But what was a king to do?  The offer was out there and his step-daughter grabbed it.  And so the deed was done.  The executioner carried John’s head to Herod on a platter and he handed it to the girl, who slithered offstage  with it to Mommy.

John’s Burial (6:29).  His disciples heard the news and came and laid his body in a tomb.  What did they think?  Their master had announced the arrival of Messiah!  Yet, when the executioner flashed his sword, Messiah was absent.  John, who fearlessly challenged King Herod and announced the nearness of God’s kingdom, met a dead end.

Our Dead Ends.  Not as violent and antiChrist as John’s.  Ours are mini-dead ends (until our body actually dies).  No need to list examples.  Who of us hasn’t been there when we expected Jesus to make a way where there was no way—and instead we ran smack into a dead end and got pretty banged up?  And given the state of the world, who knows how much like John’s our death may be?

Right about here I could cite Romans 8:28.  Instead, I’ll quote 1 Peter 4:12,13 (NLT), because this too is the Gospel.  And this too is reality for Jesus’ followers in this fallen world.

 Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through,
as if something strange were happening to you.
Instead, be very glad–
because these trials will make you partners with Christ in his suffering,
and afterward you will have the wonderful joy
of sharing his glory when it is displayed to all the world.

(If you haven’t listened to the video, do it now.
Even if you have, listen again—
and rejoice that His kingdom overcomes . . . all . . . forever!)