15 Others said, “He is Elijah.”
And still others claimed, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago.”
16 But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!”
17 For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, whom he had married.18 For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19 So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to,20 because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him.21 Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 22 When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests.
The king said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.” 23 And he promised her with an oath, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”
24 She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?”
“The head of John the Baptist,” she answered.
25 At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”
26 The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her. 27 So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison, 28 and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother. 29 On hearing of this, John’s disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.
Jesus' reputation has clearly gone well beyond the backwaters of Galilee where his ministry began. News of his activity has reached the ears of King Herod. This is the first reference to any political power in Mark. The story of Jesus is not a story of any kingdom but the kingdom of God.
This is the first time that the focus has been taken off Jesus for an extended period and placed on someone else in the gospel. And the person is not really who we might expect. The focus is not on John the Baptist who already has played a part in the story, although he will be central in the incident. It is on King Herod. It seems reasonable to wonder why the new center of attention. If this is as Mark tells us the good news of Jesus the Christ, the son of God, what does this incident have to do with it? Some have suggested that it is to explain Jesus' position as greater than John. Others see a foreshadowing of the crucifixion. Perhaps it is a necessary redirection to explain John's absence. Or it may occur when it does immediately following the disciples successful ministry as a reminder that following Jesus is not always easy and sometimes dangerous.
Or maybe, Herod is meant to describe a person who is struggling with the message of Jesus, but the weeds choke out his faith. Like the soil in the parable, Herod seems fertile ground, but the complications of his life and alliances choke out the gospel.
Herod is a fascinating character. Being king is not an elected office, but Herod seems as attuned to public opinion as any candidate. When word comes to him about Jesus he is left to make a decision.
Some suggest to him that Jesus is John the Baptist raised from the dead and this explains his miracles. Others believe he is the reincarnation of Elijah. Finally some suggest that Jesus is a prophet (which of the claims is the only one with any evidence in Mark--he has just said in Nazareth that a prophet is not welcome in his hometown--the implication being that Jesus does stand in the prophetic tradition). These speculations mirror precisely those raised by the disciples when Jesus asks them "Who do people say that I am?"
Herod recognizes that Jesus is special, but his own guilt over what he has done to John keeps him from seeing who Jesus really is. Herod is convinced that Jesus is John, back from the dead and seeking (we can assume) revenge. Herod's concern is not about Jesus, but about what Jesus might do to him. He is entirely self-centered.
The narrative is then drawn into a retelling of John's execution. Herod appears to be an easily manipulated person. Herodias, Herod's wife, but formerly the wife of his brother Philip is offended that John has drawn attention to their relationship. John has pointed out the violation of scriptural law by the couple, so the response of Herod is to invoke civil law and have John imprisoned.
But Herod seems to have some respect for religious authority and does not kill John immediately, even though his wife pressures him to do so. Herod doesn't understand John, but likes to listen to him. This seems in some ways like the disciples of Jesus who like to listen to Jesus but are unable to comprehend his message. It appears that Herod is on the verge of faith and that the story at this point could go either way.
Herodias saw her opportunity at Herod's birthday dinner. She sends in her daughter to dance for the gathered men. Traditionally, this is seen as a lascivious display (which it may have been and, if so, one has further reason to question Herodias and Herod that they are willing to put their daughter on display as an object of attraction) but this is not clearly in the text. We are told only that she danced for the crowd which may have been an innocent display of talent prodded on by doting parents. It may say more about us than the text that we turn this into a sexual display.
When Herod promises her anything as thanks, even up to half his kingdom (which suggests that he was either a foolish leader or drunk), she does not know what to do. After consulting with her mother, she asks for John's head on a platter.
Once again, we are shown that Herod is self-centered and easily manipulated. He is distressed feeling trapped by his oath and the eyes of his guests. He seems to forget that he is King and can do what he wants to do. Herod is a victim of peer pressure. He will not back out of a course of action that he knows to be wrong.
The executioner is called and the head placed on a plate. No one seems to want to have the gory mess for long. It is brought to the king, who looks in horror and gives it to his step-daughter whose reaction is the same. She delivers it to her mother as quickly as possible. Herodias is the only person who seems happy with the outcome.
John's disciples come and get the headless corpse and take care of their master's body. It is a clear contrast to the disciples of Jesus who come to take Jesus corpse and find that it is no longer there.
When faith takes root in Herod, it is choked out by concerns of keeping peace in his family, keeping rash promises, and how he is seen by his friends. The same story is often repeated in our time in response to Jesus.
Mark refuses to give us a clue about Herod's reaction other than that he thinks Jesus is John raised from the dead as he will just as abruptly move back to the return of the disciples to Jesus. We are left wondering what Herod will do about Jesus just as Jesus calls us to make a decision as well.
This is the first time that the focus has been taken off Jesus for an extended period and placed on someone else in the gospel. And the person is not really who we might expect. The focus is not on John the Baptist who already has played a part in the story, although he will be central in the incident. It is on King Herod. It seems reasonable to wonder why the new center of attention. If this is as Mark tells us the good news of Jesus the Christ, the son of God, what does this incident have to do with it? Some have suggested that it is to explain Jesus' position as greater than John. Others see a foreshadowing of the crucifixion. Perhaps it is a necessary redirection to explain John's absence. Or it may occur when it does immediately following the disciples successful ministry as a reminder that following Jesus is not always easy and sometimes dangerous.
Or maybe, Herod is meant to describe a person who is struggling with the message of Jesus, but the weeds choke out his faith. Like the soil in the parable, Herod seems fertile ground, but the complications of his life and alliances choke out the gospel.
Herod is a fascinating character. Being king is not an elected office, but Herod seems as attuned to public opinion as any candidate. When word comes to him about Jesus he is left to make a decision.
Some suggest to him that Jesus is John the Baptist raised from the dead and this explains his miracles. Others believe he is the reincarnation of Elijah. Finally some suggest that Jesus is a prophet (which of the claims is the only one with any evidence in Mark--he has just said in Nazareth that a prophet is not welcome in his hometown--the implication being that Jesus does stand in the prophetic tradition). These speculations mirror precisely those raised by the disciples when Jesus asks them "Who do people say that I am?"
Herod recognizes that Jesus is special, but his own guilt over what he has done to John keeps him from seeing who Jesus really is. Herod is convinced that Jesus is John, back from the dead and seeking (we can assume) revenge. Herod's concern is not about Jesus, but about what Jesus might do to him. He is entirely self-centered.
The narrative is then drawn into a retelling of John's execution. Herod appears to be an easily manipulated person. Herodias, Herod's wife, but formerly the wife of his brother Philip is offended that John has drawn attention to their relationship. John has pointed out the violation of scriptural law by the couple, so the response of Herod is to invoke civil law and have John imprisoned.
But Herod seems to have some respect for religious authority and does not kill John immediately, even though his wife pressures him to do so. Herod doesn't understand John, but likes to listen to him. This seems in some ways like the disciples of Jesus who like to listen to Jesus but are unable to comprehend his message. It appears that Herod is on the verge of faith and that the story at this point could go either way.
Herodias saw her opportunity at Herod's birthday dinner. She sends in her daughter to dance for the gathered men. Traditionally, this is seen as a lascivious display (which it may have been and, if so, one has further reason to question Herodias and Herod that they are willing to put their daughter on display as an object of attraction) but this is not clearly in the text. We are told only that she danced for the crowd which may have been an innocent display of talent prodded on by doting parents. It may say more about us than the text that we turn this into a sexual display.
When Herod promises her anything as thanks, even up to half his kingdom (which suggests that he was either a foolish leader or drunk), she does not know what to do. After consulting with her mother, she asks for John's head on a platter.
Once again, we are shown that Herod is self-centered and easily manipulated. He is distressed feeling trapped by his oath and the eyes of his guests. He seems to forget that he is King and can do what he wants to do. Herod is a victim of peer pressure. He will not back out of a course of action that he knows to be wrong.
John's disciples come and get the headless corpse and take care of their master's body. It is a clear contrast to the disciples of Jesus who come to take Jesus corpse and find that it is no longer there.
When faith takes root in Herod, it is choked out by concerns of keeping peace in his family, keeping rash promises, and how he is seen by his friends. The same story is often repeated in our time in response to Jesus.
Mark refuses to give us a clue about Herod's reaction other than that he thinks Jesus is John raised from the dead as he will just as abruptly move back to the return of the disciples to Jesus. We are left wondering what Herod will do about Jesus just as Jesus calls us to make a decision as well.
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